Preparing Your Paper

Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

Authors should prepare manuscripts in accordance with the following guidelines. Submissions that do not follow these requirements may be returned for technical revision before peer review.

1. Manuscript Organisation

Manuscripts should be organized in the following order:

  1. Title Page
  2. Abstract
  3. Keywords
  4. Main Text
  5. Acknowledgements
  6. Declaration of Interest Statement
  7. References
  8. Appendices (if applicable)

2. Length of Manuscript

Articles should not exceed 10,000 words, excluding references, tables, figures, and appendices.

3. Document Formatting

Authors must prepare manuscripts using the following formatting specifications:

  • Font: Times New Roman
  • Font Size: 12 pt
  • Line Spacing: Single spacing (1.0)
  • Text Alignment: Justified
  • Margin: 1 inch on all sides
  • Page Numbering: Bottom centre
  • File Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

4. Headings and Subheadings

Use the following formatting style consistently throughout the manuscript:

  • Main Headings - Times New Roman, 12 pt, Bold
  • Subheadings -Times New Roman, 12 pt, Bold Italic

Authors should maintain a clear and consistent heading hierarchy throughout the manuscript.

5. Abstract and Keywords

A structured abstract of up to 200 words is required. Where appropriate, authors may use the following subheadings: Background, Problem, Methods/Materials, Results, Conclusions.

Authors must provide 2–5 keywords below the abstract.

6. Tables and Figures

All tables and figures must follow APA 7th edition guidelines.

Tables

  • Tables should be numbered consecutively (e.g., Table 1, Table 2).
  • Table titles should appear above the table in italic sentence case.
  • Avoid vertical lines in tables.
  • Use clear and concise headings.
  • Cite the source below the table where applicable.

Figures

  • Figures should be numbered consecutively (e.g., figure 1, figure 2).
  • Figures should be clear, readable, and of high quality.
  • Figure captions should appear below the figure.
  • All figures must be cited in the text.

7. Referencing Style

All manuscripts must follow the APA 7th edition referencing style.

In-text Citations

Examples:

  • Single author: (Sonali, 2023)
  • Two authors: (Sonali & Ribha, 2022)
  • Three or more authors: (Ribha et al., 2021)

Reference List

  • References should appear at the end of the manuscript.
  • Arrange entries alphabetically by the surname of the first author.
  • Use hanging indentation.
  • Include DOI links where available.

Example:

Sonali, B. (2023). Educational technology in higher education. Sage Publications. https://doi.org/xxxxx

 8. Manuscript Files for Double-Blind Peer Review

Authors must submit two separate files.

File 1: Anonymous Manuscript

This file should include:

  • Title
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Main text
  • Tables and figures
  • References
  • Appendices (if applicable)

This file must not contain:

  • Author names
  • Affiliations
  • Acknowledgements
  • Funding information
  • Any identifying information in file metadata

File 2: Title Page and Author Details

This file should include:

  • Manuscript title
  • Author names and affiliations
  • Corresponding author details
  • ORCID iDs (if available)
  • Acknowledgements
  • Funding information
  • Declaration of Interest Statement

9. Language

Manuscripts should be written in clear academic English. Authors may use either British English or American English, provided usage remains consistent throughout the manuscript.

10. Supplementary Files

Supplementary materials may be submitted separately where necessary. Authors should ensure that all supplementary files are clearly labelled and suitable for peer review.