Word Template and Guidelines

Our tailored article template (Microsfot Word) will help you format and structure your article, with useful general advice and Word tips.

Article Preparation

• Word Count: An original article should consist of 5,000 to 7,000 words (excluding figures, tables, and references). Articles exceeding 7,000 words will be considered if of high quality. Articles under 4,000 words will be screened out at the first stage of scrutiny.

Title, Abstract, Keywords, Addresses, Biographical Notes

Please adhere to the following guidelines when preparing your manuscript:

• Title: Should be as concise as possible, without abbreviations or acronyms.

• Abstract: Approximately 100-150 words. It should be divided into five sections:

  1. Objective
  2. Design
  3. Findings
  4. Policy Implications
  5. Originality

• Keywords: Include approximately 4-10 words or phrases that are crucial for online searching.

• Affiliation: Include the department, name of the institution, country and email address for each author.

• Biographical Notes (Optional): Approximately 100-150 words per author.

File Submission Requirements

At the submission stage, you must upload two separate files:

1. Title Page: This file should include the article's title, all author details (names, affiliations, email addresses), and any biographical notes.

2. Blind Manuscript: This file should strictly adhere to the following structure to maintain the integrity of the blind review process:

   1. Abstract
   2. Introduction
   3. Literature Review (Hypothesis Development)
   4. Methodology
   5. Findings
   6. Discussion
   7. References

   This file must not include any author details or acknowledgments. Ensure that all author names, email addresses, affiliations, and biographical notes are completely removed. The blind manuscript should only contain the title, abstract, keywords, and the content structured as outlined above.

Important: Failure to submit both the Title Page and the Blind Manuscript will result in delays in the review process.

Online Submission System

When submitting your manuscript via our OJS submission system, please ensure that:

• You enter all author details (names, affiliations, and email addresses) in the online submission form. This information is crucial for processing your submission correctly.

References

• APA Style: SJOM follows the APA referencing style. For detailed guidance, please refer to the Sixth Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association or visit APA Style.
• Ensure that all works cited in the text are included in the References section, and that all citations are machine-readable. We strongly encourage using citation management software such as EndNote or Mendeley.

Points of Interest

• Acknowledgment: Submissions will be acknowledged via email upon receipt.
• Review Process: We aim to make an editorial decision within 15 days. However, please note that the review cycle may vary due to external circumstances. Typically, each manuscript is reviewed by at least two experts and read by a section editor.
• Revisions: If revisions are requested, authors will receive a detailed letter outlining the key issues. The revision period typically ranges from two to three weeks.

Changes to Authorship after Submission

• If there are changes to the authorship after submission, such as adding or removing an author, a letter signed by all original authors must be uploaded as a supplementary file. This letter must explain the reason for the change and confirm the agreement of all authors on the addition or removal of an author.

COPE flowcharts:

• The corresponding author requests addition of the extra author before publication [PDF, 128KB]
• The corresponding author requests the removal of the author before publication [PDF, 134KB]