Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines – International Civic Engagement Studies (ICES)

Authors submitting manuscripts to the International Civic Engagement Studies (ICES) must follow the guidelines outlined below. The submitted manuscript must be original, not previously published, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. All manuscripts must be written in clear academic English and conform to the following structure and formatting.

Title and Author Information

  • Title: Must be written in English, using Constantia 14 pt, concise, straightforward, unique, and clearly reflecting the article's content.
  • Author(s) Name(s): Listed without academic titles, in Times New Roman 10 pt.
  • Author Affiliation: Institution and country must be written below the author’s name, also in Times New Roman 10 pt.
  • Corresponding Author: Indicated with an asterisk (*), with email address provided below the affiliation in Times New Roman 10 pt.

Abstract and Article Information

  • Abstract: The abstract should be written in English, using Times New Roman 10 pt, and should not exceed 250 words, single-spaced. It must represent the entire article content, including:
    • Background: The rationale or motivation for the research, highlighting the gap between theory and practice.
    • Objective(s): The main aim(s) of the study.
    • Method: Type and design of research, population/sample, instruments used, and techniques for data analysis.
    • Results/Conclusion: Key findings, conclusions, and their contribution or recommendation to the field.
  • Article Info:
  • Article History:
  • Received: [date]
  • Accepted: [date]
  • Published: [date]
  • Keywords: Include a maximum of four keywords, separated by semicolons (;), that best represent the content of the article.

Manuscript Structure

Use Times New Roman 12 pt, single spacing, 6 pt spacing between paragraphs. All section headings should be bold. The paper should be formatted in one-column layout using A4 size, and follow this order:

  1. INTRODUCTION

The introduction should:

  • Present the main topic of the research.
  • Review the most relevant and up-to-date literature (preferably within the last 10 years) to establish the research context.
  • Identify research gaps, inconsistencies, or controversies.
  • State clearly the research problem, objectives, context, unit of analysis, and article structure.

Formatting Notes:

  • Introduction length should not exceed 1 A4 page.
  • Heading is written in Times New Roman 8 pt, bold, with 6 pt spacing before body text.
  • Body text uses Times New Roman 12 pt, single spaced, with 6 pt spacing between paragraphs.
  1. METHODS

This section must describe:

  • Research design and approach.
  • Population and sample (or research subjects).
  • Data collection methods and instruments used.
  • Instrument validity and reliability (if applicable).
  • Data analysis techniques.

All procedures must be described clearly and in detail so that other researchers can replicate the study.

  1. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This section presents research findings and interprets them based on theoretical and empirical foundations.

  • Results must be presented concisely, without redundancy.
  • Use tables or figures when appropriate (without repeating data in text).
  • Each result should be accompanied by a discussion that links the findings to relevant literature, identifies patterns, and discusses implications.
  • Tables and figures should be numbered sequentially, centered, and labeled using bold font.
  1. CONCLUSION

This section must:

  • Clearly summarize the key research findings.
  • Acknowledge the strengths and limitations of the study.
  • Suggest possible avenues for future research or practical implications.

Bullet points using numbered lists are recommended to enhance clarity.

  1. REFERENCES
  • All references must follow the American Political Science Association (APSA) citation style.
  • Use reference manager tools such as Mendeley or Zotero.
  • At least 80% of the sources must be from the last 10 years and peer-reviewed.
  • All in-text citations must correspond to the reference list and vice versa.

Examples:

Aarrestad, P., Masunga, G., Hytteborn, H., Pitlagano, M., Marokane, W., & Skarpe, C. (2011). Influence of soil, tree cover and large herbivores on field layer vegetation along a savanna landscape gradient in northern Botswana. *Journal of Arid Environments*, 75, 290–297.

Kim, Y. K., Yoo, K., Kim, M. S., Han, I., Lee, M., Kang, B. R., & Park, J. (2019). The capacity of wastewater treatment plants drives bacterial community structure and its assembly. *Scientific Reports*, 9(1), 1–9.

Stewart, E. J. (2012). Growing unculturable bacteria. *Journal of Bacteriology*, 194(16), 4151–4160.

Additional Notes

  • Manuscripts that do not conform to these guidelines will be returned without review.
  • All manuscripts will be screened for plagiarism using detection tools. A similarity score above 20% will result in automatic rejection.
  • Authors are responsible for ensuring ethical standards in studies involving human subjects, including obtaining informed consent.

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