Author Guidelines

Authors are invited to submit original manuscripts that fit the aims and scope of JSP. Submissions must not have been previously published and must not be under consideration by another journal. All manuscripts are submitted through the online OJS submission system.

Before submitting, authors should ensure that the manuscript has a clear title, self-contained abstract, relevant keywords, coherent structure, appropriate methodology or conceptual framework, properly cited sources, complete references, and all required ethical declarations. Manuscripts that do not meet these minimum standards may be returned to authors or declined before peer review.

JSP uses double-anonymous peer review for research articles. Authors must submit two files: (1) a Title Page containing author details and declarations, and (2) an Anonymous Manuscript without author names, acknowledgements, institutional identifiers, or self-identifying references.

Manuscript categories and length

Type

Description

Recommended length

Original Research Article

Full-length empirical, theoretical, historical, interpretive, or policy research with a clear contribution.

5,000-8,000 words

Review Article

Critical synthesis of existing scholarship with a clear argument, gap, and contribution.

5,000-8,000 words

Policy / Practice Analysis

Research-informed analysis of policy, institutional practice, social programme, education model, development intervention, or governance issue.

3,500-6,000 words

Research Note

Focused empirical or methodological contribution, pilot study, dataset note, field reflection, or emerging issue.

2,500-4,000 words

Book Review

Critical review of a recent scholarly book relevant to JSP’s scope.

1,000-1,500 words

Editorial / Commentary

Usually invited. Addresses a current issue, special issue, or journal direction.

1,500-3,000 words

 

Manuscript preparation

  • File format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt; line spacing: 1.5; margins: 1 inch.
  • Title: concise, informative, and normally not more than 20 words.
  • Abstract: 100-200 words, summarizing the purpose, method/approach, main findings/argument, and contribution.
  • Keywords: 4-6 keywords separated by semicolons.
  • Headings: use clear numbered or unnumbered headings consistently.
  • Tables and figures: numbered consecutively, titled clearly, cited in the text, and supplied in editable or high-resolution form where possible.
  • References: all in-text citations must appear in the reference list and all reference-list entries must be cited in the text.
  • Page numbers: include page numbers in the anonymous manuscript.
  • Language: use clear academic English; avoid discriminatory language and unsupported claims.

Recommended article structure

Research articles should normally include the following elements, adjusted according to discipline and method:

Title; Abstract; Keywords; Introduction; Literature Review or Conceptual Framework; Methodology / Materials and Methods / Analytical Approach; Findings / Analysis; Discussion; Conclusion; Acknowledgements; Funding Statement; Declaration of Conflicting Interests; Data Availability Statement; Ethics Approval Statement where applicable; References; Appendices where needed.

Humanities and interpretive social-science manuscripts may use thematic headings instead of a strict IMRaD structure, but they must still present a clear research problem, argument, method or approach, evidence, and contribution.

Reference style

JSP follows APA 7th edition author-date referencing as its default style. Authors must ensure that all references are complete, accurate, and consistently formatted. DOI links should be provided where available. Page numbers must be included for direct quotations. Authors are responsible for checking every citation before submission.

Anonymisation for double-anonymous review

  • Remove author names, affiliations, acknowledgements, funding details, and contact information from the anonymous manuscript.
  • Replace self-identifying references with neutral wording where necessary, such as “Author, 2022” only if essential. Full details should be restored after acceptance.
  • Remove author-identifying information from file properties before upload.
  • Do not include institutional ethics approval numbers in a way that identifies the institution during review, unless required by law or ethics rules. Provide full details after acceptance.
  • Upload a separate Title Page with complete author and declaration information.

Title Page requirements

  • Full manuscript title.
  • All author names in the correct order.
  • Affiliation, department, institution, city, country, and email address for each author.
  • Corresponding author’s full contact details.
  • ORCID ID for each author where available.
  • Author contribution statement.
  • Funding statement.
  • Declaration of conflicting interests.
  • Ethics approval and consent statement, if applicable.
  • Data availability statement, if applicable.
  • Acknowledgements, if any.
  • Word count.

Submission Preparation Checklist

  1. The manuscript fits the aims and scope of JSP.
  2. The manuscript is original and is not under consideration elsewhere.
  3. The anonymous manuscript contains no author-identifying information.
  4. The title page contains full author details and required declarations.
  5. The abstract is 150-250 words and the manuscript includes 4-6 keywords.
  6. All references are complete, accurate, and consistently formatted in APA 7th edition style.
  7. All tables, figures, appendices, and supplementary files are numbered, titled, and cited in the text.
  8. Permission has been obtained for any copyrighted material reproduced in the manuscript.
  9. Ethics approval, consent, and data statements are included where required.
  10. The manuscript has been checked for language, structure, plagiarism, and citation accuracy.