Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines

Authors submitting and publishing in the Asian Journal of Qualitative Research (AJQR) agree to comply with the copyright policies outlined in the Creative Commons 4.0 license. Authors publishing in AJQR permit others to remix, modify, and build upon their work for non-commercial purposes under this license. However, any reuse must include proper attribution to the original author(s), the journal, and publication details. Furthermore, the submission must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration by any other journal. AJQR has a strict policy against plagiarism, and submitted manuscripts should be in Open Office or Microsoft Word format.

Language

All manuscripts must be in English, Arabic or Urdu. Authors should carefully proofread their research papers to avoid grammatical, typographical, and syntax errors. It is advised to seek professional proofreading services to ensure clarity and correctness.

Plagiarism Policy (Similarity Index)

AJQR follows the plagiarism criteria set by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, allowing a maximum similarity index of 19%. Manuscripts exceeding this limit may only be considered if they originate from an author’s thesis (BS, M.Phil., or Ph.D.), provided that the plagiarism percentage minus the content already submitted to HEC remains within the allowable 19% limit.

Manuscript Title

Titles should be concise and informative, accurately reflecting the manuscript’s key findings, arguments, or ideas. Overly complex or vague titles should be avoided.

Submission Checklist

Before submitting, ensure the following:

  • One author is designated as the corresponding author with up-to-date contact details.

Author(s) Information:

  • Full names of all authors
  • Designations and affiliations (Department, Faculty, Institution/University, City, Country)
  • Active email address of the corresponding author
  • ORCID ID (if available)

Unaffiliated authors will have only their city and country of residence displayed unless they request otherwise.

Required Files:

  • Abstract (100-200 words)
  • Keywords (3-9)
  • Figures and tables with appropriate captions
  • Indication of whether color figures are necessary for print
  • Graphical abstracts/highlights (if applicable)
  • Supplementary files (if applicable)

Abstract Requirements

The abstract must be between 100-200 words, free from undefined abbreviations or unspecified references, and consistent with the version included in the submission system. Abstracts should be structured as follows:

  1. Background & Objective
  2. Methods & Results
  3. Conclusion

Manuscript Preparation

Length:

  • Manuscripts should be between 3,000 to 9,000 words (including all sections, references, tables, and figures).

Formatting:

  • Use an accepted file format (e.g., Microsoft Word). Unsupported file types may be returned during pre-editorial review.

Headings:

  • Follow a decimal system for headings, with a maximum of three levels.

Abbreviations:

  • Use abbreviations sparingly and define them at their first occurrence in the text.

References:

  • Follow APA 6th edition referencing style.
  • References must be cited in the text; endnotes without in-text citations will be considered incomplete.
  • Always include DOIs as full links where available.

Reference Examples:

  • Journal Article: Lowrie, T., & Diezmann, C. M. (2009). National numeracy tests: A graphic tells a thousand words. Australian Journal of Education, 53(2), 141-158.
  • Article with DOI: Osman, M. (2010). Controlling uncertainty: A review of human behavior in complex dynamic environments. Psychological Bulletin, 136(1), 65-86. https://doi.org/abc
  • Book: Gazda, G. M., et al. (2005). Human relations development: A manual for educators (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Educational.
  • Book Chapter: Baker, F. M., & Lightfoot, O. B. (1993). Psychiatric care of ethnic elders. In A. C. Gaw (Ed.), Culture, ethnicity, and mental illness (pp. 517-552). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.

Tables and Figures

  • Submit tables in an editable format (not as images).
  • Number tables and figures sequentially using Arabic numerals (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1).
  • Provide clear captions for all tables and figures.
  • Figures should only be included if they significantly contribute to the discussion.

Ethical Considerations

If research involves human participants, authors must include an ethics statement confirming institutional and/or national ethical approval (mentioning the ethics committee’s name) and compliance with ethical standards.

Revisions and Review Process

  • Authors should highlight all revisions in color or bold text.
  • Address all reviewer comments in a professional and constructive manner.
  • If a specific revision is not feasible, provide a clear rationale.
  • Maintain a professional tone in all responses to reviewers.

This document outlines AJQR’s submission guidelines. Adherence to these standards will ensure a smooth review and publication process.