PrimEarly: Journal of Elementary Education and Early Childhood Studies welcomes scholarly comments, critiques, and responses concerning published articles from readers, authors, researchers, educators, and the academic community. Post-publication discussion aims to encourage academic dialogue, deepen understanding of research findings, critically examine scholarly arguments, and maintain an accurate and reliable scholarly record.

This policy forms part of the journal's commitment to publication ethics and is implemented with reference to the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Scope of Discussion

Post-publication discussion may address research approaches, methodologies, educational theories, research instruments, data collection procedures, statistical analyses, interpretations of findings, conclusions, and the practical implications of published articles.

Discussions may also concern the relevance of research findings to elementary education, early childhood education, teaching and learning practices, curriculum development, child development, assessment, educational policy, and classroom practices. Comments may identify errors, methodological limitations, inconsistencies, or information requiring clarification.

Differences in educational theories, pedagogical approaches, research methods, and interpretations of findings are recognized as important elements of academic dialogue. Contributors are expected to engage with published work through reasoned arguments, relevant evidence, and appropriate scholarly references while respecting differing academic perspectives.

2. Submission of Comments

Comments and scholarly responses should be submitted through the official contact details provided on the PrimEarly journal website.

Contributors should provide their names and contact information, the title or DOI of the article being discussed, a clear description of the issues raised, and relevant supporting evidence or references where appropriate. Any financial, professional, institutional, or personal interests that could influence the discussion must be disclosed.

Comments must be clear, constructive, proportionate, and focused on scholarly issues. Personal attacks, discriminatory language, unsupported accusations, defamatory statements, and promotional material are not acceptable.

Anonymous reports concerning research or publication integrity may be assessed separately under the journal's Research Misconduct and Allegations Policy when the information provided is sufficiently specific and verifiable.

3. Editorial Assessment

The editorial team will assess submitted comments based on their relevance to the published article, clarity of presentation, quality of supporting arguments, accuracy of references, and potential contribution to scholarly understanding.

Where necessary, the editor may request revisions, additional clarification, or an independent assessment by an appropriately qualified expert. Editors with relevant conflicts of interest must not participate in the assessment or decision-making process.

Not all comments will be accepted for publication. Editorial decisions will be based on scholarly merit, relevance to readers, and compliance with the journal's publication ethics standards rather than agreement or disagreement with the authors' or editors' views.

Substantiated criticism will not be rejected merely because it challenges the methods, findings, interpretations, or conclusions of a published article.

4. Opportunity for Authors to Respond

When a submitted comment raises substantive questions or requires clarification from the authors of the original article, the editor may forward the comment to the authors and invite them to provide a response within a specified timeframe.

Responses should address the issues raised directly and provide relevant evidence, methodological explanations, or scholarly references where appropriate. Authors are encouraged to engage constructively with criticism and to acknowledge valid limitations or errors when identified.

Comments and responses may be edited for clarity, language, and presentation, provided that their substantive arguments are not altered. Authors' failure to respond does not, in itself, prevent publication of a comment that has been assessed as suitable by the editorial team.

5. Publication and Traceability

Accepted comments may be published as scholarly correspondence, a letter to the editor, a commentary