Journal Policy

Author Guidelines

The manuscript texts are written in English or Indonesia. Manuscripts will be first reviewed by editorial boards. The main text of a manuscript must be submitted as a Word document {.doc} or Rich Text Format {.rtf} file. The manuscript consists of 5000 words {minimum}, well-typed in single column on A4 size paper, use 12 pt of Times New Roman. The manuscript contains an original work and have potentially contribute to the highly scientific advancement.

The manuscript should contain the following section in this order:

Title: Title of articles in English should describe the main content of manuscripts, be informative, concise, and not too wordy {12-15 words only}, and does not contain formulas.

The authors name: Full name without academic degrees and titles, written in capital letters. Manuscript written by groups needs to supplemented by complete contact details.

Name of affiliation for each author: The author’s name should be accompanied by complete affiliation address, postal code number, telephone number and email address.

Abstract: Written briefly in English in one paragraph of 150-200 words, containing background, research objectives, methodology, results, conclusion of the study and your research contributions to science.

Keywords: Written in English 3-5 words or groups of words, written alphabetically.

Introduction: Explaining the background, problems, importance of research, brief literature review that relates directly to research or previous findings that need to be developed, and ended with a paragraph of research purposes. A balance must be kept between the pure and applied aspects of the subject. The introduction is presented in the form of paragraphs of approximately 1000 words.

Methods: Make sure that work can be repeated according to the details provided. It contains technical information of the study presented clearly. Therefore, readers can conduct research based on the techniques presented. Materials and equipment specifications are necessary. Approaches or procedures of study together with data analysis methods must be presented.

Results and Discussion: Well-prepared tables and or figures must be of significant feature of this section, because they convey the major observations to readers. Any information provided in tables and figures should no longer be repeated in the text, but the text should focus on the importance of the principal findings of the study. In general, journal papers will contain three-seven figures and tables. Same data cannot be presented in the form of tables and figures. The results of the study are discussed to address the problem formulated, objectives and research hypotheses. It is highly suggested that discussion be focused on the why and how of the research findings can happen and to extend to which the research findings can be applied to other relevant problems.

Conclusion: Conclusion should be withdrawn on the basis of research findings, formulated concerns and research purposes. Conclusion is presented in one paragraph without numerical form of expression. Explain your research contributions to science.

Acknowledgement: Contributors who are not mentioned as authors should be acknowledged, and their particular contribution should be described. All sources of funding for the work must be acknowledged, both the research funder and the grant number {if applicable} should be given for each source of funds.

References: Manuscripts are written by using standard citation application {Mendeley/Endnote/Zotero}. APA {American Psychological Association} reference style is required.

Authorship Criteria

In accordance with COPE guidelines and international standards (such as ICMJE), all listed authors must meet all four of the following criteria:

  • Substantial Contributions: Significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work.

  • Drafting and Revising: Drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content.

  • Final Approval: Final approval of the version to be published.

  • Accountability: Agreement 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.

General Authorship Guidelines

  • Contributors & Acknowledgments: Individuals who contributed to the study (e.g., funding acquisition, administrative support, general supervision, or copyediting) but do not meet all four authorship criteria must be recognized in the Acknowledgments section with their explicit permission.

  • Ghost, Guest, and Gift Authorship: Ghost authorship (omitting eligible authors), guest authorship (including names due to prestige), and gift authorship (including names without contribution) are strictly prohibited.

  • Author Changes: Requests to add, remove, or reorder author names after submission must be accompanied by a clear justification and a written agreement signed by all listed authors.

Manuscript Types

The journal accepts the following categories of submissions:

  • Original Research Articles: Full-length papers presenting substantial, novel empirical or theoretical research findings.

  • Review Articles: Comprehensive, critical, and systematic evaluation of existing literature on a specific topic within the journal's scope.

  • Short Communications / Brief Reports: Concise preliminary findings or significant breakthroughs requiring rapid dissemination.

Publication Schedule

  • Frequency: The journal operates on a Bi-annual  publication frequency, issuing volumes in March and September.

  • Continuous Publication Model: Accepted articles that have completed the proofreading and layout process may be published online ahead of print as "Online First" or as part of the current active issue to ensure immediate accessibility.

Allegation of Research Misconduct

The journal takes all allegations of research and publication misconduct seriously and addresses them in strict accordance with the relevant COPE Flowcharts.

  • Scope of Misconduct: Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, data fabrication, data falsification, duplicate/redundant submission, plagiarism, unethical research practices, improper image manipulation, and failure to disclose conflicts of interest.

  • Investigation Process:

    1. Initial Assessment: The Editor-in-Chief reviews the evidence presented.

    2. Inquiry: The Editor contacts the author(s) or accused parties to request a formal explanation and supporting data/documentation.

    3. Escalation: If the response is unsatisfactory or indicates serious misconduct, the journal will notify the author’s institution, funding bodies, or appropriate oversight organizations for a formal investigation.

  • Whistleblower Confidentiality: Allegations made by whistleblowers are handled with strict confidentiality to protect all parties involved until an outcome is reached.

Conflict of Interest (Competing Interests)

Transparency is essential for maintaining trust in the scientific process.

  • Mandatory Disclosure: All authors, peer reviewers, and editors must declare any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias their actions or decisions regarding the work.

  • Author Declarations: Authors must include a "Conflict of Interest Statement" in the manuscript. If no conflict exists, the manuscript must explicitly state: "The author(s) declare no conflict of interest."

  • Reviewers & Editors:

    • Reviewers must decline invitations to review manuscripts if they have direct financial, professional, or personal connections with any author or institution involved.

    • Editors who have a potential conflict with a manuscript will recuse themselves and delegate handling of the submission to another unconflicted member of the editorial board.

Post-Publication Discussions

The journal encourages scholarly debate and post-publication dialogue to advance scientific understanding.

  • Letters to the Editor: Readers may submit formal comments or critiques on articles published in the journal.

  • Process for Critiques:

    1. Submitted critiques undergo editorial review and, if deemed substantive, peer review.

    2. The original authors are invited to submit a formal response/rebuttal.

    3. Both the critique and the response are published concurrently whenever possible to provide balanced dialogue.

  • Community Feedback: Objections or errors raised via post-publication platforms or direct communications are reviewed by the editorial board following COPE principles.

Correction, Retraction, and Expressions of Concern

When errors or misconduct affect the published record, the journal will issue formal notices linked directly to the original article in accordance with COPE Guidelines for Retractions and Corrections.

  • Errata / Corrigenda (Corrections):

    • Issued to correct significant errors that affect the scientific interpretation, accuracy, or clarity of the article without invalidating its overall conclusions or integrity.

    • A formal notice is published and linked directly to the original article page.

  • Retractions:

    • Articles will be retracted if the findings are unreliable due to major honest error or deliberate misconduct (e.g., fabrication, plagiarism, un-reproducible results), or if the publication breaches ethical standards.

    • A formal Retraction Notice is published detailing the reasons for retraction. The original article PDF/HTML is watermarked as "RETRACTED" but remains accessible to preserve the historical record.

  • Expressions of Concern:

    • Issued by the Editor-in-Chief if an investigation into alleged misconduct is inconclusive or prolonged, or where notice is required while a formal investigation is ongoing.

Ownership and Management

  • Publishing Entity: This journal is owned and published by Universitas Negeri Semarang

  • Editorial Independence: The journal's management and editorial process operate under strict principle of editorial independence. The owner/publisher does not interfere with editorial decisions regarding peer review or article acceptance.

  • Contact Information: Full legal and contact details of the publisher, including institutional address, registered business details, and contact emails, are publicly available on the journal’s website.