Submissions

Author Guidelines

A. Manuscript Submission

Authors shall submit a soft copy and three (3) printed copies of the manuscript to the Research and Development Services Office (RDSO).

The manuscript shall contain appropriate and sufficient scholarly content and include the following, as applicable:

1. Title of the manuscript;
2. Name(s) of the author(s);
3. Email address(es) of the author(s);
4. College/Campus affiliation(s);
5. Abstract;
6. Keywords;
7. Introduction, including the objectives of the study or statement of the problem and relevant citations;
8. Theoretical and/or conceptual framework, when applicable;
9. Materials and Methods for experimental research or Methods for non-experimental research;
10. Results and Discussion;
11. Conclusions and Recommendations; and
12. Literature Cited.

B. Proof of In-House Review

The author shall submit proof that the manuscript has undergone a local in-house review by a panel of internal and external experts.

C. Compliance Form

The author shall attach a duly accomplished compliance form to the manuscript submission.

D. Manuscript Format

Authors shall observe the following formatting requirements:

1. Font Style and Size

• Use Arial, 12-point font throughout the main text of the manuscript.
• Use Arial, 9-point font for tables.
• Italicize foreign words and scientific names, as applicable.
• Present the research title in uppercase, boldface, and centered.
• Present the subtitle, if any, in sentence case, boldface, italics, and centered.

2. Paragraph Indentation

Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inch.

3. Manuscript Length

• The abstract shall contain 200–250 words, unless a different length is justified by the nature of the study, such as research in the pure sciences.
• The entire manuscript shall contain approximately 4,000–7,000 words and should not exceed 12 pages, unless otherwise justified.

4. Margins

Use a one-inch (1") margin on all sides of the manuscript.

5. Pagination

Number all pages consecutively, including pages containing tables, appendices, and references. Page numbers shall appear in the upper-right corner of each page.

6. Paper Size

Use Letter size paper (8.5 × 11 inches).

7. Spacing

Use single spacing within the manuscript and appropriate spacing between major sections, paragraphs, tables, figures, and other manuscript elements to maintain readability and consistency.

8. Tables and Figures

Tables and figures shall be clear, concise, appropriately numbered, and referred to in the text.

For tables:

• Do not use color unless necessary for the accurate presentation or interpretation of the data.
• Place the table number and title above the table, aligned to the left.
• Use sentence case for table titles; capitalize only the first word and proper nouns.
• Do not place a period at the end of the table title.
• Use only three (3) horizontal lines whenever appropriate and avoid vertical lines.
• Place a zero before the decimal point for numerical values less than one (e.g., 0.25 rather than .25).
• Ensure that column headings and labels are concise, clear, and consistently formatted.

For figures:

• Place the figure number and title below the figure.
• Figures should consist of clear line drawings, computer-generated graphics, charts, diagrams, or high-quality images appropriate to the study.
• Photographs should be original, of good quality, and free from inappropriate electronic enhancement or pixelation.
• Submit image files in JPEG (.jpg/.jpeg) or PNG (.png) format, when separate image files are required.
• Ensure that all labels and text remain legible when the figure is reduced by up to 50% of its original size.

9. Language and Usage

Authors shall observe the following conventions:

• Spell out a name, expression, acronym, or unfamiliar abbreviation when it first appears in the text. The abbreviation or acronym may subsequently be used consistently.
• Spell out stand-alone units of measurement; standard symbols may be used when accompanied by numerical values, as appropriate to the discipline.
• As a general rule, spell out whole numbers from zero to nine in running text, except when conventions of the discipline require numerals.
• Do not use periods or spaces in abbreviated academic titles and degrees (e.g., PhD, MA).
• In scientific manuscripts, write the complete scientific name of a species at its first mention. Subsequent references may use the accepted abbreviated form.
• Provide an English equivalent or explanation for foreign words or expressions when necessary for reader comprehension.
• Italicize foreign words and appropriate technical terms when first introduced, consistent with accepted disciplinary conventions.
• Use paragraph form where appropriate instead of unnecessary enumeration.
• Use gender-sensitive and inclusive language.
• Use Latin abbreviations such as e.g., i.e., etc., and et al. according to accepted academic conventions. Where appropriate, use their English equivalents in running text.
• In parenthetical in-text citations involving two authors, use an ampersand (&) in accordance with APA style.
• In tables, use f for frequency and % for percent, when appropriate. In running text, use the corresponding word forms according to accepted academic writing conventions.

Use the past tense, as appropriate, when:

• describing procedures performed in the study;
• discussing previous studies or findings in their historical context; and
• referring to findings, theories, or propositions that are no longer considered current or valid.

Use the present tense, as appropriate, when:

• referring readers to information presented in tables and figures;
• discussing findings and their current implications;
• stating conclusions supported by the present study; and
• describing generally accepted facts, principles, or scientific knowledge that remains valid.

10. References and Citations

Authors shall observe the following requirements:

• Use scholarly and authoritative sources appropriate to the subject and nature of the study.
• Authors are strongly encouraged to prioritize peer-reviewed literature published in reputable and recognized scholarly journals.
• Exercise caution when using gray literature or sources that have not undergone scholarly peer review. Such sources should be used only when relevant and appropriate to the research.
• Ensure that every source cited in the manuscript appears in the reference list and that every source in the reference list is cited in the manuscript.
• Verify the accuracy and completeness of all bibliographic information before submission.
• Format in-text citations and references according to the journal-prescribed edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA).
• Where appropriate, prioritize current and relevant literature while retaining seminal or foundational sources necessary to establish the theoretical, conceptual, or historical basis of the study.