Author Guidelines

PREPARING YOUR MANUSCRIPT  

Title Page

The title page should be a Microsoft Word document separate from the main manuscript. The Title Page Template specifies what should be included on the title page. (You can download the template file here.) Please provide all of the required information on the title page. Submissions containing incomplete information will be returned without peer review.

Manuscript Format and Style

All manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the form and style outlined in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA, 7th edition). For an open-access guide to APA 7th edition citation rules, see https://columbiacollege-ca.libguides.com/apa.

Since SCIS applies a double-blind peer review process, the manuscript file must not contain any information that reveals the identities of the authors or their institutions. 

Length of Manuscript

Recommended manuscript length is 2500 to 8000 words, including references.

Abstract

Include an abstract of 250 words or less.

Keywords

Include 4 to 6 keywords that can be used for indexing purposes.

Text Formatting

Manuscripts must be submitted as Microsoft Word (.doc)(.docx), OpenOffice, or Rich Text Format (.rtf) and must be single-spaced using 12-point font in Times New Roman. Employ italics rather than underlining (except with URL addresses). All illustrations, figures, and tables should be placed within the text at the appropriate points rather than at the end of the paper.

Citation

The manuscript should be an original work. Authors must appropriately cite the sources of other works, words, ideas, or figures used in the manuscript. Text copied from another source must be appropriately quoted and cited according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition). 

Reference List

The list of references should be prepared according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition). Each reference cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and each entry in the reference list must be cited in the text.

SCIS only accepts references published in the last 5 years, with a Digital Object Identifier (DOI), and publications from reputable international journals comprising at least 60% of the total references.

Reference Examples
Please pay attention to punctuation (comma, dot, etc.), italics and spaces.

Books:
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of book in italic (edition if given and is not first edition). Publisher Name.
Roberto, C. (2021). Human caring science: A theory of nursing (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Book chapters:
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of chapter. In Editor's First Initial. Second Initial if Given. Editor's Last Name (Ed. or Eds.), Title of book in italic (edition if given and is not first edition, pp. first page number-last page number). Publisher Name
Ratna, A. (2021). How lay theories (or mindsets) shape the confrontation of prejudice. In R. K. Mallett & M. J. Monteith (Eds.), Confronting prejudice and discrimination: The science of changing minds and behaviors (pp. 120-139). Academic Press.

Journal Articles:
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of Publication). Title of article. Name of Journal in italic, Volume Number in italic(Issue Number), first page number-last page number. https://doi number
Charlos, N. W. (2021). Evolutionary models of extended phenotypes. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 27(3), 561-569. https://doi.org/10.1015/rev0000126

Blog posts:
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year, Month Day). Title of post. Website name in italic. URL.
Sophia, H. (2021, June 14). What Is Evolution? A Brief Overview of the History and Concepts of Evolution. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-evolution-1224603

Online documents (reports, etc.):
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year). Title of document in italic. Organization if given. URL.
Wiro, G. (2021). A duty of care to children and young people in Western Australia: Report on the quality assurance and review of unsubstantiated allegations of abuse in care. Western Australia Department of Child Protection. http://www.community.wa.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/851183A4-.pdf

Thesis/Dissertation:
Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year). Title of thesis – italicised [Doctoral dissertation or Master's thesis, Institution]. URL (if any)
Joseph, J. C. (2021). What constitutes success in Pacific Island community conserved areas? [Doctoral dissertation, University of Letiges]. http://espace.library.letiges.edu.com/view/ltgs:153547 

Footnotes

Footnotes should be used sparingly to provide additional information. Do not use them for citation purposes.

Tables and Figures

All tables and figures must be numbered using Arabic numerals and include a caption (title) explaining their contents. They must be placed within the text at the appropriate points. Supply any tables in an editable format (such as Microsoft Word), and not as images.

Disclosure and conflicts of interest

When submitting their manuscript to SCIS, authors must provide a declaration that discloses any financial or other substantive conflicting or competing interests that could potentially impact the findings or interpretation of the manuscript. Additionally, all sources of financial support should be disclosed. This should be stated in the "title-page", which must be uploaded on the Journal’s online system during the first submission. Even if there is no conflict of interest to be disclosed, you must specify it. You will find guidance on this subject in the title-page template.

Permissions

It is the responsibility of the author to obtain written permission for a figure, illustration, table, or text passage that has been published elsewhere.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments (of people, grants, funding, etc.) should be placed in a separate section before the reference list. Authors must obtain permission to include the names of all individuals included in the Acknowledgements section.