Guidelines for Manuscript Submission to EduRay: A Peer-Reviewed Educational Research Journal

EduRay welcomes original, high-quality manuscripts that contribute to the advancement of educational research and practice. Authors are requested to adhere to the following guidelines to facilitate a smooth submission and review process.

1. General Submission Requirements:

• Originality: Manuscripts must be original works that have not been previously published or are not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

• Ethical Conduct: All research involving human participants or animals must have received appropriate ethical approval (e.g., from an Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee). Authors must include a statement confirming ethical compliance.

• Authorship: All authors listed must have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript for submission.
• Plagiarism Policy: EduRay has its policy for plagiarism. Submitted manuscripts will be screened for plagiarism using Turnitin software. 20% of similarity will be accepted by EduRay. Any instances of higher % of plagiarism will lead to rejection and potential blacklisting of the author(s).
• Language: All manuscripts must be written in clear, concise, and grammatically correct English.
• Submission Format: Manuscripts should be submitted electronically, preferably in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format.

2. Manuscript Structure and Content:

Manuscripts should generally follow the IMRaD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion), with additional sections as appropriate. The typical order of sections should be:

• Title Page (Separate File for Blind Review):
  • Full Title of the Manuscript (concise and informative, reflecting the core content).
  • Running Head (a shortened version of the title, typically 50 characters or less).
  • Author(s) Full Name(s) (First Name, Middle Initial(s), Last Name).
  • Institutional Affiliation(s) (Department, College/University, City, State/Country).
  • Corresponding Author’s Contact Information (email address, phone number).
  • Acknowledgements (optional: funding sources, individuals who contributed but do not meet authorship criteria).
• Abstract (on a separate page):
  • A concise summary of the study (typically 150-250 words).
  • Should include: Background/Purpose, Objectives, Methods, Key Results, and Conclusion/Implications.
  • Do not include citations or undefined abbreviations in the abstract.
• Keywords:
  • 3-5 relevant keywords that accurately represent the manuscript’s content, listed immediately below the abstract.
• Main Body (for Blind Review, ensure no author identifying information):
  • Introduction:
    • Provide sufficient background and context for the study.
    • Clearly state the research problem, its significance, and the gap in existing literature.
    • Present the purpose, objectives, and research questions/hypotheses of the study.
  • Literature Review (can be integrated into the Introduction or as a separate section):
    • Critically review relevant existing literature, demonstrating how the current study builds upon or addresses limitations of previous work.
  • Methodology:
    • Provide detailed information about the research design (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods).
    • Describe the participants/sample (selection criteria, demographics, sample size).
    • Explain the data collection instruments and procedures.
    • Outline the data analysis methods (statistical software, qualitative analysis techniques).
    • Address validity, reliability, and ethical considerations.
  • Results:
    • Present the findings clearly and logically, without interpretation.
    • Use tables and figures to summarize data effectively.
    • Refer to all tables and figures in the text.
  • Discussion:
    • Interpret the results in relation to the research questions/hypotheses and existing literature.
    • Discuss the implications of the findings for theory, practice, and policy.
    • Acknowledge the limitations of the study.
    • Suggest directions for future research.
  • Conclusion:
    • Summarize the main findings and their overall significance.
    • Reiterate the key contributions of the study.
  • References:
    • List all sources cited in the manuscript.
    • Ensure accuracy and consistency in formatting.

3. Formatting and Style Guidelines:

• Manuscript Length: Typically, research articles should be between 4,000-7,000 words, including abstract, tables, figures, and references. Review articles may have different word limits.
• Font: for English: Times New Roman  at 12-point size .
• Line Spacing: Double-space the entire manuscript, including the abstract, main text, tables, figures, and references.
• Margins: Set margins to 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides (top, bottom, left, right).
• Page Numbering: Number all pages consecutively, starting from the title page.
• Headings: Use clear, consistent headings and subheadings (e.g., APA Style Level 1, Level 2, etc.) to structure the manuscript.
• Tables and Figures:
  • Each table and figure should be numbered consecutively (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1) and have a concise, descriptive title.
  • They should be placed within the text where they are first cited, or at the end of the manuscript on separate pages after the references, depending on journal preference (specify one).
  • Ensure all necessary labels, legends, and units are clear.
  • High-resolution images are required for figures.
• Citations and References: EduRay strictly adheres to the American Psychological Association (APA) Style, 7th Edition, for in-text citations and the reference list. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all citations and references.
  • In-text citations: (Author, Year) or Author (Year). For multiple authors, follow APA guidelines (e.g., (Author 1 & Author 2, Year) or (Author 1 et al., Year)).
  • Reference list: Alphabetical order by author’s last name, with hanging indent for each entry. Include DOI (Digital Object Identifier) where available.

4. Submission Process:

• Online Submission: Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal’s online submission system.
• Peer Review: All submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous double-blind peer-review process. Authors should anonymize their manuscript file (removing identifying information from the main text, headers, and document properties) to ensure fair review.
• Review Process: The editorial team will initially assess the manuscript’s suitability for the journal. If deemed appropriate, it will be sent to at least two independent expert reviewers. Authors will be notified of the decision (acceptance, revisions required, or rejection) along with reviewer comments.

