Post-publication Discussion

Counseling Milenial (CM), published by Universitas Muhammadiyah Metro, Indonesia, encourages constructive, evidence-based scholarly discussions of published research in guidance and counseling, psychology, educational psychology, and related educational disciplines.

The journal recognizes post-publication discussion as an important component of scientific communication, promoting transparency, critical evaluation, continuous scholarly improvement, and the advancement of research and professional practice.

Readers, researchers, academics, counselors, and other stakeholders may submit methodological questions, alternative interpretations, replication findings, theoretical critiques, or other substantive scholarly observations concerning published articles.

All post-publication discussions must adhere to principles of academic integrity, professional respect, research ethics, and evidence-based scientific discourse.

1. SUBMITTING A SCHOLARLY COMMENT

Readers wishing to submit scholarly comments on articles published in Counseling Milenial (CM) should contact the journal's editorial office through its official communication channels.

Journal Website: https://scholar.ummetro.ac.id/index.php/konselor/index

Submissions should include:

  • The title of the published article and its DOI or other available publication identifier.

  • A clear description of the specific methodological, theoretical, analytical, or interpretative issue being discussed.

  • Supporting arguments, empirical evidence, relevant scholarly references, or replication findings.

  • An explanation of the scientific relevance and potential implications of the observations.

  • Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the submitted commentary.

Comments should be concise, academically appropriate, and sufficiently detailed to allow meaningful editorial evaluation.

Scholarly criticism must focus on research methods, evidence, interpretations, conclusions, or academic contributions rather than the personal characteristics of authors or other individuals.

Contributors should clearly distinguish verified errors, unresolved scientific questions, alternative theoretical perspectives, and differences in scholarly interpretation.

For research involving counseling clients, students, psychological assessments, or other sensitive information, submissions must respect participant confidentiality and must not disclose unnecessary personal or identifiable data.

2. EDITORIAL CONSIDERATION AND AUTHOR RESPONSE

The editorial team evaluates submitted scholarly comments based on their relevance, clarity, supporting evidence, scientific significance, and potential contribution to understanding the published research.

The editorial assessment may consider:

  • The relevance of the commentary to the original article.

  • The scientific validity and clarity of the arguments.

  • The adequacy and reliability of supporting evidence.

  • The potential contribution to guidance and counseling theories, research methodologies, or professional practices.

  • Compliance with academic integrity and publication ethics standards.

When appropriate, the editors may invite the authors of the original article to respond to the submitted comments.

Independent reviewers or subject-matter specialists may also be consulted when additional methodological, statistical, theoretical, or disciplinary expertise is required.

Authors are provided an opportunity to clarify their research findings, explain methodological decisions, address identified limitations, or respond to alternative interpretations.

However, an author's response does not determine whether a scientifically valid criticism will be considered or whether further editorial evaluation is necessary.

Similarly, disagreement with a published article does not automatically establish grounds for publishing a scholarly comment.

Relevant concerns raised through external scholarly platforms, academic discussions, or research communities may also be examined when brought to the journal's attention.

Credible allegations involving research integrity or publication misconduct may be assessed independently of whether a formal scholarly commentary has been submitted.

3. PUBLICATION AND ASSESSMENT STATUS

When the editorial team determines that a scholarly comment or author response provides meaningful academic value, it may be considered for publication or made available through an appropriate journal communication mechanism.

Published comments and responses should be clearly identified and appropriately linked to the original article to ensure transparency and facilitate scholarly engagement.

The journal distinguishes editorially assessed correspondence from manuscripts that have undergone the standard external peer-review process.

Scholarly comments and author responses must not be represented as having undergone standard peer review unless that process has actually been completed.

Contributions containing substantial original research findings, independent empirical analyses, or new theoretical developments should be submitted as research articles and evaluated through the journal's established peer-review procedures.

Publication of scholarly commentary is subject to editorial discretion, academic relevance, and the journal's publication policies.

The journal does not guarantee automatic publication, acceptance, or a fixed publication timeline for submitted comments or responses.

4. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Counseling Milenial (CM) is committed to maintaining an ethical, respectful, and constructive environment for scholarly communication.

Participants in post-publication discussions are expected to:

  • Present arguments based on scientific evidence and sound academic reasoning.

  • Respect differences in theoretical perspectives, research approaches, and scholarly interpretations.

  • Avoid personal attacks, discriminatory statements, harassment, or defamatory allegations.

  • Acknowledge relevant literature and properly attribute the work of other researchers.

  • Disclose potential conflicts of interest.

  • Maintain confidentiality when discussing sensitive research information.

  • Respect professional and ethical standards applicable to guidance and counseling and psychological research.

Discussions concerning counseling interventions, psychological assessments, students, children, adolescents, or vulnerable participants must prioritize ethical responsibility and the protection of personal information.

The editorial team may decline to publish or may discontinue consideration of contributions containing abusive language, unsupported accusations, serious ethical violations, or material unrelated to the scholarly evaluation of published research.

5. RELATIONSHIP TO RESEARCH INTEGRITY AND PUBLICATION POLICIES

Post-publication discussion is intended to facilitate scholarly exchange and critical engagement with published research. It does not replace the journal's procedures for investigating alleged research or publication misconduct.

Where submitted comments identify credible concerns involving data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, unethical research procedures, or substantial errors affecting the reliability of published findings, the matter may be referred for assessment under the journal's applicable research integrity policies.

Depending on the evidence and editorial assessment, further action may include clarification, correction, expression of concern, or retraction, where justified.

The journal's post-publication discussion procedure does not restrict lawful public academic criticism or the reuse of published materials under the applicable Creative Commons license, subject to its terms.

RELATED POLICIES

This policy should be read in conjunction with the journal's applicable editorial and publication ethics policies, including:

  • Peer Review Policy: Establishes procedures for evaluating original research manuscripts.

  • Publication Ethics: Defines ethical responsibilities in scholarly publishing.

  • Allegations of Misconduct: Provides procedures for reporting suspected research or publication integrity violations.

  • Integrity Investigations: Governs the assessment and investigation of credible integrity concerns.

  • Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern: Establishes procedures for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the published scholarly record.

  • Copyright and Open Access Policy: Defines the rights and responsibilities associated with the distribution and reuse of published materials.

Counseling Milenial (CM) supports open, constructive, and scientifically grounded post-publication discussions as part of its commitment to research quality, academic transparency, and the continuous development of knowledge and professional practices in guidance and counseling and related disciplines.