Author Guidelines
DEDICA (Journal of Research and Community Service) provides these author guidelines to assist researchers, academics, practitioners, and contributors in preparing and submitting manuscripts that meet the journal’s academic, ethical, and technical standards. Authors are expected to carefully follow these guidelines to ensure an efficient review process and maintain the quality and integrity of published articles.
Manuscript Submission Policy
Authors submitting manuscripts to DEDICA must ensure that the submitted work is original, has not been previously published, and is not under consideration by another journal during the review process. Submission of a manuscript indicates that all authors have approved the final version of the manuscript and agree with its submission to DEDICA.
Authors are responsible for ensuring that the manuscript complies with the journal’s focus and scope, publication ethics, formatting requirements, and academic standards. Manuscripts that do not comply with these requirements may be returned to authors for revision or rejected before entering the peer-review process.
Types of Manuscripts
DEDICA accepts original manuscripts in the form of research articles and community service articles. Research articles should present original findings based on systematic and rigorous research methods, while community service articles should describe innovative, evidence-based, and impactful programs aimed at addressing community needs and promoting empowerment.
Manuscripts should demonstrate academic contribution, practical relevance, and originality in accordance with the multidisciplinary scope of the journal.
Manuscript Preparation and Structure
Authors should prepare manuscripts according to the following general structure:
ü Title
The title should be concise, informative, specific, and accurately represent the content of the manuscript. The title should reflect the main research focus or community service activity and avoid unnecessary abbreviations.
ü Author Information
The manuscript must include the full names of all authors, institutional affiliations, and corresponding author information. Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to the research or community service activity.
ü Abstract
The abstract should provide a concise summary of the manuscript, including the background, objectives, methods, main findings, and conclusions or implications. The abstract should clearly describe the significance and contribution of the article.
ü Keywords
Authors should provide relevant keywords that represent the main concepts of the article and assist in indexing and information retrieval.
ü Introduction
The introduction should explain the research background, identify the research problem, present relevant literature, highlight research gaps, and clearly state the objectives and significance of the study.
ü Literature Review/Theoretical Framework
Authors should provide relevant theoretical perspectives and previous studies that support the research framework and demonstrate the contribution of the study to existing knowledge.
ü Methodology
The methodology section should describe the research design, location or context, participants or data sources, data collection procedures, and data analysis techniques clearly and systematically. The methods should allow other researchers to understand and evaluate the validity of the research process.
ü Results and Discussion
The results section should present the findings clearly and systematically, supported by appropriate data presentation. The discussion should interpret the findings, relate them to relevant theories and previous studies, and explain their theoretical, practical, or policy implications.
ü Conclusion
The conclusion should summarize the main findings, highlight contributions, and provide recommendations or implications based on the results of the study.
ü References
All references must be relevant, accurate, and cited consistently according to the citation style adopted by DEDICA.
Manuscript Formatting Requirements
Authors must prepare manuscripts according to the journal’s formatting template and submission requirements. Manuscripts should be written in clear academic language, using appropriate terminology and following standard scholarly writing conventions.
Tables, figures, charts, and other visual materials should be presented clearly, numbered consecutively, and accompanied by appropriate titles and explanations. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all visual materials are original or properly cited.
Authorship Policy
Authorship should be assigned based on significant contributions to the conception, design, implementation, analysis, interpretation, or writing of the manuscript. All listed authors must approve the final manuscript and agree to be accountable for the content of the article.
Individuals who do not meet authorship criteria but contributed to the research process may be acknowledged appropriately in the acknowledgment section.
DEDICA does not accept practices such as gift authorship, honorary authorship, or ghost authorship.
Ethical Requirements
Authors must comply with ethical standards in research and publication. Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts do not contain plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, manipulation of data, duplicate publication, or other forms of academic misconduct.
Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must comply with applicable ethical standards and include appropriate ethical approval statements when required.
Plagiarism and Similarity Check
All submitted manuscripts will undergo plagiarism screening using appropriate detection tools. Authors must ensure that all sources, ideas, data, and quotations from other works are properly acknowledged.
Manuscripts containing significant similarity or plagiarism may be rejected or subjected to further investigation in accordance with DEDICA’s publication ethics policy and COPE guidelines.
Citation and Reference Policy
Authors are required to cite relevant and credible scholarly sources that support their arguments and research findings. References should prioritize recent and high-quality academic publications while maintaining relevance to the topic of the manuscript.
All citations and references must follow the citation and reference style specified by DEDICA.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Policy
Authors may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools only as supporting instruments for activities such as language improvement, grammar checking, formatting assistance, or readability enhancement. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, interpretation, and integrity of the submitted manuscript.
AI tools cannot be listed as authors or contributors. Authors must disclose the use of AI tools when their involvement significantly influences manuscript preparation.
Revision and Response to Reviewers
Authors receiving revision requests are expected to carefully address all comments and recommendations provided by reviewers and editors. Revised manuscripts should be accompanied by a response letter explaining the revisions made and how reviewer suggestions have been addressed.
Failure to adequately respond to reviewer comments may affect the final editorial decision.
Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure
Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including financial, institutional, professional, or personal relationships that may influence the research process or interpretation of findings.
Authors are also required to disclose sources of funding or support related to the research or community service activities.
Post-Publication Responsibilities
After publication, authors remain responsible for the integrity and accuracy of their published work. If authors identify significant errors or inaccuracies in their articles, they must immediately notify the editorial team to allow appropriate corrections, clarifications, or retractions when necessary.
Submission and Publication Process
All manuscripts must be submitted through the official online submission system of DEDICA. Submitted manuscripts will undergo editorial screening, peer review, revision, final evaluation, and publication processes according to the journal’s policies.
By submitting a manuscript to DEDICA, authors acknowledge and agree to comply with all journal policies, ethical standards, and publication procedures.
Through these guidelines, DEDICA aims to facilitate responsible scholarly communication and encourage the publication of high-quality research and community service articles that contribute to scientific advancement and sustainable societal development.
