Post-Publication Discussions & Debates Policy

Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) | COPE & DOAJ Alignment Guidelines

In accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and DOAJ principles, Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) encourages vibrant, transparent, and rigorous post-publication academic debate. Publication does not mark the conclusion of scientific dialogue; rather, it serves as a foundation for continued inquiry and review.

PSSR provides clear mechanisms for readers, researchers, and community members to submit comments, critiques, inquiries, or post-publication discussions regarding any article published in the journal.

1. Mechanisms for Post-Publication Discussion

Post-publication feedback and discussions can be initiated through two formal channels:

A. Letters to the Editor / Formal Commentary

Readers may submit formal Letters to the Editor or commentary responding to theoretical, methodological, or analytical aspects of published articles.

  • Word Count: Typically limited to 1,000–1,500 words.
  • Peer Review: All formal comments undergo editorial review and, where appropriate, independent external peer review.
  • Right of Reply: Authors of the original article are formally invited to submit a response, which will be considered for simultaneous publication alongside the commentary.

B. Third-Party Post-Publication Platforms

PSSR monitors discussions on independent post-publication peer review platforms (e.g., PubPeer). If substantial scientific flaws, ethical concerns, or data anomalies are flagged on these platforms, the Editorial Board will initiate an inquiry according to COPE guidelines.

2. Standards and Criteria for Consideration

To ensure scholarly integrity and constructive discourse, all post-publication submissions must adhere to the following standards:

  • Academic Merit: Comments must raise substantive academic, conceptual, or methodological issues relevant to the article. Personal attacks, ad hominem criticisms, or inflammatory language are strictly prohibited.
  • Conflict of Interest: Commentators must explicitly declare any personal, financial, or academic conflicts of interest upon submission.
  • Timeliness: While post-publication discussions are welcome at any time, commentaries submitted within 12 months of the article's publication are prioritized.

3. Editorial Process & Transparency

  1. Initial Screening: The Editor-in-Chief evaluates the submission for relevance, tone, and validity.
  2. Author Notification: If accepted for review, the original author(s) receive the commentary and are given 14 to 21 days to prepare a formal response.
  3. Review & Decision: Both the commentary and author response are evaluated by the Editorial Board or external reviewers.
  4. Publication & Indexing: Accepted post-publication discussions and author responses are assigned unique DOIs, cross-linked directly to the original article on the PSSR portal, and indexed accordingly.

4. Handling Errors, Corrections & Retractions

If a post-publication discussion reveals honest errors, data miscalculations, or ethical breaches:

  • Minor errors will be handled via a published Corrigendum or Erratum linked to the article.
  • Major concerns regarding research integrity, severe errors, or misconduct will trigger an investigation per our Post-Publication Corrections & Retraction Policy in accordance with COPE workflows.

How to Submit a Post-Publication Inquiry

To submit a Letter to the Editor or post-publication commentary, please email the editorial team with the subject line "Post-Publication Discussion: [Article DOI / Title]".

Editorial Contact: editor@pssr.org.pk