Withdrawal Policy
Promoting responsible manuscript withdrawal, transparent editorial communication, publication integrity, and ethical scholarly publishing practices.
Our Commitment to Ethical Withdrawal
The Journal of Human Behavior and Societies (JHBS) recognizes that authors may need to withdraw submitted manuscripts for legitimate academic, ethical, or personal reasons. The journal maintains a structured withdrawal policy to ensure fairness, transparency, accountability, and responsible management of the editorial and publication process.
Withdrawal requests are considered according to the manuscript's current publication stage, the reasons provided by the authors, and any editorial or production work already completed. Authors are expected to communicate promptly with the editorial office and follow the appropriate withdrawal procedures.
Withdrawal Before Editorial Decision
Authors may request withdrawal of a manuscript before the final editorial decision by submitting a formal written request to the editorial office. Such requests may be accepted without penalty, provided the authors notify the journal promptly and comply with the required withdrawal procedure.
Withdrawal During Peer Review
Manuscripts undergoing peer review may be withdrawn upon formal notification to the editorial office. Authors should provide a clear explanation for the request and allow the journal to acknowledge and formally close the review process. The manuscript must not be submitted elsewhere until withdrawal has been confirmed.
Withdrawal After Acceptance
Once a manuscript has been formally accepted for publication, withdrawal is considered only when justified by valid reasons, including significant research errors, ethical concerns, authorship disputes, or other exceptional circumstances. Requests are evaluated by the editorial team on a case-by-case basis.
Processing and Production Costs
If a manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance or after substantial production work has begun, authors may be required to cover reasonable and documented costs already incurred, where such charges have been clearly disclosed under the journal's applicable fee policy. Any charges must be communicated transparently to the authors.
Withdrawal After Publication
Once an article has been officially published, routine withdrawal is generally not permitted because the publication forms part of the permanent scholarly record. Where serious concerns arise, the journal may consider a correction, expression of concern, or retraction in accordance with recognized publication ethics principles and COPE guidance.
Formal Withdrawal Procedure
Withdrawal requests should be submitted in writing by the corresponding author through the journal's official editorial communication channel. The request should include the manuscript title, submission ID, author details, reasons for withdrawal, and confirmation that all co-authors have been informed and agree with the request.
Author Responsibilities
Authors are responsible for ensuring accurate and timely communication throughout the withdrawal process. They must disclose relevant concerns, cooperate with editorial inquiries, and avoid simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to another journal while it remains under active consideration by JHBS.
Editorial Review of Requests
The editorial office evaluates withdrawal requests according to the manuscript's publication stage, the reasons submitted, and applicable ethical and administrative requirements. The journal communicates the decision to the corresponding author and maintains appropriate records of the request.
Unethical Withdrawal Practices
Misleading withdrawal requests, deliberate duplicate submissions, concealment of relevant information, or other forms of publication misconduct may be investigated by the editorial team. Serious or repeated misconduct may result in proportionate editorial action, including restrictions on future submissions, subject to fair review.
Publication Ethics and COPE Guidance
JHBS seeks to handle manuscript withdrawals, post-publication corrections, and retractions in accordance with recognized principles of publication ethics. Where relevant, the journal refers to the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to support transparent, consistent, and responsible editorial decisions.
Our Commitment to Publication Integrity
The Journal of Human Behavior and Societies is committed to ensuring that manuscript withdrawal requests are handled fairly, professionally, and transparently. Through responsible editorial procedures, clear author communication, and adherence to recognized ethical publishing principles, JHBS aims to protect the integrity of scholarly research and maintain trust within the academic community.
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