Post-Publication Discussion

Scholarly Dialogue, Research Integrity, and Continuous Improvement

Policy Statement

Prophetic: Professional, Empathy, Islamic Counseling Journal welcomes constructive, evidence-based scholarly discussions concerning articles published in the journal. Post-publication discussion provides an opportunity for readers, researchers, practitioners, and authors to critically examine research methods, theoretical perspectives, interpretations, and conclusions. The journal encourages respectful academic dialogue that contributes to the development of guidance and counseling in education, islamic guidance counseling, the application of counseling technique, theories of personality, and assessment in guidance and counseling. All discussions are managed in accordance with the principles of publication ethics, fairness, transparency, and research integrity.

1. Eligibility to Participate

Readers, researchers, academics, counseling practitioners, institutions, and other relevant stakeholders may submit scholarly comments on articles published in Prophetic. Contributors must provide their full name, institutional or professional affiliation, and a valid email address. Anonymous submissions are not accepted, as the journal requires accountability and transparency in academic communication.

2. Scope of Discussion

Post-publication comments may address the following matters:

• Research design, methodology, data analysis, and interpretation of findings.
• Theoretical frameworks and alternative perspectives in guidance and counseling, Islamic counseling, psychology, and education.
• The relevance, validity, and practical implications of counseling interventions and educational practices.
• Factual inaccuracies, statistical errors, citation problems, or errors in authorship attribution.
• Research ethics involving human participants, including informed consent, confidentiality, and participant protection.
• Evidence-based concerns regarding originality, reliability, or the integrity of published research.

The journal does not accept personal attacks, discriminatory language, defamatory statements, or allegations that are not supported by credible evidence. Suspected research misconduct must be addressed through the journal's Research Misconduct procedure rather than through the post-publication comment process.

3. Submission Procedure

Contributors should submit their comments in writing to the Prophetic Editorial Office through the journal's official contact email listed on its Contact page.

The email subject should follow this format:

Each submission must include:

• The contributor's full name, affiliation, and contact information.
• The title of the published article and its DOI or permanent URL.
• A concise, clear explanation of the issue being raised.
• Relevant references, data, or other supporting evidence, where applicable.
• A declaration of any potential competing interests.

Comments should not exceed 1,000 words. Submission through the journal's online system or social media does not constitute an official post-publication discussion submission unless expressly authorized by the Editorial Office. Submission does not guarantee publication.

4. Editorial Assessment and Moderation

All submissions are assessed by the Editorial Office through a fair and transparent process:

1. Acknowledgment: The Editorial Office confirms receipt of the comment.
2. Initial screening: Editors evaluate relevance, clarity, supporting evidence, professional language, and compliance with ethical standards.
3. Author response: For substantive comments, the original article's authors are invited to provide a reasoned response. The contributor's identity may be shared with the authors as part of this process.
4. Expert consultation: Independent reviewers or subject specialists may be consulted when additional expertise is required.
5. Editorial decision: The Editor-in-Chief determines whether the comment and any response are suitable for publication. Editors with a relevant conflict of interest must not participate in the decision.

The journal may request clarification or revision, or decline a submission that is irrelevant, unsupported, defamatory, discriminatory, personally abusive, or in breach of confidentiality. Editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit and ethical considerations.

5. Authors' Right to Respond

Authors whose articles are discussed are given a reasonable opportunity to respond to substantive and evidence-based criticism. Responses should be professional, relevant, and supported by appropriate evidence. Authors are encouraged to clarify methodological decisions, explain interpretations, acknowledge verifiable errors, and address legitimate concerns regarding their findings. The journal seeks to ensure that scholarly disagreements are handled fairly and that all parties have an appropriate opportunity to present their perspectives.

6. Publication of Comments and Responses

Accepted comments and corresponding author responses may be published openly as a Letter to the Editor or another appropriate scholarly discussion format. Published discussions will be linked to the original article and provided with appropriate bibliographic information, subject to the journal's publication procedures.

The publication of a comment does not automatically alter the original article. Any amendment, correction, expression of concern, or retraction will be considered separately under the journal's relevant editorial policies.

7. Research Ethics and Confidentiality

All participants in post-publication discussions must respect research ethics, privacy, and confidentiality. Particular care must be taken when published research concerns counseling clients, students, children, vulnerable individuals, or sensitive personal and religious experiences.

Submissions must not disclose:

• Identifiable personal information about research participants without an appropriate lawful basis and consent where required.
• Confidential counseling records, interview transcripts, recordings, or unpublished field data without proper authorization.
• Private editorial correspondence or confidential peer-review materials without permission.
• Information that could expose research participants or other individuals to harm, stigma, discrimination, or retaliation.

Unpublished correspondence relating to a discussion will be treated confidentially by the Editorial Office, subject to applicable ethical obligations and the requirements of a fair editorial investigation.

8. Corrections and Other Editorial Actions

Post-publication discussions may identify concerns that require further editorial action. Depending on the evidence and severity of the issue, the journal may consider:

Editorial actions will be handled in accordance with the journal's applicable policies. Relevant notices will be made publicly available and linked to the original publication where appropriate.

9. Editorial Independence and Record-Keeping

Decisions concerning post-publication discussion are based on the quality of the evidence, scholarly relevance, research ethics, and publication integrity. Contributors' institutional affiliations, nationality, academic seniority, or commercial interests must not improperly influence editorial decisions. The journal maintains appropriate records of submitted comments, editorial assessments, decisions, and the reasons supporting those decisions.

Commitment to Scholarly Dialogue

Prophetic is committed to fostering constructive academic exchange that strengthens the credibility, transparency, and practical relevance of published research. Through responsible post-publication discussion, the journal seeks to support continuous scholarly improvement and the advancement of professional and Islamic counseling knowledge.