Editorial Guidelines

1. Submission and Initial Evaluation

Scope and Relevance
Manuscripts must present original research, theoretical contributions, or critical reviews in social sciences disciplines, including but not limited to:

  • Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Psychology, Law, Education, History, Development Studies, and Media Studies

Authors are encouraged to review the journal’s Aims and Scope before submission to ensure alignment.

Plagiarism Screening
All submissions undergo rigorous plagiarism checks using Turnitin or equivalent software. AIJSS enforces a strict 15% similarity threshold. Manuscripts exceeding this limit may be returned for revision or rejected outright.

Formatting Requirements
Submissions must comply with the AIJSS Author Guidelines and include:

  • Title, author(s), and institutional affiliations

  • Structured abstract (150–250 words) and keywords

  • Main body following IMRAD format or relevant structure for theoretical/humanities manuscripts

  • Properly formatted references (APA recommended)

  • Tables, figures, acknowledgments, and author declarations (funding, ethics, conflict of interest)

Licensing Terms
All published articles are distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0), permitting free sharing with attribution but restricting commercial use.

2. Peer Review Policy

Double-Blind Review
AIJSS employs a double-blind peer review system, ensuring author and reviewer identities remain confidential. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts in the relevant field.

Reviewer Selection and Ethics
Reviewers are selected based on subject expertise and publication experience and must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. All peer review activities adhere to principles of fairness, confidentiality, and scholarly integrity.

Review Timelines

  • Reviewers are requested to submit evaluations within 2–4 weeks.

  • The editorial office monitors progress and maintains timely communication with authors.

3. Editorial Decision-Making

Decision Outcomes
Based on peer review feedback, the editorial team may decide to:

  • ✅ Accept the manuscript

  • ✏️ Request minor revisions

  • ???? Request major revisions

  • ❌ Reject the manuscript

Authors receive detailed decision letters along with anonymized reviewer comments.

Revisions and Resubmissions

  • Authors must address all reviewer comments and resubmit within the allocated deadline.

  • Revised manuscripts may undergo additional rounds of review if required.

Appeals
Authors may submit written appeals with justification. Appeals are evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief or independent editorial board member, and decisions are final.

4. Ethical Standards and Responsibilities

Authorship Criteria

  • All listed authors must have made a substantial scholarly contribution.

  • The corresponding author ensures that all co-authors approve the final version and agree to submission.

Conflict of Interest

  • Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or personal interests that could influence the review or publication process.

Research Ethics Compliance

  • Manuscripts involving human or animal subjects must include ethical clearance and informed consent statements.

  • AIJSS adheres to international ethical standards for social science research.

5. Post-Publication Policy

Corrections and Retractions
In cases of factual errors, ethical violations, or other concerns, AIJSS may:

  • Issue Corrections (Erratum or Corrigendum)

  • Retract articles with transparency and explanation

  • Notify relevant indexing agencies

Archiving and Preservation
All published content is securely archived to ensure long-term accessibility and reliable citation.

6. Editorial Board Responsibilities

Selection and Diversity
Board members are chosen for their scholarly reputation and subject expertise. AIJSS seeks diversity in institutional affiliation, discipline, and geographic representation.

Duties and Engagement
Editorial board members contribute to:

  • Peer review and manuscript oversight

  • Developing journal policies and standards

  • Promoting ethical and academic excellence

Rotation and Renewal
The composition of the board is periodically reviewed to maintain relevance, engagement, and representation.

7. Communication and Transparency

Support for Authors
The editorial office provides guidance on:

  • Submission status

  • Revision instructions

  • Journal policies and procedural queries

Professional Communication
All interactions among authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to be respectful, timely, and collaborative, fostering a healthy scholarly environment.

Conclusion
By following these guidelines, AIJSS ensures that all published research is socially relevant, ethically sound, and academically rigorous, supporting the advancement of knowledge across diverse social science disciplines.