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. Please read carefully the following submission guidelines:

Types of articles

The journal accepts three main categories of submissions: research articles, short reports, and opinion/commentary pieces. Research articles present comprehensive theoretical or empirical analyses and are expected to be well-structured, though no strict word limit is imposed. Short reports are concise contributions that communicate preliminary findings, methodological innovations, or focused analyses within a limited scope. Opinion or commentary pieces provide critical reflections, perspectives, or debates on emerging or contested issues in social sciences. Regardless of the type, all submissions should maintain academic rigor and clarity of expression.

Research articles

Research articles should present original and substantial contributions to knowledge and may vary in length, although clarity and conciseness are essential. Each article must begin with a single-paragraph abstract of up to 350 words summarising the objectives, data, methods, key findings, and conclusions. The main text is typically organized into sections such as Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References; however, flexibility in structure is permitted where appropriate. Authors should avoid unnecessary elaboration and ensure logical progression of ideas. The manuscript should demonstrate methodological rigor, analytical depth, and relevance to broader scholarly debates, while maintaining coherence and readability throughout.

 Perspectives

Perspectives are designed for concise communication of focused research findings or methodological insights. The total length of the manuscript should not exceed 2000 words, including the abstract and references. If tables or figures are included (limited to one page), the text should be restricted to 1500 words. The abstract should be brief, with a maximum length of 250 words. Unlike research articles, short reports should be written as a single, continuous section without subdivision into Introduction, Methods, Results, or Discussion. Authors should prioritize clarity and precision, presenting key findings succinctly while ensuring that the context and significance of the work are clearly conveyed.

Opinion and commentary

The journal welcomes opinion and commentary pieces that engage critically with current issues, policies, or debates in the social sciences. These submissions should not exceed 2000 words, excluding references. The format is flexible, allowing authors to structure their arguments in a manner best suited to their perspective. However, the writing should remain analytical, evidence-informed, and grounded in relevant scholarship. Authors are encouraged to present clear arguments, support their viewpoints with appropriate references, and contribute constructively to ongoing academic or policy discussions. The tone should be scholarly yet accessible, fostering dialogue and encouraging further research and debate within the academic community.

Submitting your materials

Manuscripts should be submitted via email to the journal’s official address (socialsciencespectrum@gmail.com). Authors must submit a single Word document (Word 2010 or newer) containing the complete manuscript, including text, tables, and figures integrated within the document. Any supplementary appendices may be submitted as separate files, if applicable. The manuscript should be formatted in 11-point Times New Roman font with single line spacing, except for the abstract, which follows separate specifications. Authors should ensure that all files are clearly labelled and complete at the time of submission. Incomplete or improperly formatted submissions may be returned to authors for revision prior to peer review.

 Cover Letter

A cover letter must accompany all submissions and should briefly describe the purpose, significance, and originality of the manuscript. Authors should explain why the submission is suitable for Social Science Spectrum and how it aligns with the journal’s scope. The letter may also highlight any unique contributions, methodological strengths, or policy relevance of the study.

 Language

All manuscripts must be written in clear and grammatically correct English, following British spelling conventions. Authors whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to have their manuscripts reviewed by a proficient English speaker prior to submission.

Title page

The manuscript must include a title page providing essential author information. This should include the full title of the paper, the names of all authors, and their respective institutional affiliations. A complete postal address and email address for each author should be provided, along with clear identification of the corresponding author.

Manuscript structure

Authors should organize their manuscripts in a clear and logical manner. Abbreviations must be defined at first mention and used consistently thereafter. Footnotes may be used sparingly to provide additional information but should not consist solely of references or include bibliographic details. Figures and tables should not appear in footnotes. The manuscript should maintain coherence, with smooth transitions between sections and a consistent writing style. The manuscript should include the following sections, but is not limited to them:

1.       Abstract

Each manuscript must include an abstract of 150–250 words, written in a single paragraph. The abstract should clearly summarize the aim of the study, data sources, methods, key findings, and main conclusions. It should be self-contained and should not include undefined abbreviations or references. Authors must also provide 4–6 keywords to facilitate indexing and discoverability. The abstract should be formatted in 10-point Times New Roman font with single line spacing.

