Submissions

Author Guidelines

Aims and scope

The Intercontinental Journal of Social Sciences (IJSS) publishes theoretically grounded and methodologically sound research across the social sciences. The journal prioritises studies that advance scholarly understanding of social phenomena through rigorous empirical investigation, critical analysis, or well-argued conceptual engagement.

IJSS welcomes research situated in, but not limited to, the following areas: sociology, education, linguistics, psychology, anthropology, political science, international relations, economics, development studies, media and communication studies, and interdisciplinary social science research.

IJSS is an international, peer-reviewed journal that serves a global scholarly audience by publishing research of relevance beyond a single national, institutional, or local context. The journal encourages comparative, cross-cultural, and internationally informed perspectives across the social sciences.

Submissions must demonstrate:

A clear and coherent focus on a social issue, process, or phenomenon of scholarly relevance

Strong theoretical positioning within an established or emerging social science framework

Methodological transparency and analytical rigour appropriate to the research design

Engagement with current and internationally relevant scholarship

A contribution that extends beyond a single local or purely descriptive context

While IJSS values theoretical and conceptual scholarship, such submissions must demonstrate analytical depth and a clear contribution to social science knowledge rather than purely speculative or descriptive discussion.

Manuscript types

IJSS accepts the following types of submissions.

Research articles (5,000–8,000 words, excluding references)

Empirical qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods studies addressing significant questions in the social sciences.

Review articles (4,000–7,000 words)

Systematic, scoping, or critical reviews that synthesise international literature and identify conceptual, methodological, or empirical gaps.

Short reports (2,000–4,000 words)

Focused empirical studies, pilot investigations, or theoretically informed analyses with clear scholarly relevance.

Reviews (1,500–3,000 words)

Critical reviews of recent publications relevant to social science research and scholarship.

Purely descriptive manuscripts or opinion-based submissions without sufficient analytical grounding are not considered.

Mandatory scholarly criteria for consideration

To be considered for peer review, all submissions must meet the following minimum scholarly requirements:

Clearly articulated research aims, questions, or analytical objectives

A methodology or analytical framework appropriate to the study design

Critical engagement with recent and relevant international literature

Analytical depth that goes beyond summary or description

A clearly stated contribution to social science theory, methodology, or empirical knowledge

Manuscripts that fail to meet these criteria may be desk-rejected prior to peer review.

Manuscript submission

Manuscripts must be submitted electronically via the journal’s online submission system or via email at ijss@pierreonline.uk. Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.

The manuscript file should include the title page, abstract, main text, tables and figures (if any), and references.

Formatting and structure

General formatting

Language: British English
Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
Line spacing: Double-spaced
Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
Citation style: APA 7th edition

Title page

Concise and informative title

Author(s)’ name(s) and institutional affiliation(s)

Corresponding author’s email address

Abstract and keywords

Abstract
200–250 words summarising the study’s aim, methodology or analytical approach, key findings, and scholarly significance.

Keywords
4–6 keywords, written in lowercase and separated by commas.

Main sections for research articles

Title

Abstract (200–250 words)

Introduction (approximately 500–1,000 words)

Literature review or theoretical framework (approximately 800–1,500 words)

Methodology or analytical approach (approximately 800 words)

Findings or analysis (approximately 800–1,200 words)

Discussion (approximately 1,000–1,500 words)

Conclusion (approximately 500 words)

References (APA 7 format)

The methodology or analytical approach section must clearly explain the research design, data sources, data collection procedures, and analytical methods. For qualitative or conceptual studies, the interpretive framework and analytical logic must be explicitly articulated.

The discussion section must critically relate findings or arguments to existing international scholarship, demonstrating how the study advances understanding within the social sciences.

Tables and figures

All tables and figures must be numbered sequentially (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1).

Clear titles and sources must be provided for all tables and figures.

Tables must be submitted in editable format (Word or Excel, not images).

Ethical considerations

Authors must adhere to recognised ethical research standards, including informed consent, confidentiality, and responsible data handling where applicable. Studies involving human participants must include a clear ethics approval statement.

Use of artificial intelligence

IJSS permits the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools for limited supportive purposes such as language refinement, transcription support, data organisation, or preliminary coding assistance. Artificial intelligence must not replace scholarly judgement, theoretical reasoning, methodological decision-making, or critical interpretation.

Authors are required to declare any use of artificial intelligence in a dedicated section titled “AI use declaration”, placed before the references or included in the comments to the editor at submission. The declaration must specify the name and version of the tool used, the purpose of use, and confirmation that the authors retain full responsibility for the manuscript’s content, analysis, and conclusions.

Artificial intelligence tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors. Intellectual ownership, accountability, and ethical responsibility rest entirely with the human author(s).

Failure to disclose the use of artificial intelligence or inappropriate reliance on such tools may result in desk rejection or rejection at any stage of the editorial or peer review process.

All submissions are screened for plagiarism using detection software.

Peer review process

All submissions undergo double-blind peer review. The review process typically takes approximately 3–6 weeks.

Editorial decisions are based on reviewer reports as well as the manuscript’s scholarly quality, methodological soundness, and alignment with the journal’s scope. Authors may be required to revise and resubmit their manuscripts in response to reviewer and editorial feedback.

Publication fees

IJSS does not charge submission or publication fees. The journal is committed to providing free and open access to high-quality social science research.

Copyright and open access

IJSS is an open-access journal. Authors retain copyright while granting IJSS the right to publish their work under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence.

Language and academic clarity

Manuscripts must be written in clear, academically appropriate British English and demonstrate coherence, precision, and argumentative clarity. Submissions with persistent language or structural issues that obscure meaning may be returned to authors or rejected prior to peer review.

The journal does not provide language editing services. Authors are responsible for ensuring the clarity and accuracy of their manuscripts before submission.

Contact information

For all enquiries, please contact:
Email: ijss@pierreonline.uk