5. Publication Ethics:

• Authorship: Ensure accurate and fair attribution of authorship.
• Data Integrity: All data presented must be authentic and accurately represented.
• Conflict of Interest: Disclose any financial or personal relationships that could be perceived as influencing the research.
• Permissions: Obtain necessary permissions for the use of copyrighted material, if applicable

The publication process for an academic journal like EduRay typically follows a series of structured steps designed to ensure the quality, integrity, and scholarly contribution of published research. While specific timelines may vary, the core stages remain largely consistent.

The publication process for EduRay:

1. Manuscript Submission:

• Author Preparation: Authors meticulously prepare their manuscript according to the journal’s “Guidelines for Manuscript Submission,” ensuring adherence to formatting, style (e.g., APA 7th Edition), word limits, and ethical considerations.
• Online Submission: Manuscripts are submitted electronically through EduRay’s designated online submission system. This usually includes uploading the manuscript file

2. Editorial Office Initial Assessment (Desk Review):

• Administrative Check: The editorial assistant or managing editor performs an initial check to ensure all required information’s are present, the manuscript adheres to basic formatting guidelines, and ethical statements are included.
• Scope and Quality Check: The Editor-in-Chief or a relevant Associate Editor assesses the manuscript’s suitability for EduRay’s scope, its overall quality, and whether it meets the journal’s minimum standards for research rigor.
• Decision:
  • Desk Reject: If the manuscript falls outside the journal’s scope, lacks sufficient quality, or has significant formatting/ethical issues, it may be “desk rejected” at this stage without going to peer review. Authors are promptly informed with reasons.
  • Proceed to Peer Review: If the manuscript passes the initial assessment, it moves to the peer review stage.

3. Peer Review Process (Double-Blind Peer Review):

• Reviewer Invitation: The Editor-in-Chief or a relevant Associate Editor identifies and invites 2-3 expert reviewers with relevant subject matter expertise. Since EduRay uses a “double-blind” review, neither the authors’ nor the reviewers’ identities are revealed to each other.
• Reviewer Evaluation: Reviewers critically evaluate the manuscript based on criteria such as:
  • Originality and significance of the research
  • Soundness of methodology
  • Clarity of writing and organization
  • Validity and interpretation of results
  • Completeness of literature review
  • Adherence to ethical guidelines
  • Contribution to the field of educational research
• Reviewer Recommendations: Each reviewer provides a recommendation to the editor, typically one of the following:
  • Accept as is (rare)
  • Minor revisions required
  • Major revisions required
  • Reject
• Editor’s Decision: The editor considers all reviewer comments, their own assessment, and the overall quality of the manuscript to make an informed decision.

4. Editorial Decision and Author Notification:

• Decision Letter: The corresponding author receives a decision letter from the editor, which typically includes:
  • The final decision (Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, Reject).
  • Consolidated reviewer comments and editor’s specific feedback.
  • Instructions for revision (if applicable) and a deadline for resubmission.
• Revision Process (if applicable):
  • Authors carefully address each point raised by the reviewers and editor.
  • They revise the manuscript accordingly, often highlighting changes (e.g., using track changes).
  • A detailed “Response to Reviewers” letter is prepared, explaining how each comment was addressed (or why a specific suggestion was not adopted, with justification).
  • The revised manuscript and response letter are resubmitted.
• Re-review (for Major Revisions): Manuscripts requiring major revisions are usually sent back to the original reviewers for re-evaluation to ensure that all concerns have been adequately addressed. Minor revisions may be handled directly by the editor.

5. Acceptance:

• Final Acceptance: Once the editor is satisfied that all issues have been resolved, the manuscript receives a final acceptance.
• Copyright Form and Publication Agreement: Authors will be asked to complete and sign a copyright form or publication agreement, granting EduRay the rights to publish their work. This often includes information about open access options or any associated Article Processing Charges (APCs)

6. Production Process:

• Copyediting: The accepted manuscript undergoes professional copyediting to ensure grammatical accuracy, consistency in style, punctuation, and clarity. This stage aims to polish the language and prepare the manuscript for publication.
• Typesetting/Layout: The manuscript is formatted and typeset according to EduRay’s specific journal layout and design, preparing it for online and/or print publication.
• Author Proofs: Authors receive “galley proofs” (or page proofs) of their manuscript. This is a crucial step where authors are responsible for carefully reviewing the typeset version for any errors introduced during production (e.g., typos, formatting issues, missing content). This is not a stage for making substantial content changes.
• Final Approval: Authors approve the proofs, confirming the manuscript is ready for publication.

7. Publication:

• Online First/Early Access: Many journals, including potentially EduRay, publish articles “online first” or in “early access” shortly after proof approval, assigning a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) to make them immediately citable.
• Issue Assignment: The article is then assigned to a specific issue and volume of the journal.
• Indexing and Archiving: The published article is indexed in relevant academic databases (e.g., Google Scholar, DOAJ, ERIC, etc.) and archived to ensure long-term accessibility and discoverability.

8. Post-Publication:

• Promotion: Authors are encouraged to promote their published work through their networks, social media, and academic platforms.
• Citations and Impact: The article becomes part of the scholarly record, contributing to the field of educational research and hopefully garnering citations.

The entire process, from initial submission to final publication, can take additional time, depending on the volume of submissions, reviewer availability, and the extent of revisions required. EduRay, like all reputable peer-reviewed journals, prioritizes thoroughness and quality over speed.

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