Complaints, Concerns and Feedback

• Complaint about researcher, staff, or contractor conduct.
• Question about study, consent, or withdrawal.
• Report of pressure, deception, or mistreatment.
• Privacy or data exposure issue.
• Risk involving a child or at-risk person.
• Interference in findings or conflict of interest.
• Fabrication, manipulation, or retaliation.
• Impersonation, false vacancy, or false study.
• General feedback supporting improvement.

• Good-faith treatment; a complaint is not malicious merely because it is unsubstantiated.
• Restrict identity to those who need it.
• Prohibit retaliation or pressure.
• Provide procedural fairness to affected people.
• Prioritize safety and privacy.
• Document decisions and action.

A report may be submitted without a name. This may limit clarification or outcome communication but does not prevent review where sufficient information is provided. Do not use an email or device that creates risk.

Information is restricted where possible, but limited disclosure may be required for fair review, safeguarding, or legal obligation. Absolute confidentiality is not promised where it cannot be guaranteed.

1. Register and assess immediate risk.
2. Define scope, authority, and missing information.
3. Preserve material and restrict access.
4. Review records and hear relevant parties where needed.
5. Assess facts and standards.
6. Decide and take proportionate action.
7. Communicate appropriately to the complainant.
8. Monitor retaliation and improvement.

• Clarification, apology, or correction.
• Stop contact or delete information where appropriate.
• Retraining or procedure change.
• Publication correction or file restriction.
• Researcher, assignment, or channel suspension.
• Independent review or competent referral.
• No action where evidence does not support the claim, with reasons documented.

• Threats or extortion.
• Allegations known by the sender to be false.
• Pressure to change a valid finding.
• Unnecessary personal-data publication.
• Malware or automated spam.