Author Guidelines

These guidelines apply to authors submitting manuscripts to the International Journal of Psychology and Health Science (IJPHS). Manuscripts that do not follow these guidelines and the journal template will be returned to the authors before review.

Contents

  1. Manuscript Types
  2. Manuscript Structure
  3. Formatting Requirements
  4. Citations and References
  5. Submission
  6. From Review to Publication
  7. Related Policies

1. Manuscript Types

IJPHS accepts two types of manuscripts within its Focus and Scope:

Type Description Requirements
Research Article Original research using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. 7–15 pages; at least 20 journal references
Literature Review A review of research developments on a topic in psychology or health science, with a transparently described search and selection method (e.g., systematic review or narrative review). 7–15 pages; at least 20 journal references

Select the manuscript type under Section when submitting. Both types undergo double-blind peer review by two to three reviewers.

2. Manuscript Structure

Front matter (both types):

  • Title: concise and informative, reflecting the content of the manuscript.
  • Authors: full names without academic titles, with affiliation (institution, city, country) and email. Indicate the corresponding author.
  • Abstract: one paragraph in English, no more than 200 words, covering background, objectives, methods, results, and conclusions. No citations or abbreviations.
  • Keywords: 3–5 keywords in lowercase (except abbreviations), separated by commas.

Main text:

Section Research Article Literature Review
Introduction Background, brief literature review, research gap and rationale, research questions, and objectives. Background of the topic, why the review is needed, and review questions.
Research Methods Research design, participants or population and sample, setting and time, instruments, data collection and analysis, and ethical approval and informed consent where applicable. Search strategy: databases, keywords, publication period, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and number of studies reviewed.
Results and Discussion Findings (may be presented in tables or figures), analysis, and interpretation answering the research questions. Synthesis of findings grouped by theme, comparison, and identified research gaps.
Conclusions Answers the research or review questions in paragraph form (not bullet points), without repeating the abstract. May include implications and suggestions for future research.
Declarations Conflict of interest statement, funding sources (if any), and AI use statement (see AI Statement).
Acknowledgment Optional, for those who assisted but do not meet the authorship criteria.
References See Section 4.

Recommended proportions: Abstract and Introduction no more than 25%, Methods no more than 10%, Results and Discussion at least 40%, Conclusions and References no more than 25%.

3. Formatting Requirements

  • Manuscripts are written in English. Authors are encouraged to have the manuscript proofread before submission.
  • Manuscripts must use the IJPHS template. Detailed layout rules (font sizes, heading colours, page numbering) follow the template.
  • A4 paper, 2.54 cm margins on all sides, Times New Roman 12 pt, single spacing, justified.
  • Length: 7–15 pages, including tables, figures, and references.
  • Tables: numbered, with the title above the table, horizontal lines only, and the source below the table. Tables must be cited in the text.
  • Figures: numbered, centred, with the caption below the figure and the source where applicable. Figures must be cited in the text.
  • Headings use Arabic numerals, with no more than three levels.
  • Similarity index (Turnitin) no more than 25%, in accordance with the Plagiarism Policy.

4. Citations and References

  • Citations and references follow the APA style, 7th edition. Example in-text citation: (Smith, 2020).
  • Use reference management software such as Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote.
  • At least 20 references from international and national scientific journals, preferably published within the last 5 years.
  • Every in-text citation must appear in the reference list and vice versa. Include DOIs where available.
  • References are listed alphabetically.

5. Submission

  1. Register as an Author, or log in if you already have an account.
  2. Select New Submission, choose the Section matching your manuscript type, and complete the Submission Checklist.
  3. Upload the manuscript in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx) without author names and affiliations to preserve double-blind review.
  4. Enter the metadata: title, abstract, keywords, and details of all authors with affiliations and emails.
  5. Upload the signed Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement Form as a supplementary file (required), and the AI use statement if applicable.

By submitting, authors confirm that the manuscript is original, has not been published, is not under consideration elsewhere, and has been approved by all authors in accordance with the Authorship Criteria.

6. From Review to Publication

  1. Initial screening by the editor: scope, template compliance, and similarity index.
  2. Double-blind peer review by two to three reviewers (see Peer Review Process).
  3. Revision by the authors based on reviewers' comments.
  4. Editorial decision: accept, revise, or reject.
  5. Payment of the Article Processing Charge after acceptance and receipt of the invoice.
  6. Copyediting and layout, including galley proof checking by the authors.
  7. Publication according to the Publication Schedule, with a Crossref DOI.

7. Related Policies