Guidelines for Authors

JOSS requires authors to select the appropriate manuscript type and to comply with the descriptions defined in the journal. Manuscripts are invited in the following categories: Research Article, Comment/Research Note, Review Article and Book Review.

The Manuscript should be typewritten (Times New Roman-11 font Size, headings and Subheadings bold, 12 font size), double-spaced, with one inch margin on all sides. The accepted file format is Microsoft Words. The pages should be numbered serially throughout the paper. Illustrations and other materials reproduced from publication must be properly cited and credited.

Categories of Manuscripts

  • Empirical Research Article (Not exceeding 6000 word): In-depth analysis and recent trends. It should contain Abstract, Keywords, Acknowledgement. The structure for such empirical research papers is mentioned in the “general” instructions on this page.
  • Comment/Research Note (Not exceeding 2000 words): This should comprise of important findings that are novel and of fairly broad interest. It should include brief abstract.
  • Conceptual/Systematic review article: This involves a comprehensive analysis of all relevant research on a particular topic. Major aim should be to synthesize and summarize the available evidence to answer a specific research question. The protocol to be followed should ensure transparency, reproducibility and minimal bias.
  • Book review: It should aim to provide potential readers with insights into book’s content, style and overall quality. It should comprise of introduction, summary, analysis, themes and messages conveyed in the respective book, conclusion and recommendation.

General
Manuscripts submitted to JOSS must be written in English. There is no fixed format but text can be usually can be divided into separated sections, organized by Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgement, Conflict of Interest, Appendix and Reference.
Paper Title
A title of no more than 12-20 words should be brief, specific, and informative.
Author Details
Author’s full name should be given; The names of multiple authors are to be separated by a comma; Full affiliation is to be provided for each author including academic affiliation (or postal address), city, postcode, country, e-mail(optional); If multiple authors have contributed to the article, details of the corresponding author should be clear. It is compulsory to provide the email address of the corresponding author.
Abstract
The abstract should be written in a paragraph with 200-350 words and it should be a concise summary of the key elements of the study. It is snapshot of the entire research article. It should state the background of the research, purpose, methodologies, principal results, major conclusions and its contributions to the field. New and important aspects of the study should be emphasized. Research limitations and practical/social implications should also be included, if relevant to your manuscripts.

Public Significance Statement

It should be written as a non-technical paragraph of 100 words, explaining the importance of your research for the world beyond acedemia.
Keywords
3-10 keywords to be included about the major themes that capture the main topics or concepts addressed in the research. These keywords help with the indexing and searching for the article. Introduction
It serves as the opening statement providing context, theoretical background and justification for the study. It provides a brief overview of the scope and relevance of the research, especially with regard to previous advancements in related fields.
Materials and Methods
It should present the research design, research type, research duration, inclusion/exclusion criteria, choice of subjects, etc. Methodology should be described completely with sample collection, processing, statistical tests used for data analysis etc. Use section headings/subheadings in a logical order to entitle each category or method. (e.g. 1, 2; 1.1, 2.1; 1.1.1, 2.1.1…etc)
Results
This section is about presenting findings of the study objectively and concisely. The presentation depends on the nature of the study.  In empirical/quantitative research article, it specifically focuses on presenting the data collected during the research and the statistical analyses performed.
Discussion
It should comprise of interpretation of results (presented in earlier section), drawing conclusions, discussing implications, and placing your findings in the broader context of existing knowledge. The significance of findings should be clearly described. If your results differ from your expectations, explain why that may have happened. If your results agree, then describe the theory that the evidence supported.
Conclusion/Implication
The main conclusions of the findings should be presented.
TABLE Title
There should be a unique title for every table to be placed at the top. Titles should be clear and concise, and they should not be complete sentences.
TABLE Format
Table tools in Microsoft Word are strongly recommended for inserting a table. It’s necessary to avoid tables created with the tab key.
TABLE Numbering & Citation
Tables in the main body of the text should be numbered and cited consecutively according to their appearance in the text.
FIGURE Caption
Each figure should have a caption. The caption should be concise and typed separately, not on the figure area; If figures have parts (for example, A and B), make sure all parts are explained in the caption.
FIGURE Numbering & Citation
All figures are to be sequentially numbered with Arabic numerals. Figures should always be cited in text in consecutive numerical order.
FIGURE Resolution
Figures must be created at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (JPEG/PNG). For fuzzy or jagged figures, authors are required to replace it or send the original figure file to us for reproduction.
REFERENCES Summary
(1). All sources cited in text must appear in the reference list and all items in the reference list must be cited in text.
(2). All references should be listed numerically in the order they've been cited within the paper. At the beginning of each reference, the bracketed number should be included.

APA Referencing Style examples

This referencing style should be followed for discipline of Political Science, Education, Physical Education, Economics, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology and Women’s studies.

Journal Article

Edwards, A. A., D. M., Rueckl, J. G., & Compton, D. L. (2022). Unpacking the unique relationship between set for variability and word reading development: Examining word- and child-level predictors of performance. Journal of Educational Psychology, 114(6), 1242–1256. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000696

Authored Book

Kaufman, K. A., Glass, C. R., & Pineau, T. R. (2018). Mindful sport performance enhancement: Mental training for athletes and coaches. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000048-000

Edited Book Chapter

Zeleke, W. A., Hughes, T. L., & Drozda, N. (2020). Home–school collaboration to promote mind– body health. In C. Maykel & M. A. Bray (Eds.), Promoting mind–body health in schools: Interventions for mental health professionals (pp. 11–26). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000157-002

Online Magazine Article

Thomson, J. (2022, September 8). Massive, strange white structures appear on Utah’s Great Salt Lake. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/mysterious-mounds-great-salt-lake-utah-explaine...

Magazine Article

Nicholl, K. (2020, May). A royal spark. Vanity Fair, 62(5), 56–65, 100

Report by a Group Author

World Health Organization. (2014). Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/113048/WHO_NMH_NHD_14.1_ eng.pdf?ua=

Dissertation from a Database

Horvath-Plyman, M. (2018). Social media and the college student journey: An examination of how social media use impacts social capital and affects college choice, access, and transition (Publication No. 10937367). [Doctoral dissertation, New York University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

MLA Referencing Style examples

This style of referencing should be followed for the papers from discipline of History.

Book

Copstead, Lee Ellen, and Jacqueline L. Banasik. Brave New Brain: Conquering Mental Illness in the Era of the Genome. Oxford UP, 2001.

Edited Book

Ferres, Kay. “Idiot Box: Television, Urban Myths and Ethical Scenarios.” Australian Cinema in the 1990s, edited by Ian Craven, Frank Cass, 2001, pp. 175-88.

Journal

Jackson, Debra, et al. “Personal Resilience as a Strategy for Surviving and Thriving in the Face of Workplace Adversity: A Literature Review.” Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 60, no. 1, 2007, pp. 1-9. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOHost, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04412.x.

Newspaper Article

Wentworth, W. C. “Why We Need a Permanent Base on the Moon.” Sydney Morning Herald, 24 Jan. 1984, p. 11. Sydney Morning Herald Archives, ezproxy.uws.edu.au/login?url=http://archives.smh.com.au/ fnc_login_a.php

Thesis/Dissertation from Database

Fayadh, Khaled H. The Legal Regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technology in Iraq: Lessons from the Australian Approach. Western Sydney U, 2015, handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:32383. PhD thesis.

Article

Cooper, Dani. “Native Ant May Stop Toad in its Tracks.” ABC Science, 31 Mar. 2009, www.abc.net.au/science/articles//2009/03/31/2530686.htm? site=science&topic=latest.