Spectrum of Operational Research (SOR) encourages constructive post-publication discussion and critical evaluation of articles published in the journal. Authors, readers, researchers, and other members of the scholarly community may submit comments, questions, criticisms, or concerns regarding published work by contacting the Editorial Office.
Scholarly discussion concerning the methods, assumptions, analyses, results, interpretations, limitations, or conclusions of a published article is welcomed where it is evidence-based, relevant, and professionally expressed.
Matters representing legitimate differences in scientific interpretation or scholarly opinion will normally be treated as academic discussion rather than as evidence of publication misconduct.
Further information concerning formal scholarly correspondence and authors' opportunities to respond to criticism is provided in the journal's Academic Debate policy.
Post-publication discussion may also take place through independent scholarly discussion platforms such as PubPeer .
PubPeer and other independent discussion platforms are not operated, controlled, or moderated by SOR or its publisher. Comments, assessments, allegations, or discussions appearing on such platforms do not represent the views, findings, or editorial decisions of the journal.
Where the Editorial Office becomes aware of information raised on an independent platform that presents a specific and credible concern regarding an article published in SOR, the journal may assess the matter under its applicable policies. The existence of an online comment or allegation alone does not determine that an error or misconduct has occurred.
Authors, readers, reviewers, and other interested parties are encouraged to inform the Editorial Office when they identify a potentially significant error, omission, inaccuracy, or other concern affecting a published article.
Concerns should provide sufficient information to allow the journal to identify the article and understand the nature and potential significance of the issue. Supporting evidence or documentation should be provided where reasonably available.
Questions concerning the accuracy of published content will be considered in accordance with the journal's Accuracy policy.
Where post-publication discussion raises a specific and credible concern regarding the accuracy, reliability, ethics, or integrity of a published article, the Editorial Office may assess the matter further.
Authors and other relevant parties may be contacted for clarification or supporting information and will normally be given an appropriate opportunity to respond where the concern requires substantive assessment.
The journal will seek to distinguish between legitimate scholarly disagreement, honest error, and concerns that may indicate a breach of research or publication ethics.
Post-publication discussion does not automatically result in a correction or other formal editorial action. Any amendment to the published scholarly record will depend on the nature of the issue, the available evidence, and its effect on the accuracy, reliability, or integrity of the article.
Where formal action is warranted, SOR may issue an appropriate correction, Expression of Concern, retraction, or, in exceptional circumstances, article removal.
The criteria and procedures governing these measures are defined in the journal's Retraction and Correction Policies .
Where a post-publication concern raises a credible allegation of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, inappropriate manipulation, authorship misconduct, citation manipulation, peer-review manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or another potential breach of research or publication ethics, the matter will be considered in accordance with the journal's Procedures for Dealing with Allegations of Unethical Behaviour .
SOR considers relevant guidance and recommendations provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) concerning post-publication discussions and corrections when addressing matters affecting published scholarly content.