2.       Background

The background should clearly outline the context and significance of the study. Authors should provide a brief review of relevant literature, identify gaps in existing knowledge, and state the research objectives or questions. The rationale for the study should be clearly articulated, highlighting its contribution to the field. The background should set the stage for the analysis that follows, guiding readers through the conceptual framework and research focus.

 3.       Data and method

This section should describe the data sources, study design, and analytical methods used in the research. Authors must provide sufficient detail to enable replication or critical evaluation of the study. Information on sampling, variables, data collection procedures, and statistical techniques should be clearly presented. Any limitations or assumptions should also be acknowledged. Authors should ensure that the methods are appropriate for addressing the research questions and are described in a clear and systematic manner.

 4.       Results

The results section should present the findings of the study in a clear and logical sequence. Authors should focus on key results relevant to the research objectives, avoiding unnecessary repetition of data. Tables and figures should be used effectively to summarize and illustrate findings, and each should be clearly referenced in the text. Results should be presented objectively, without interpretation or speculation, which should be reserved for the discussion section. 

5.  Discussion and conclusion

The discussion should interpret the results in relation to the research questions and existing literature. Authors should highlight the significance of their findings, discuss their implications, and acknowledge any limitations of the study. The discussion should also suggest directions for future research and, where relevant, policy implications. This section should demonstrate the contribution of the study and to engage critically with the findings. If applicable as separate heading for conclusion can be given. 

Tables

•          All tables are to be numbered using Arabic numerals.
•          Tables should always be cited in text in consecutive numerical order.
•          For each table, please supply a table caption (title) explaining the components of the table.
•          Footnotes to tables should be indicated by superscript lower-case letters (or asterisks for significance values and other statistical data) and included beneath the table body.

Figures

•          All figures are to be numbered using Arabic numerals.
•          Figures should always be cited in text in consecutive numerical order.
•          Figure parts should be denoted by lowercase letters (a, b, c, etc.).
• If an appendix appears in your article and it contains one or more figures, continue the consecutive numbering of the main text. Do not number the appendix figures,"A1, A2, A3, etc."

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

This journal is committed to upholding the integrity of the scientific record. Authors should refrain from misrepresenting research results, which could damage the trust in the journal, the professionalism of scientific authorship, and ultimately the entire scientific endeavour. Maintaining the integrity of the research and its presentation is helped by following the rules of good scientific practice, which include:

1. The manuscript should not be submitted to more than one journal for simultaneous consideration.
2. The submitted work should be original and should not have been published elsewhere in any form or language (partially or in full).
3. A single study should not be split up into several parts to increase the quantity of submissions and submitted to various journals or to one journal over time (i.e. ‘salami-slicing/publishing’).
4. Concurrent or secondary publication is sometimes justifiable, provided certain conditions are met. Examples include: translations or a manuscript that is intended for a different group of readers.
5. Results should be presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification or inappropriate data manipulation (including image based manipulation). Authors should adhere to discipline-specific rules for acquiring, selecting and processing data.
6. No data, text, or theories by others are presented as if they were the author’s own (‘plagiarism’). Proper acknowledgements to other works must be given (this includes material that is closely copied (near verbatim), summarized and/or paraphrased), quotation marks (to indicate words taken from another source) are used for verbatim copying of material, and permissions secured for material that is copyrighted.

Clarity on Authorship

The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before the work is submitted.

The Journal does not prescribe the kinds of contributions that warrant authorship. It is recommended that authors adhere to the guidelines for authorship that are applicable in their specific research field. In absence of specific guidelines, it is recommended to adhere to the following guidelines:

All authors whose names appear on the submission

1.   made substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data; or the creation of new software used in the work;

2.     drafted the work or revised it critically for important intellectual content;

3.     approved the version to be published; and

4.    agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Author Responsibility and Liability

The author(s) shall be solely responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the content submitted for publication. Any disputes, claims, or legal issues arising from the manuscript—including but not limited to plagiarism, copyright infringement, data misrepresentation, authorship conflicts, or ethical violations—shall be the exclusive responsibility of the author(s). The journal, its editors, and publishers shall not be held liable for any such disputes or claims at any stage of the submission, review, or publication process. By submitting a manuscript, the author(s) explicitly agree to indemnify and hold the journal harmless against any legal or ethical issues arising from the published work.