Author Guidelines

Instruction for preparing manuscript

File Format

Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format. Use only .docx (Word 2007 or later).. Do not submit articles in PDF format.

Article Template

Authors should use the following template for the preparation of their manuscript for submission.

Click on Article Template to download.

Word count

Manuscripts should be 2,500 to 5,000 words, including abstract, tables, figures, and appendices (but excluding references).

Title Page

• Title: Concise and informative.
• Author Information: Provide full names of the author(s). The corresponding author should be indicated with an asterisk..
• Affiliations
  Provide the full names and addresses of institutions (including department, institute and/or university, city, state and country). When authors belong to more than one institution, their respective addresses should be indicated by superscript asterisks.
• ORCID IDs (if available)

Abstract

Provide an abstract of 150 to 250 words in a single paragraph and include the question/objective being addressed, methodological approach, main results and outcomes and conclusions.

Keywords

List 4 to 6 keywords to facilitate indexing and improve discoverability.

Abbreviations
Each abbreviation should be defined in parentheses together with its non-abbreviated term when it first appears in the text (except in the Title and Abstract).

Main Body Structure

• Introduction – Clearly define the research problem, review relevant literature, highlight the research gap, and outline the objectives.
• Methodology – Provide detailed descriptions to allow replication of research.
• Results – Present results with clarity and precision.
• Discussion – Interpret findings in the context of previous studies.
• Conclusion – Summarize key insights, including limitations and suggestions for future research.
• Acknowledgments – Briefly mention funding, grants, and contributions

Formatting Guidelines

Headings: Use the decimal system with a maximum of three levels.

Text Formatting:

• Font: 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced.
• Use italics for emphasis.
• Use automatic page numbering and tab stops for indents (avoid spaces).

Tables

• Number tables using Arabic numerals and cite them sequentially (e.g., Table 1, Table 2).
• Provide a caption/title for each table. (Table 1: XXXX)
• Use Microsoft Word’s table function (tables must be editable). Tables in image format will not be accepted
• Ensure tables are cited in the text appropriately.

Table Footnotes: Use superscript lowercase letters or asterisks for statistical significance.

Figures

• Number figures sequentially (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2). Use lowercase letters (e.g., Figure 1a, 1b) for parts of a figure.
• Include high-resolution images with clear, legible text. Submit colour images in RGB format (8 bits per channel).
• Use Times New Roman for lettering and keep the font size consistent (8–12 pt).
• Place figures with a caption that begins with “Figure” in bold, followed by the figure number (e.g., Figure 1).
• Do not include titles or captions within your illustrations.
• Ensure figures are cited in the text appropriately.

References

All references must be formatted using APA style (version 7) [APA reference style]

In-text citation should be written as follows:

Parenthetical Citation:

• Single author: (Adams, 2006)
• Two authors: (Adams & Brown, 2006)
• Three or more authors: (Adams et al., 2006)

Narrative Citation:

• Single author: Adams (2006)
• Two authors: Adams and Brown (2006)
• Three or more authors: Adams et al. (2006)

The list of references should only include works that are cited in the text and that have been published or accepted for publication. Personal communications and unpublished works should only be mentioned in the text. Do not use footnotes or endnotes as a substitute for a reference list.

Journal Article:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, volume(issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Book:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book: Subtitle (Edition). Publisher.

Book Chapter:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the chapter. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of the book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.

Conference Paper:

Author, A. A. (Year, Month). Title of the paper. Conference Name, Location. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Thesis or Dissertation:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the dissertation (Publication No.) [Doctoral dissertation, University]. Publisher.