Author Guidelines

The Sunan Ampel Review of Political and Social Sciences (The SARPASS) is a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to advancing scholarship in political science, political thought, Islamic politics, governance, and social sciences in general. In order to maintain high academic standards and ensure the consistency of contributions, all prospective authors are required to carefully follow these guidelines before submitting their manuscripts. The following sections explain in detail the expectations regarding manuscript preparation, structure, technical formatting, referencing, and submission procedures.

  1. General Requirements

All manuscripts submitted to The SARPASS must represent original work that has not been previously published and is not under review for publication elsewhere. Authors should ensure that their articles make a significant contribution to the field by presenting either conceptual analysis or empirical research findings. Submissions that include plagiarism, duplication, or unethical academic practices will be immediately rejected.

Articles may be written individually or collaboratively, and interdisciplinary approaches are welcome. Manuscripts must be prepared in English using clear, precise, and academic language. Authors who are not native English speakers are strongly advised to have their work proofread by a professional editor or a fluent colleague before submission.

  1. Manuscript Length

Articles should generally be approximately 6,000 words in length. This word count includes the main body of the text, footnotes, tables, figures, and references. Shorter manuscripts (not less than 5,000 words) or longer ones (up to 10,000 words) will also be considered if the content provides substantial scholarly value. Authors are encouraged to write succinctly, avoiding unnecessary repetition and ensuring clarity in argumentation.

  1. Structure of the Manuscript

Each manuscript should follow a standardized structure to facilitate readability and consistency. The following sections must be included:

3.1 Title Page

  • The title should be concise, informative, and should not exceed 15 words. Avoid unnecessary abbreviations or technical jargon.
  • Full name(s) of the author(s) must be listed, followed by institutional affiliation and country.
  • The corresponding author’s email address must be clearly indicated. Authors are encouraged to include their ORCID ID for proper identification.

3.2 Abstract

Every manuscript must begin with an abstract of 200–250 words. The abstract should summarize the key points of the article, including:

  • Research background and problem statement.
  • Objectives of the study.
  • Methodological approach.
  • Major findings.
  • Conclusions or implications.

The abstract should be written as a single paragraph without citations, abbreviations, or undefined acronyms. Because abstracts are often indexed and used in databases, authors should ensure that it reflects the essence of the article clearly.

3.3 Keywords

Immediately following the abstract, authors must provide three to five keywords that represent the core themes of the manuscript. Keywords should be specific, relevant, and reflect disciplinary terminology to improve discoverability through indexing services.

3.4 Main Text

The body of the manuscript should be organized into clearly defined sections. Although the structure may vary depending on the nature of the article (conceptual or empirical), the following format is recommended:

  1. Introduction: Introduce the background of the research, articulate the research problem, objectives, and significance. Clearly state the research questions or hypotheses.
  2. Literature Review and Theoretical Framework: Present relevant theories, concepts, and previous studies, identifying gaps in the literature.
  3. Methodology: Describe research design, data collection methods, analytical procedures, and ethical considerations.
  4. Findings/Results: Present data or analysis systematically. Use tables and figures where appropriate, ensuring they are numbered and clearly titled.
  5. Discussion: Interpret findings in relation to existing scholarship, highlight contributions, implications, and possible limitations.
  6. Conclusion: Summarize the main findings and contributions, restating the significance of the study. Provide recommendations for future research or policy implications where relevant.

3.5 Acknowledgments

Where applicable, authors may include a brief acknowledgment of institutions, funding agencies, or individuals who supported the research but do not qualify for authorship.

3.6 References

All references cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and vice versa. References should follow the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition style (see Section 6 for examples).

  1. Technical Formatting

To ensure consistency, authors must comply with the following technical requirements:

  • File format: Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx). PDF files are not accepted.
  • Page layout: A4 size (21 cm × 29.7 cm) with 2.5 cm margins on all sides.
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt.
  • Line spacing: 1.5 throughout the manuscript, including references.
  • Text alignment: Justified.
  • Paragraphs: First line indented 1.27 cm.
  • Headings: Use a clear and consistent hierarchy (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3). Avoid numbering unless necessary.
  • Tables and Figures:
    • Should be embedded in the main text close to where they are first mentioned.
    • Number consecutively (Table 1, Table 2; Figure 1, Figure 2).
    • Provide a descriptive title and source if relevant.
    • Ensure figures are high resolution and legible.
  • Footnotes: May be used sparingly for additional explanations, but not for bibliographic references.
  1. Submission Procedure

Manuscripts may be submitted via email attachment to: sarpass@uinsa.ac.id. Authors are also encouraged to register and submit through the journal’s official Open Journal System (OJS) at: https://jurnalfisip.uinsa.ac.id/index.php/sarpass/

A complete submission must include:

  1. The manuscript file prepared according to these guidelines.
  2. A cover letter stating that the article is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not under review in another journal.
  3. Full author details including name, affiliation, email, and ORCID (if available).
  1. Referencing and Citation Style

The SARPASS requires authors to use the APA (7th edition) citation style. In-text citations should follow the author–date format, for example:

  • (Babbie, 2010)
  • (Li & Seale, 2007, p. 1445)
  • Smith (2020) argues that…

All works cited in the manuscript must appear in the reference list. Examples include:

  • Book
    Babbie, E. (2010). The practice of social research (12th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
  • Journal Article
    Li, S., & Seale, C. (2007). Learning to do qualitative data analysis: An observational study of doctoral work. Qualitative Health Research, 17(10), 1442–1452. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732307306924
  • Book Chapter
    Easton, B. (2008). Does poverty affect health? In K. Dew & A. Matheson (Eds.), Understanding health inequalities in Aotearoa New Zealand (pp. 97–106). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.
  • Online Source
    Ahlstrom, D. (2020, November 19). Time for China to accept it is no longer a developing country. Nikkei Asia. https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Time-for-China-to-accept-it-is-no-longer-a-developing-country
  • Web Resource
    Flesch, R. (n.d.). How to write plain English. Retrieved April 12, 2009, from http://www.mang.canterbury.ac.nz/writing_guide/writing/flesch.shtml

Authors should avoid citing Wikipedia or similar open-source websites, except in rare cases where they are directly relevant. Preference should be given to scholarly sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and institutional reports.

  1. Language and Style

Authors are expected to use clear, formal academic English. Sentences should be well-structured and precise. Jargon and technical terms should be defined when first used. Abbreviations should be avoided unless absolutely necessary, and in such cases, they must be spelled out at first mention.

Quotations must be indicated with double quotation marks and should include the page number. Block quotations longer than 40 words should be formatted as a separate indented paragraph without quotation marks.

  1. Peer Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to The SARPASS undergo an initial editorial screening to ensure compliance with these guidelines and the scope of the journal. Manuscripts that meet these requirements will then be subject to double-blind peer review by at least two experts in the field. This process may take several weeks or months, depending on reviewer availability.

Authors may be requested to revise their manuscripts based on the reviewers’ comments. Revisions must be returned within the specified time frame. The final decision regarding acceptance rests with the Editorial Board.

  1. Editorial and Author Responsibilities

Manuscripts may be edited for clarity, grammar, and style prior to publication. Authors are required to cooperate with the editorial team during this process. After publication, authors are expected to respond to reasonable questions or correspondence from readers regarding their article.

  1. Final Notes

Authors are strongly encouraged to review these guidelines thoroughly before submission. Submissions that fail to follow the required format will be returned for correction. By complying with this guide, authors contribute not only to the clarity and consistency of their own work but also to the overall academic integrity and reputation of The Sunan Ampel Review of Political and Social Sciences.