About the Journal

The Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research (HRRI) is an international scientific journal that publishes original research articles, review papers, preliminary reports, professional papers, and other contributions. The journal is intended for researchers, professionals, and practitioners involved in education, rehabilitation, speech and language pathology, social pedagogy, public health, and related interdisciplinary fields. Topics include:

Development and Functional Difficulties

• Cognitive, motor, and socio-emotional aspects of development and related difficulties
• Communication, language, and speech–voice development and associated difficulties

Assessment, Support, Education, and Rehabilitation

• Speech and language pathology, special education and rehabilitation, and social pedagogy assessment/diagnostics
• Inclusive and supportive approaches to education and rehabilitation
• Support, therapy, and intervention

Prevention and Social Inclusion

• Prevention of behavioural problems and promotion of mental health
• Criminological and other approaches to social integration/inclusion

Interdisciplinary and Public Health Perspectives

• Related topics in biomedicine and health, social sciences, humanities, technical sciences, and interdisciplinary areas (science, art)
• Research focused on quality of life and well-being of vulnerable groups and relevant stakeholders

The journal is published twice a year. In addition to regular issues, thematic issues are occasionally published.

Open access

Submission and publication fees

Journal funding

Peer review

Ethical principles in publishing

The ethical code of the editorial board of the Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research (HRRI) is based on documents, recommendations, and guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE - Committee on Publication Ethics), as well as national guidelines (Ethical Code of the Committee for Ethics in Science and Higher Education, Ethical Code for Research with Children). The Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (COPE DOAJ OASPA WAME, 2022) outline ethical and transparent publishing practices. Key principles include: clear website information, copyright and licensing policies, publication ethics, peer-review processes, access details, ownership transparency, information on the editorial team, and business practices. The guidelines emphasise integrity, accessibility, and inclusivity in scholarly publishing.

Key points

1. The Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research (HRRI) adheres to principles of transparency and best practice in scholarly publishing, applicable to all types of published content, including special issues and conference proceedings.
2. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for all published information and must communicate any deviations from established practice, detailing the procedures to ensure transparency. Editorial decisions must be based solely on scientific merit, without prejudice regarding nationality, ethnicity, political beliefs, gender identity, race, or religion.
3. The publisher and editorial board are responsible for promoting accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusivity in all aspects of publishing within the scientific and professional community.
4. The editorial board of HRRI updates journal policies as needed in line with contemporary scientific and professional developments.

PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS

Research presented in submitted manuscripts must have received ethical approval from a competent institution. Authors must be prepared to provide documentation upon request by the HRRI Editorial Board. Informed consent must be obtained from all participants or their guardians. When consent is not obtained, authors must clearly explain the reasons.

Research involving vulnerable groups must comply with the Helsinki Declaration (WMA Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Participants, 2024), following COPE guidance.

The principles of the Declaration of Helsinki require, among other things, that vulnerable populations receive special protection from the editorial board, and COPE recommends that, when considering submitted manuscripts, editors verify the following (COPE position – The protection of vulnerable groups and individuals):

1. Whether the research aligns with contemporary scientific standards and contributes meaningfully to knowledge
2. Whether potential ethical risks have been minimised. Editors may request clarification.
3. Whether benefits outweigh potential harm.
4. In cases of legal or regulatory ambiguity, authors may be asked to provide a letter from a relevant ethics committee.

PUBLICATION ETHICS POLICIES

Authorship and Contributions

Authorship of a scientific or professional paper confirms that each individual possesses the appropriate qualifications and responsibility for the research within the relevant field. It is important to reach an agreement on authorship before the research begins to avoid misunderstandings and unrealistic expectations. Authorship should result from an agreement among all authors of the paper.

According to the Committee for Ethics in Science and Higher Education (OEZVO, 2006), authorship requires participation in:

(A) Development of the research idea, concept, and design;

(B) Data collection and processing or interpretation of results;

(C) Writing or critically revising the manuscript and approving the final version.

Each author must meet at least one criterion from each category and be able to defend the intellectual content of the publication (D).

Any deliberate misrepresentation of a researcher’s association with a paper is unethical behaviour that undermines trust in the reporting of the work itself (Elsevier, 2017).

Unacceptable forms of authorship include:

• Ghost authors – authors who have contributed to the writing of the paper according to all relevant criteria but are not indicated as authors;
• Guest authors – authors who have no contribution to the preparation of the paper but are nevertheless listed as authors;
• Honorary (gift) authors – authors whose contribution is based on a weak or marginal connection to the research; and
• Authorship misattribution – when someone is added to the list of authors without their knowledge or consent.

Minimal contributions such as statistical advice or informal reviewing should be acknowledged (with permission), but not rewarded with authorship.

