Instructions for Authors

These instructions detail the requirements for manuscript preparation and submission to the Al-Mutawassit Journal for Reference Studies and Research (MJRSR). Authors are strongly encouraged to use the provided Microsoft Word template to ensure adherence to formatting guidelines.

1. General Submission Guidelines

  • Scope: MJRSR accepts original, unpublished research across all scientific disciplines.

  • Language: Manuscripts are accepted in both English and Arabic.

  • Originality: Submissions must not be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere.

  • Plagiarism Check: All manuscripts are screened using Turnitin. The maximum permissible similarity/plagiarism percentage is 20%. Submissions exceeding this limit will be rejected immediately.

  • Ethics: Authors must ensure their work complies with all ethical standards and declare any Conflict of Interest (see Publication Ethics Policy).

2. Manuscript Structure and Content

The manuscript should be organized into the following sections:

A. Title and Authorship Information

  1. Paper Title: Should be clear, concise, and written in Times New Roman, Font Size 16.

  2. Author Names & Affiliations: List all authors with their respective affiliations (Department, Institute, City, State, Country). Use Times New Roman, Font Size 12, centered alignment.

  3. Corresponding Author: Clearly identify the corresponding author with an asterisk (*) and provide their email address.

  4. Article History: (Managed by the journal office) This section includes the dates of Received, Accepted, and Published.

B. Abstract and Keywords (English and Arabic)

The manuscript must include both an English Abstract and an Arabic Summary (الملخص).

  • Abstract Length: Must not exceed 250 words.

  • Format: Must be written as a single paragraph.

  • Content: The abstract must summarize the study's overall purpose, basic design, key results, and major interpretations/conclusions.

  • Keywords: Provide 3 to 5 relevant keywords immediately following the abstract.

C. Main Text Sections

The main body of the paper should generally follow the IMRAD (Introduction, Material and Methods, Results, and Discussion) structure. The text should be typed in Times New Roman, Font Size 10, with justified alignment.

  1. Introduction: Highlight the importance of the topic, provide general context, and present an overview of current research to clearly identify the subject area of interest.

  2. Material and Methods: Detail the methodology and analysis performed in the research work. Include enough information to allow the study to be replicated.

  3. Results and Discussion: These sections may be combined or kept separate. They should clearly present the findings and interpret their significance.

  4. Conclusion: This must be a concise and informative section summarizing the main points and outcomes of the research. It should not be the same as the Abstract. It should briefly state how the study benefits society and suggest a way forward.

  5. Compliance with Ethical Standards: Include a mandatory section declaring the Disclosure of Conflict of Interest (e.g., "The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.").

3. Formatting and Style

A. Text and General Formatting

  • Font: Times New Roman for all English text and a clear, readable font for Arabic.

  • Font Size: 10pt for the main body text.

  • Alignment: Justified for the main body text.

  • Styles: Authors are encouraged to use the pre-defined styles within the template (e.g., "Normal" for body text, "Article Title" for the title).

B. Figures and Tables

  • Placement: All figures and tables should be inserted directly into the main text at their appropriate locations.

  • Numbering: Figures should be numbered sequentially (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2). Tables should also be numbered sequentially (e.g., Table 1, Table 2).

  • Captions/Titles:

    • Figure Captions: 10pt, Times New Roman, Center alignment.

    • Table Titles: 10pt, Times New Roman, Justify alignment.

  • Table Footnotes: Should be 8pt, Times New Roman, Center aligned.

C. Citations and References

  • Citation Style: References should follow the APA 7th edition style.

  • In-Text Citation: References should be cited by number(s) in square brackets in line with the text (e.g., "...was reported earlier [1, 2].").

  • Reference List: The full list of references should be placed at the end of the manuscript under the heading "References (APA 7th edition)".

4. Copyright and Licensing

  • License: This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

  • Author Rights: Authors retain the copyright to their work while granting the journal the license to publish.