Submission Guidelines

Pre-Submission Requirements (Pre-Check)

Authors must fulfill all of the following points before submitting a manuscript:

    • Originality: The manuscript must be original and has not been published elsewhere.
    • Word Count: Articles must range between 4,500–8,000 words.
    • Plagiarism: Similarity level through Turnitin must not exceed 25%.
    • Citation Style: References must follow the American Psychological Association (APA) 6th Edition. The use of reference management tools (e.g., Mendeley, Zotero) is highly recommended.
    • Format: Manuscripts must adhere to the PJLS Journal Template.

Online Submission Steps

All manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s Online Submission system (Open Journal Systems – OJS). Submissions via email will not be accepted.

Please follow these steps to submit your manuscript:

  1. Account Registration: The corresponding author must first register as an Author on the PJLS OJS platform.
  2. Login: After registration, log in to your account.
  3. Start a New Submission: From your dashboard, select the option Start New Submission.
  4. Upload Manuscript File: Upload your manuscript file (in MS Word format) prepared according to our Article Template.
  5. Complete Metadata: Provide all required metadata accurately, including:
    • Article Title.
    • Abstract (copied and pasted from your manuscript).
    • Keywords.
    • Author Information: Full name, affiliation, and email address of all authors in order (must match the manuscript).

Once all steps are completed, you will receive confirmation that your manuscript has been successfully submitted.

Review Process and Editorial Decision

After submission through the Online System, the manuscript will undergo a rigorous editorial and peer-review process to ensure quality and compliance with PJLS academic standards.

Review Process

  1. Initial Screening: The Editorial Staff will conduct a quick screening focusing on:
    • Compliance with all Pre-Submission Requirements (word count, APA style, and article template).
    • Plagiarism check (Turnitin similarity not exceeding 25%).
    • Manuscripts failing to meet these requirements or using incorrect formats will be desk rejected without further review.
  2. Peer Review: Manuscripts that pass the screening will be sent to expert reviewers in the relevant field. PJLS applies a blind review system to ensure objectivity.

Editorial Decision

Based on reviewers’ recommendations, the Editor-in-Chief will issue one of the following decisions:

  • Accepted: The manuscript is accepted without further revision.
  • Minor Revision: The manuscript is accepted with minor corrections required.
  • Major Revision: The manuscript has potential but requires substantial improvements before reconsideration.
  • Rejected: The manuscript is declined and will not be published in PJLS.

Author’s Responsibilities : Authors must respond to and revise their manuscripts according to reviewers’ and editors’ comments. Revisions must be resubmitted via OJS within the specified deadline to ensure a smooth editorial process.

Post-Acceptance Editorial Process (Production Stage)

Once a manuscript is officially Accepted, it will proceed to the final production stage before publication:

  • Authors are required to settle the Article Processing Charge (APC) in accordance with the journal’s policy.
  • Authors will receive an official Letter of Acceptance (LoA).
  • The manuscript will undergo editorial processes including Copyediting, Layout, Proofreading, and Scheduling for Publication.

Final Publication: The article will be published online on the PJLS website and indexed in scholarly databases.