Guidelines for Researchers

Instructions for Researchers Publishing in Al-Quds Journal for Academic Research- Humanities and Social Sciences:

Al-Quds Journal for Academic Research – Humanities and Social Sciences Edition is a peer-reviewed, specialized scientific journal issued by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Al-Quds University. It focuses on publishing original quantitative and qualitative studies that meet the criteria of scientific research in terms of originality, clear methodology, and accurate referencing in the fields of humanities, social sciences, and education.

General Publication Requirements:

The following information is essential for preparing scientific research submissions. Research can be written in either English or Arabic. In English, authors may use either American or British English but must avoid mixing the two. The font type must be Times New Roman. For Arabic, the font should be Simplified Arabic, with double-line spacing, font size 12, A4 page size, and one-inch margins on all sides. Content must be numbered on the left side for English and the right side for Arabic.

Authors must adhere to the following publication requirements; non-compliant submissions will not be considered until corrected:

  1. The research must not have been previously published or submitted elsewhere and should not be submitted to another journal until a decision is made.
  2. The research must not be part of a published book or study.
  3. Authors may not republish the work or parts of it after its publication in this journal without written permission from the Editor-in-Chief.
  4. Copyright is retained by the journal.
  5. The journal reserves the right to request the deletion or modification of any part of the research to align with its publication policy.
  6. The order and priority of research publication depend on editorial considerations.
  7. Researchers must adhere to academic integrity, ensure precise citation from other sources, and accurately document these sources in the text and reference list. Plagiarism rates will be verified.
  8. Attach research tools in a separate file.
  9. The manuscript must be linguistically sound in both Arabic and English. It must be reviewed by a linguistic specialist. Submissions or abstracts translated using Google Translate or similar software will not be accepted.
  10. The research should not exceed 8,000 words, including references and abstracts.
  11. Indicate if the research is derived from a master’s or doctoral thesis.

Research Structure:

  1. Cover Page:
    • Includes the title, full names of all authors, official institutional affiliations, and emails. These details must be on a separate page, not in the manuscript.
    • Designate a corresponding author responsible for communication.
    • Equal-contribution authors should be marked with an asterisk (*).
  2. Abstract:
    • Write a precise abstract of up to 400 words without abbreviations or references. It should summarize the purpose, main findings, and conclusions in both Arabic and English.
  3. Keywords:
    • Provide 3–5 keywords under a specific heading that represent and frequently appear in the research.
  4. Introduction:
    • Present the research problem, its significance, theoretical framework, and a literature review that integrates both Arabic and foreign studies. Define terms operationally, ensuring all references and citations are accurately documented.
  5. Research Questions and Methodology:
    • Include methodology, population, sample, tools, data handling, and procedures.
  6. Discussion:
    • Discuss findings based on the methodology, segmented into sections as per the subject. Include practical implications, applications, or relevance in the conclusions.
  7. Conclusion (Results and Recommendations):
    • Summarize findings in text, tables, or figures, with detailed descriptions.
  8. References (Documentation):
    • Use author-date citation style, arranging references alphabetically. Recommended tools include EndNote, APA, or Mendeley. Adhere to internationally recognized citation styles.
  9. Appendices (if applicable):

Figures:

  • Figures must be original and provided as separate files (max one page each).
  • Multi-part figures (A, B, C, etc.) should be consolidated into one.
  • Number figures sequentially and include a title (max 10 words) and descriptive caption (max 200 words).

Tables:

  • Number tables sequentially. Create using Word’s Table Object, not as images.
  • Tables exceeding one A4 page should be supplemental materials.
  • Use Times New Roman font, black text only, without shading or decorative elements. Limit to seven tables.

Footnotes:

  • Footnotes are not allowed. Include all necessary information in the main text or references.

 

Peer Review Process:

Stage 1: The editorial board reviews submissions to ensure compliance with journal standards, originality, and contribution to knowledge. The research is either rejected or sent for review.
Stage 2:

  1. Two reviewers evaluate the research within four weeks.
  2. If opinions differ, a third reviewer is consulted, whose decision is final.
  3. Authors are notified of the outcome within 3–6 months and must complete revisions within the given timeframe. Failure to do so will result in rejection.

Stage 3: Research is accepted if revisions meet requirements. Otherwise, it may be rejected if modifications are insufficient.