Handling Complaints and Appeals

The journal Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research (HRRI) accepts complaints and appeals related to editorial decisions, the peer-review process, ethical matters, or the professional conduct of editors, reviewers, and authors. Complaints are received via the official email address and are considered impartially, confidentially, and within a reasonable timeframe. Decisions are based on COPE principles, and other institutions may be involved when necessary. The journal reserves the right to publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions of articles, depending on the findings. Submissions may be anonymous, but full and well-documented communication is encouraged to ensure credible processing.

Handling Allegations of Research Misconduct

The Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research takes all reports of research misconduct seriously, including plagiarism, data fabrication, false authorship, and breaches of ethical standards. The Editor-in-Chief conducts a preliminary assessment, informs the editorial board when necessary, and undertakes appropriate measures, ranging from suspension of the peer-review process to retraction of the paper. All decisions are made in accordance with COPE guidelines, ensuring protection of the whistle-blower and transparent communication with the scientific community.

Journal Policies on Conflict of Interest

All scientific research must be carried out and reported transparently and objectively. A conflict of interest arises when any person involved in the publication process (researcher, author, editor, reviewer) has interests that may compromise these principles. It includes any financial or other influence that could bias scientific judgement (Borovečki & Lacković, 2008). Conflicts may be actual—when a reasonable person could perceive bias—or potential—when such bias could arise.

To prevent conflicts of interest: (a) researchers/authors must disclose financial support to ensure funders are excluded from evaluation; (b) reviewers must not be involved in the research or have personal relationships with the authors; and (c) editorial board members who submit a manuscript to HRRI are excluded from all decisions regarding that submission.

Journal Policy on Data Sharing and Reproducibility

Plagiarism involves taking someone else’s ideas, data, or text without citing the source, including paraphrasing and self-plagiarism. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism or duplication will not be considered for publication in the Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research. All submissions are checked using Turnitin, and in case of irregularities, the editorial board acts in accordance with COPE guidelines.

The permitted use of up to 10% of the text applies only to specific situations (e.g., undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral theses), and solely to sections describing results, participants, or measurement instruments. Similarities are not allowed in the introduction, discussion, or conclusion, and the percentage refers to the sentence or paragraph level, not to individual words. Self-citation is acceptable only when justified.

For the use of images, tables, and other materials, authors must obtain permission from the copyright holder. The use of original software and instruments is expected.

The manuscript must contain sufficient data and relevant sources to ensure reproducibility and verifiability. Authors are required to store research data and, upon request of the editorial board, provide access to them in accordance with ethical principles and codes.

Journal Policy on Ethical Oversight

The Editor-in-Chief is obliged to investigate all complaints regarding breaches of ethical standards and to take appropriate measures to rectify any omissions or errors. These measures primarily include communication with the author or authors of the contested paper but may also involve forwarding the complaint to the relevant academic or research institutions. If the irregularities concern an unpublished manuscript, its publication may be suspended until a decision on the complaint is reached. The editorial board may also draw attention to unethical or unprofessional conduct by publishing a notice on the journal’s website.

Journal Policy on Intellectual Property

Authors retain copyright for articles published in the Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research, and by agreeing to publication, grant the journal the right of first publication in both print and electronic form. The journal does not accept papers that have been previously published or simultaneously submitted to another journal. Authors are responsible for respecting copyright when using third-party materials (text, images, measurement instruments, software) and are required to provide a statement confirming the lawful use of all protected materials included in the research.

Journal Opportunities for Post-Publication Discussions

The Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research encourages scientific communication and enables post-publication discussion. Readers and members of the scientific community may submit a letter to the editorial board as a professional comment or response to a published article, proposing additions, corrections, or clarifications in cases of methodological, conceptual, or ethical shortcomings, as well as posing questions regarding the results, methodology, or other aspects of the work. Such comments may be published in a dedicated section or alongside the original article, and authors of the commented papers are granted the right to reply. The editorial board moderates all submitted content in accordance with the journal’s editorial policy and professional standards. If significant errors, inaccuracies, or ethical breaches are identified during the post-publication discussion, the editorial board will take appropriate action — including issuing a correction, clarification, expression of concern, or retraction — in line with COPE guidelines.

Journal Policy on Corrections and Retractions

In accordance with the principles of scientific verifiability and transparency, the Editor-in-Chief and the HRRI editorial board are committed to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of published content. The editorial board will undertake appropriate steps to publish:

• corrections (in cases of minor technical or substantive errors that do not alter the fundamental conclusions of the work)
• clarifications (when additional context is needed for correct interpretation of the published content)
• retractions (in cases of serious methodological errors, unethical behaviour, or scientific unreliability of the work)

In the event of a retraction, the article remains accessible in the journal’s archive but is clearly marked as retracted, accompanied by an explanation of the decision. The editorial board also reserves the right to issue a temporary expression of concern while an investigation is ongoing.

Authors are required to cooperate with the editorial board in the process of issuing corrections or retractions and to provide all methodological and analytical information needed to verify the published content. These measures are taken in accordance with COPE guidelines and best practices in scholarly publishing.