Manuscript Submission Guidelines
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Submission of Manuscript
Overview
Manuscripts are required to be submitted to the Editorial by uploading the related documents in a specific format via the JAPA manuscript submission platform for publication.
Checklist and Preparation of Documents Before Manuscript Submission:
Read and understand Journal Policy.
Read and understand Editorial Policies & Ethical Requirements.
Prepare manuscript documents in accordance with the specific format guidelines provided by JAPA Author Guidelines
Download and fill up Authorship Agreement form (Download Form). All author need to sign the form before uploading it in Manuscript Submission page.
Download and fill up Copyright Transfer & Disclosure form (Download Form). All author need to sign the form before uploading it in Manuscript Submission page.
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Fill in the Manuscript Submission page and follow all the necessary instruction.
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Submit Title page (.docx)
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Submit full manuscript without table and figure (.docx)
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Submit table and figure only (.docx)
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The acceptance of manuscripts for publication in the journal is based on the understanding that the research is original and has neither been published nor submitted, nor is under consideration for publication elsewhere. JAPA editors evaluate research based on stringent scientific methodology and uphold high ethical standards. ​All submissions will undergo thorough quality and statistical checks, as well as a peer-review evaluation process, before a final decision is made.
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Peer Review Process
JAPA authors will be notified by email of the manuscript's receipt and editorial decisions. To ensure content quality, all submissions to JAPA are subjected to a double-blind peer-review process. A technical editor checks the format and style of the manuscript at the first stage to ensure compliance with the JAPA's author guide. If the authors have not followed the guidelines, the manuscript will be returned to them for revision.
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All submissions are also checked for plagiarism. If plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will be immediately rejected, and the authors will be notified. Severe cases may result in a ban on future submissions from the authors.
Based on the subject area and the editor-in-chief's decision, the manuscript will be assigned to section editors for a quick pre-review screening within 5 working days. Section editors review the manuscript for content quality (with an emphasis on methodology, originality, and contribution to knowledge and practice) and English usage. At this point, the decision is whether to reject, revise and resubmit, or assign to external reviewers for a thorough evaluation.
External reviewers are selected based on their scientific background, experience, and previous works, as well as their expertise. JAPA strives to acquire at least 2-3 robust reviews for each manuscript. JAPA reviewers are required to declare any conflicts of interest and maintain confidentiality regarding the manuscripts they review. Since JAPA is a rapid response journal, the review process can range from 3 to 6 months.
The status of a manuscript is ascertained in four ways:
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1. Acceptance: The manuscript will be made available electronically. Before submission for electronic publication, the corresponding author must review a proof copy of the manuscript. JAPA supports publishing papers online after copyediting and typesetting, but before pagination for journal inclusion. Advance access papers will queue for upcoming JAPA issues.
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2. Minor Revision: Authors will receive comments and be asked to submit a revised copy detailing the changes that have been made, along with a response to each reviewer's comment. Revisions should be submitted within 4 weeks.
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3. Major Revision: Manuscripts requiring significant reorganization to meet scientific criteria undergo another review process. Authors must submit a revised copy detailing the changes made, along with responses to each reviewer's comment. Revisions should be submitted within 6 weeks. Failure to meet this deadline will require authors to undergo a resubmission process.
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4. Rejection: Common reasons include methodological and scientific concerns. The comments will be sent to the authors to enhance chances of publication in other journals.
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Editing
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Accepted manuscripts will be edited to adhere to JAPA's journal format (excluding language editing) and then returned to the corresponding author for final approval. All contributing authors are responsible for the accuracy of statements in their manuscript approved by the corresponding author during editing and production.
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Corrections
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Corrections for publication should be submitted to the editorial office. They will be reviewed by editors before being published and linked to the original paper online.
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