Author Guidelines

LOCUS JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Author Guidelines

Clear manuscript preparation · Responsible research reporting · Double-anonymous peer review

MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE

01. Journal Scope and Language

LOCUS welcomes original research and carefully designed scholarly review articles within its published Focus and Scope. Manuscripts must make a clearly stated and substantiated scholarly contribution. Submissions outside the journal’s disciplinary coverage may be declined during screening.

English is the language required for new submissions under the revised 2026 template. Authors are responsible for language accuracy. The journal may request language editing, but such editing does not replace methodological or substantive review.

02. Article Types and Structure

Original Research Article: Title; Abstract; Keywords; Introduction; Methods; Results and Discussion (combined or separate, as appropriate); Conclusion; References; and the applicable declarations. The Methods section is mandatory and should identify design, data or materials, procedures, analysis, and relevant ethical safeguards.

Review Article: Title; Abstract; Keywords; Introduction; Review Approach or Methods; Thematic Findings and Critical Discussion; Conclusion; References; and applicable declarations. Systematic reviews should transparently report search sources, search dates, inclusion/exclusion criteria, screening, and synthesis; relevant reporting frameworks such as PRISMA should be used when applicable. Narrative reviews should explain the selection and critical analysis of literature.

Section headings may be adapted to disciplinary conventions with editorial approval. A literature-based legal study may use a normative/doctrinal method; nevertheless, legal sources, selection criteria, analytical approach, and limitations must be reported transparently.

03. Manuscript Format

Recommended length: 4,000–8,000 words for the manuscript including abstract and main text, excluding references, declarations, tables, and appendices. Longer or shorter manuscripts may be considered when justified by the study design and editorial assessment.

Use the current LOCUS English Word template: A4 page, 2.5 cm margins, Cambria 12-point main text, 1.15 line spacing, justified paragraphs, and consistently numbered headings. Titles should preferably contain no more than 14 words. Abstracts should not exceed 200 words; supply 4–6 informative keywords.

Tables and figures must be editable or sufficiently high-resolution, consecutively numbered, clearly captioned, cited in the text, and accompanied by source/permission information when necessary. Do not embed unnecessary personal data.

04. Anonymous Review and Submission Files

The journal follows double-anonymous peer review. Upload an anonymized manuscript that omits authors’ names, affiliations, acknowledgments that reveal identity, and identifying document properties. Cite the authors’ previous work neutrally rather than replacing legitimate references with placeholders.

Provide complete and accurate names, affiliations, country, email addresses, and ORCID identifiers where available in the OJS submission metadata. A separate title-page file containing identifying information and declarations may be requested; it must not be included in the review file.

05. Abstract, Keywords, and Scholarly Presentation

The abstract should briefly state the research problem, objective, approach or methodology, principal findings, and contribution. Avoid unsupported claims, references, excessive abbreviations, and results not established in the article.

The introduction should identify the research gap and objective. The discussion should interpret findings against relevant scholarship; the conclusion should answer the objective, identify the contribution and limitations where appropriate, and avoid introducing new evidence.

06. Citations and References

Use APA Style, 7th edition, consistently for in-text citations and references, subject to standard disciplinary adjustments approved by the editors. Cite primary sources and current scholarship relevant to the research question. Ensure every in-text citation has a corresponding reference, and vice versa, except for sources handled differently by APA.

Include DOIs in URL format (https://doi.org/...) where available. Prefer reliable scholarly sources; do not fabricate references, DOIs, data, or quotations. Reference managers such as Zotero or Mendeley are recommended.

07. Research Ethics and Reporting Declarations

Where applicable, the submitted manuscript must include statements on: authorship contributions (CRediT roles where feasible); funding; competing interests; ethical approval and informed consent; data availability; acknowledgments; and use of artificial intelligence tools.

For human-participant research, report approval or a valid exemption when required, and explain consent and confidentiality protections. For research involving restricted or sensitive datasets, explain lawful access and why public disclosure is not possible. Do not claim ethical approval that was not obtained.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authors remain accountable for all content and must disclose material use of AI in research preparation or manuscript development in accordance with the LOCUS AI Policy.

08. Originality, Screening, and Peer Review

Submissions must be original and must not be under concurrent journal consideration. Preprint history, thesis origin, prior conference versions, or other relevant overlap must be disclosed to the editor. All submissions may undergo similarity screening, which is interpreted contextually and is not an automatic plagiarism verdict.

Eligible manuscripts undergo editorial screening and independent double-anonymous peer review. The journal targets three appropriately qualified reviewers for manuscripts entering external review. The editorial team may request revisions, further reviews, or decline a submission based on scholarly and ethical grounds. Review timelines are targets, not guarantees of acceptance.

09. Copyright, Licensing, and Fees

Authors retain copyright and grant LOCUS the non-exclusive right of first publication. Published articles are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0), subject to clearly identified third-party material and the applicable publication agreement.

Authors must consult the separately published Article Processing Charges (APC) page for current charges and any waiver conditions before submitting. The journal does not sell acceptance, guarantee publication, or provide paid fast-track review.

10. How to Submit and Final Checks

Submit through the official LOCUS OJS submission wizard. Select the appropriate article section, provide accurate metadata, upload the anonymized Word manuscript, and include any supplementary files or declarations as requested.

Before submission, confirm that the manuscript follows the English template, includes an appropriate methods/review approach, uses APA 7 consistently, contains accurate references, meets research ethics and AI disclosure requirements, and does not disclose author identities in the blinded manuscript.

Ready to Submit?

Confirm the submission checklist and consult the current journal policies before uploading your anonymized manuscript.