Author Guidelines

For Authors

Author Guidelines

Comprehensive instructions for preparing and submitting manuscripts to QUALITATIVE STUDIES.

⚠ Important Notice

Manuscripts that do not comply with these guidelines or are submitted in an incorrect format will BE DESK-REJECTED at the initial editorial screening stage without further peer review. Authors are strongly encouraged to read these guidelines carefully before submission.

1. General Submission Requirements

Manuscripts submitted to QUALITATIVE STUDIES, an academic journal managed under Bale Beleq Indonesia, must be original scholarly works that have not been previously published and are not under consideration by other journals. The journal accepts manuscripts written exclusively in English, with a recommended length of 5,000–8,000 words, including references, tables, and figures.

All submissions should demonstrate academic rigour, clarity of argument, methodological soundness, and relevance to qualitative research across social sciences, humanities, cultural studies, and related interdisciplinary fields.

2. Manuscript Structure

Each manuscript must be organised into the following sections:

Title
Concise, informative, and reflective of the study's core focus (maximum 15–20 words).
Abstract
150–200 words, structured to include research purpose, methodology, key findings, and implications.
Keywords
3–5 keywords, arranged alphabetically, reflecting the core themes of the study.
Introduction
Background, research problem, objectives, and significance of the study.
Literature Review
Critical engagement with relevant theoretical and empirical literature.
Methodology
Research design, participants/context, data collection techniques, data analysis procedures, and trustworthiness measures.
Findings / Results and Discussion
Presentation of qualitative data with thick description, supported by participant voices, field notes, or visual materials, interpreted in dialogue with existing literature.
Conclusion
Summary of key findings, theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research.
References
A complete list of all cited sources, formatted according to APA 7th edition style.

3. Qualitative Research Specific Guidelines

As a journal dedicated to qualitative inquiry, QUALITATIVE STUDIES expects authors to address the following aspects in their manuscripts:

Research Design
Clearly state the qualitative approach used (e.g., phenomenology, ethnography, case study, grounded theory, narrative inquiry).
Data Collection
Describe in detail the techniques employed (interviews, observations, document analysis, focus groups, etc.).
Data Analysis
Explain the analytical procedure (thematic analysis, content analysis, discourse analysis, etc.) with transparency.
Trustworthiness
Address credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability of the findings.

4. Formatting Requirements

Manuscripts must be prepared according to the following technical specifications:

File Format Microsoft Word (.doc / .docx)
Font Gulim, 12-point
Line Spacing Single spacing
Paper Size A4
Margins Standard (2.54 cm / 1 inch on all sides)
Word Count 5,000–8,000 words (including references, tables, and figures)
Citation Style APA 7th Edition (consistent throughout)

5. Ethical Considerations

Authors conducting qualitative research involving human participants must ensure the following:

  • Informed Consent: All participants must provide informed consent prior to data collection.
  • Anonymity & Confidentiality: Participant identities must be protected through pseudonyms or codes, unless explicit permission is granted.
  • Ethical Clearance: If applicable, include a statement confirming approval from a relevant ethics committee or institutional review board.
  • Sensitive Data: Handle sensitive information with care and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

6. Peer Review & Plagiarism Policy

To ensure a fair and rigorous review process, all submissions must be anonymised and free from any identifying author information. Manuscripts will undergo a double-blind peer review by at least two expert reviewers.

All manuscripts will be screened for plagiarism using Turnitin and/or similar software. The maximum allowable similarity index is 20%. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold will be returned to the authors for revision or may be rejected.

7. Submission Process

Submissions are accepted exclusively through the journal's Online Journal System (OJS). Authors are required to:

  1. Register as an author on the journal's OJS platform.
  2. Complete all metadata fields accurately (title, abstract, keywords, author affiliations, ORCID iD, etc.).
  3. Upload the main manuscript file (anonymised) and a separate title page containing author details.
  4. Upload any supplementary files (tables, figures, appendices) if applicable.
  5. Confirm compliance with all submission requirements by checking the relevant boxes.

8. Pre-Submission Checklist

Before submitting, please ensure that your manuscript meets all the following criteria:

  • ☑ The manuscript is original and has not been published elsewhere.
  • ☑ The manuscript is written in English and falls within the journal's scope.
  • ☑ The word count is between 5,000–8,000 words.
  • ☑ The manuscript follows the required structure (Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Findings/Discussion, Conclusion, References).
  • ☑ Formatting complies with the specifications (Gulim 12pt, single spacing, A4, APA 7th).
  • ☑ The manuscript is anonymised (no author identifying information in the main file).
  • ☑ Ethical considerations have been addressed (informed consent, anonymity, etc.).
  • ☑ All citations and references follow APA 7th edition style consistently.
  • ☑ The similarity index is below 20%.

Download the official manuscript template before preparing your submission:

Download Template Submit Your Article
Need Assistance?

If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or the submission process, please contact the editorial team at qualitativestudies@balebeleqindonesia.org or via WhatsApp at +62 8xx-xxxx-xxxx.