Authors Guidelines

Authors should carefully review the Aims & Scope of the Journal of Development and Social Sciences (JDSS) before submitting a manuscript. Submission confirms that all authors have approved the manuscript and that issues relating to authorship, ethics, originality, copyright, data, figures, and references have been properly addressed.

JDSS is an open-access journal, and published articles are freely available to readers. Any applicable Article Processing Charge (APC) is payable according to the journal's current publication-fee policy.

1. Submission

Manuscripts must be written in clear English and submitted through the JDSS online submission system. The manuscript should be uploaded as a Microsoft Word file containing the complete text, tables, figures, and appendices, where applicable.

Research articles should normally be 3,000–5,000 words, including the abstract, references, tables, figures, and appendices.

2. Title Page

The title page should contain:

  • Full title of the manuscript
  • Full names of all authors
  • Institutional affiliations and postal addresses
  • Name and contact details of the corresponding author

3. Abstract

The abstract should be 100–150 words, written as one paragraph without headings. It should briefly state the study's purpose, methodology, main findings, and conclusion. Relevant limitations or implications may also be included.

4. Keywords

Provide 3–6 relevant keywords immediately after the abstract. Keywords should accurately represent the subject of the manuscript and facilitate its discovery by readers.

5. Abbreviations

Write an abbreviation in full at its first appearance, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. Use the abbreviation consistently thereafter.

6. Tables and Figures

Tables: Tables should have clear headings and be prepared using the table function in Microsoft Word where possible. For large tables, the font size may be reduced but should not normally be below 8 points.

Figures: Figures should be placed at appropriate points in the manuscript and must be clear and readable. Images should normally have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi or at least 1000 pixels in width or height.

7. References and Citations

JDSS uses the APA 6th Edition author–date referencing style. Every source cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their citations and references.

8. Funding, Acknowledgements, Conflicts of Interest and Data Availability

Funding

Authors must disclose all financial support received for the research or publication. If there was no external funding, authors should state:

“This research received no external funding.”

Where applicable, funding agencies, grant numbers, and publication-related support should be identified.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements may be used for individuals or organizations that provided assistance but do not qualify for authorship.

Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal interests that could influence the research. If none exists, authors should state:

“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

Data Availability

Where applicable, manuscripts should include a Data Availability Statement before the References. Authors should explain how the data supporting the study can be accessed.

Examples include:

  • “The data supporting the findings of this study are publicly available in [Repository Name] at [DOI/URL].”
  • “The dataset generated and analyzed in this study is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.”
  • “The data are not publicly available due to ethical, privacy, or legal restrictions.”
  • “Data sharing is not applicable because no new empirical dataset was generated or analyzed.”

Manuscripts requiring a Data Availability Statement but submitted without one may be returned to the authors before peer review.

9. Research Involving Human Participants

Research involving human participants must follow recognized ethical standards. Where applicable:

  • Appropriate institutional ethical approval must be obtained.
  • Informed consent must be obtained from participants before participation.
  • Relevant risks and ethical safeguards should be explained.
  • Participant information should be reported responsibly and without compromising privacy.
  • Compensation should be reasonable and must not constitute undue inducement.
  • Evidence of ethical approval or informed consent may be requested during the editorial or review process.

10. Appendices

Appendices, where necessary, should be placed after the main text and before the References or in the position specified by the journal's submission system.

11. Reviewer Suggestions

Authors may suggest up to three qualified reviewers with appropriate expertise. Suggested reviewers should:

  • Have no recent collaboration or co-authorship with the submitting authors, normally within the previous three years.
  • Be affiliated with institutions independent of the authors.
  • Have relevant expertise in the subject of the manuscript.

Reviewer suggestions are only recommendations. The final selection of reviewers remains the responsibility of the JDSS Editorial Team.