Special Issue

Format of Manuscript Preparation for Journal of Social Continuity and Change

It is important that manuscripts be prepared strictly according to the journal's standard format. Submissions to this journal proceed entirely online, and authors will be guided step-by-step through the creation and uploading of files via the journal portal: https://jscc.yazd.ac.ir/?lang=en.

 

Paper Layout & Formatting

  • Paper Size & Spacing: Standard A4 size with 1.5 line spacing and normal margins. All pages must be numbered sequentially.
  • Word Count: Maximum 8,000 words for quantitative articles and 9,500 words for qualitative articles (inclusive of abstract, body text, tables, and references).
  • Font & Hierarchy:
    • Main Font: Cambria (or Times New Roman).
    • Article Title: 14 pt, Bold.
    • Section Headings (Subtitles): 12 pt, Bold.
    • Main Text: 12 pt, Regular.

 

Essential Title Page Information

The Title Page must be submitted as a separate file from the main manuscript text and include:

  1. Article Title: Concise and informative, not exceeding 15 words.
  2. Author Names and Affiliations: Full names and institutional affiliations (Department, Faculty, Institution/University, City, Country) for each author, including postal addresses and official email addresses.
  3. Corresponding Author: Clearly indicate who will handle correspondence at all stages of refereeing, publication, and post-publication. Provide complete contact details (full postal address, email, and phone number with country/area codes).
  4. Authors' Contributions: State the specific roles and contributions of each author on the Title Page.

 

Manuscript Structure & Configuration

Each research article must contain the following distinct sections in order:

  • Abstract: Maximum 250 words. Avoid abbreviations, citations, or formulas.
    • For Research & Review Articles: Must be Structured with the following sub-headings: Background and Aims, Data and Methods, Findings, Discussion & Conclusion, and Key Message.
    • For Perspectives & Technical Notes: A single unstructured paragraph (max 250 words).
  • Keywords: Exactly 5 keywords, listed in order of relevance immediately after the abstract.
  • Introduction: Clearly articulate the background, research problem, context, significance, and primary objectives of the study.
  • Literature Review & Theoretical Considerations: Provide a critical synthesis of literature and explain the theoretical framework/mechanisms. (May be combined under a single heading).
  • Methods and Data: Detailed methodology description to allow replication, including study design, sampling, data collection tools, analytical procedures, and validity/reliability measures.
  • Findings: Clear, concise presentation of analytical results. Logical sub-headings should be systematically numbered.
  • Discussion and Conclusion: Synthesize findings in light of prior literature, theoretical and policy implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research.
  • Ethical Considerations & Statements: Mandatory section prior to references, including brief disclosures covering Ethical Compliance (with approval code if applicable), Acknowledgments, Funding, Authors' Contributions, Conflicts of Interest, and Authors' ORCID iDs.
  • References: Strict adherence to APA 7th Edition style with complete DOIs [https://doi.org/]....

 

References & Citation Style

All in-text citations and reference list entries must strictly follow the APA 7th Edition style. Ensure every source cited in the text is listed in the references and vice versa. Complete DOIs must be provided where available.

In-Text Citation Rules:

  • Single Author: (Vollmer, 2013) or Vollmer (2013)
  • Two Authors: (Bryce & Fraser, 2023) or Bryce and Fraser (2023)
  • Three or More Authors: (Mitchell et al., 2017) or Mitchell et al. (2017)

Reference List Examples:

  • Journal Article:

Torabi, F., Abbasi-Shavazi, M. J., & Askari-Nodoushan, A. (2015). Trends in and patterns of solo living in Iran: An explanatory analysis. Journal of Population Research, 32(3), 243–261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12546-015-9152-x

  • Book (Single Author):

Becker, G. (1991). A treatise on the family. Harvard University Press.

  • Book (Multiple Authors):

Beck, U., & Beck-Gernsheim, E. (2002). Individualization: Institutionalized individualism and its social and political consequences. SAGE Publications.

  • Book Chapter:

Mettam, G. R., & Adams, L. B. (1999). How to prepare an electronic version of your article. In B. S. Jones & R. Z. Smith (Eds.), Introduction to the electronic age (pp. 281–304). E-Publishing Inc.

  • Conference Paper:

Askari-Nodoushan, A., Aghayari-Hir, T., Ahmadi, A., & Mehryar, A. H. (2006, December). Changing pattern of mate selection in Iran [Paper presentation]. International Conference on Emerging Population Issues in the Asian Pacific Region, Mumbai, India.

  • Dissertation/Thesis:

Mitchell, C. (2009). Three essays on worldviews, autonomy, and the family in Nepal (Doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan).

 

Tables & Figures Guidelines

Tables

  • Must be formatted according to APA 7th Edition rules (horizontal borders only; no vertical lines).
  • Created using Microsoft Word's table tools (do not submit as images).
  • Placed within the main text, center-aligned, with table numbers and captions placed above the table (10 pt font).
  • Maximum of 6 tables per manuscript.

Figures

  • Includes graphs, charts, maps, and illustrations embedded directly in the text (center-aligned).
  • Figures must be high resolution with descriptive captions placed below the figure (10 pt font).
  • Axis titles and measurement units must be clearly labeled.

 

Miscellaneous Policies

  • Peer Review: All submissions undergo a rigorous peer-review process.
  • Publication Queue: Accepted articles are queued for publication based on acceptance date and compliance with journal formatting guidelines.
  • Open Access & APC: JSCC is a Diamond Open Access journal. There are no submission fees, processing charges, or publication fees.
  • Editorial Rights: The journal reserves the right to accept, reject, or request editorial modifications to any manuscript.

 

See Template in the Journal of Social Continuity and Change here.