International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning (IJPL)
Author Self-Review Criteria
Dear Potential Author
This review form is designed as both a checklist and an opportunity for you to identify your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and make improvements prior to your initial submission. It alerts you to the most typical aspects of journal articles that report research that are likely to be the subject of critical peer review (obviously not all below is applicable to submissions of book reviews or discussion papers). Therefore, it is anticipated that by providing this information in advance of submission the academic and technical writing process will be supportive and educative, and in turn better able to contribute to the efficient use of both your time and that of reviewers and the editorial team.
A. Manuscript follows journal guidelines for submission:
1. Length of text not counting abstract and references - 3500-6000 words.
2. Style – American Psychological Association APA (6th. ed.).
3. Font – Times Roman 12.
4. Formatting – Do not use any automatic formatting, e.g. headers and footers, spacing etc.
5. Line spacing – must be single line spacing with indentation for new paragraph.
6. Add page numbers bottom right.
7. Headings - No more than three levels of headings:
i. Heading Level 1 Arial 12 bold capitals
ii. Heading Level 2 Arial 12 bold sentence case
iii. Heading Level 3 Arial 12 sentence case italics
8. Level 1 headings include ABSTRACT; INTRODUCTION; LITERATURE; DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY; RESULTS, DISCUSSION; CONCLUSIONS; REFERENCES (unless you are submitting a book review or discussion paper).
9. Each table and figure should be sent as an individual file – all figures should be in jpeg format and should also be included in the text.
B. Rating of research rigour – Answer Yes or No
1. The manuscript includes a methodology section.2. The research questions are clearly stated.
3. When a sample of participants is part of the research how it was chosen is clearly explained e.g. random; random stratified; purposive; convenience; . . .
4. The manuscript states what kind of approach is taken to the research.
5. Mixed method; ethnographic; qualitative; quantitative; descriptive . . .
6. Ethical issues are identified and discussed, appropriately for the research.
7. The research problem is clearly identified.
8. Unclear or loose terms such as “most”, “many”, “some”, “a few” are not used in the reporting of results.
9. Specific proportions are referred to in terms of actual percentages.
10. When a quotation from a research participant is made that participant is identified by a number or other specific differentiating terminology e.g. Student 22; Teacher 5; Interviewee 3.
11. Does the results section address all of the data that was collected?
12. The manuscript identifies the implications of the research results.
13. The manuscript makes suggestions for future research based on the results.
C. Formatting details and APA
1. Keywords – 5 to 92. Single spacing
3. Left justification, Times New Roman 12 point font
4. Does not include any special formatting in the file.
5. All headings and subheadings follow the advised style – Underline is not used.
6. There is Aaccurate reporting style of several references in sequence, which takes account of the need for alphabetical order e.g. (Brown, 2010; Green, 2005; Peters, 2001) – NO first names or initials in text.
7. Acknowledgments (if any) placed immediately before the list of references.
8. Accurate application of APA rules on style when using “and” and “&” in relation to two or more authors and brackets and no brackets.
9. Accurate application of “et al” re number of authors, and punctuation style re “et al”.
10. A final spell and grammar check has been completed.
11. APA rules on quotations from other material have been checked and abided by in length and identification of page numbers and use of indentations.
12. All Figures and Tables are labelled, and with Figure titles positioned below the Figure and Table titles positioned above the table.
D. The overall manuscript rating
What action would improve your manuscript?1. There is a clear introduction to the research.
2. There is a clear advance organizer to assist the reader grasp the scope and intention of the manuscript in a nutshell.
3. The background context for the research is clearly explained.
4. The research paradigm and conceptual or theoretical framework is specified.
5. The research design/methodological framework is clearly specified and appropriate for the research.
6. The data analysis is accurate and comprehensive.
7. The research implications are valid for the research findings.
8. The conclusions are made explicit.
9. Overall the manuscript flows and is cohesive.
10. The argument is logical and is supported by the data presented.
11. The research contribution to knowledge is made explicit.
12. The written expression is clear.
13. The level of English language does not interfere with the readability of the manuscript.
14. All the references in the list are referred to in the manuscript.
15. All the references in the text are listed in the manuscript.
16. References in the text of the manuscript are accurate in terms of APA style Edition 6.
17. References in the reference list of the manuscript are accurate in terms of APA style Edition 6. E.g.: See
http://www.usq.edu.au/library/referencing/apa-referencing-guide
E. Other aspects to consider
1. Upon a final thorough read are there any significant aspects you have identified as implicit in the manuscript that could be dealt with more explicitly to improve the message/discussion.
2. Are there any ways that a figure might be introduced into the text to enhance an explanation, discussion or conclusion?
3. Can the manuscript be reduced in length?
4. Does the manuscript need expanding?
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