Submissions

Author Guidelines

Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.

 Types of Accepted Contributions

-        Original Article:  A complete empirical or theoretical study (approximately 4,000–8,000 words).

-        Review Article:  A comprehensive, critical analysis of the literature pertaining to a specific topic (approximately 5,000–9,000 words).

-        Short Communication:  A brief report on preliminary or specific findings (maximum 3,000 words).

-        Book Review:  A critical evaluation of a recently published scholarly book (1,000–2,000 words).

-        Conference Papers:  A substantially expanded and revised version of a work presented at a scientific conference.

References, tables, and appendices are not included in the word count.

 Manuscript Preparation

-        General Formatting

-        Software:  Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).

-        Font:  Times New Roman for English-language texts, and a clear Arabic font (e.g., Sakkal Majalla) for Arabic-language texts, size 12–14.

-        Line Spacing:  1.5 lines throughout all parts of the manuscript.

-        Margins:  2.5 cm on all sides, A4 page size.

-        Text Alignment:  Full justification.

-        Page Numbering:  At the bottom of the page.

-        Headings:  Numbered sequentially as illustrated in the journal's template.

-  Manuscript Structure

-        Title Page:  Full title, authors' names, affiliations, email address of the corresponding author, and ORCID iD if available.

-        Abstract:  150–250 words, summarizing the objective, methodology, results, and conclusion.

-        Keywords:  3–5 words, arranged alphabetically and separated by semicolons.

-        Introduction:  Background of the topic, statement of the problem, and research objectives/questions.

-        Literature Review: (May be integrated with the Introduction in shorter manuscripts).

-        Methodology:  Research design, sample/participants, instruments, and procedures, with sufficient detail for replication.

-        Results:  Presented clearly, with tables and figures as needed.

-        Discussion:  Interpretation of results, implications, and limitations.

-        Conclusion:  Summary of the principal contributions and suggestions for future research.

-        Acknowledgments (optional):  Funding sources and appreciation of contributors.

-        References:  A complete list according to APA 7th Edition or Chicago Style (see Section 5).

-        Appendices (if any):  Supplementary material not essential to the main text.

 Language

The journal accepts manuscripts in both Arabic and English. Manuscripts must be written in sound, clear academic language. Authors who are not native English speakers are strongly advised to have their manuscripts linguistically reviewed by a specialized proofreading service or a competent colleague before submission. Manuscripts submitted in Arabic must include an English title, abstract, and keywords for indexing purposes.

 Tables and Figures

-        Numbered sequentially (Table 1, Table 2...; Figure 1, Figure 2...) in the order in which they appear.

-        Each table or figure must have a brief, clear caption, placed above the table and below the figure.

-        They must be explicitly referred to in the text before their appearance.

-        Provided in editable format where possible; images must have a resolution of at least 300 dpi.

-        The source must be cited for any material adapted from another publication, and permission for reprint must be secured when necessary.

 Reference Citation Style

The journal adopts the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition style or the Chicago Style – Notes and Bibliography version for in-text citation and the reference list.

1.   Chicago Style – Notes and Bibliography (Humanities Version)

    Sources are indicated by superscript numbers within the text, corresponding to footnotes or endnotes and the bibliography.

-        In-Text Citation Example:  A superscript number (1) is placed directly after the sentence or quotation.

-        Footnote Example:  ^1 Ahmed Amin,  "Fajr al-Islam", 3^rd ed. (Cairo: Maktabat al-Nahda al-Misriyya, 1965), 45.

-        Bibliography Example (at the end):  Amin, Ahmed.  "Fajr al-Islam", ³rd ed. Cairo: Maktabat al-Nahda al-Misriyya, 1965.

2.   APA (American Psychological Association) Style – 7th Edition (Author-Date)

 In-Text Citation Example:  (Author's last name, year of publication, page number if applicable).

-        Example:  (Abdulrahman, 2026, p. 15).

-        Two Authors:  (Abdulrahman & Ahmed, 2026).

-        Three or More Authors:  (Abdulrahman et al., 2026).

    References List Example (at the end):  Abdulrahman, K. (2020).  “Manahij al-bahth fi al-'ulum al-ijtima'iyyah”. Research Methods in the Social Sciences. Cairo: Dar al-Ma'rifa, [In Arabic].

    -  Reference Examples:

-        Journal Article:  Abdulrahman, S. (2027). Title of the article.  Journal Name, 12 (2), 45–60.

-        Book:  Salem, M. (2022).  Title of the book. Publisher.

-        Book Chapter:  Ali, R. (2021). Title of the chapter. In A. Editor (Ed.), Title of the book  (pp. 20–35). Publisher.

-        Website:  Name of the Organization. (2026).  Title of the page. Retrieved from [URL]

Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all references. The use of reference management software such as Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote is strongly recommended.

 Submission Process

-        All manuscripts must be submitted electronically via the journal's website.

-        A cover letter must be attached confirming the originality of the research and that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

-        Authors must create an account on the journal's system and follow the detailed submission steps.

-        A signed declaration by the author and a disclosure of conflicts of interest are required upon submission.

-        The corresponding author will receive automatic updates via email and on their account on the journal's website, and can track the status of the manuscript at any time through their account.

 Peer Review Process

The journal operates a double-blind peer review system, in accordance with the standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

-        An initial editorial review is conducted to ensure suitability of the topic, originality, and adherence to formatting (usually within two weeks).

-        The manuscript is then assigned to at least two qualified, independent reviewers in the relevant field.

-        Reviewers evaluate originality, methodological soundness, clarity, and the contribution of the research to the field, based on the journal's evaluation form.

-        Possible editorial decisions are: Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, or Reject.

-        Revised manuscripts are returned for re-review, when necessary, before a final decision is issued.

-        The peer review cycle typically takes about 6 to 10 weeks from submission to the initial decision, though this may vary depending on the field, the availability of reviewers, and the speed of the author's response to any required revisions.