Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences

• Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences (KUJSS) is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that adheres to national and international academic publishing standards in all works it disseminates. The acceptance of manuscripts submitted to the journal for evaluation is contingent upon the authors’ full compliance with the writing guidelines of KÜSBD, which are based on formal, structural, and ethical principles. Accordingly, authors are required to consider the general guidelines presented below and to strictly follow the detailed specifications provided in the “Article Template and Writing Rules” document.

• KÜSBD conducts an initial technical conformity review as the first stage of the manuscript submission process. During this review, all formal components—including the use of font, line spacing, heading hierarchy, paragraph formatting, the arrangement of tables and figures, as well as the requirements for abstracts and extended abstracts—are examined meticulously. The journal employs a single typeface, Palatino Linotype, across all manuscript sections, aiming to ensure standardization of font size and alignment throughout the text.

• The journal adopts the 6th edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) citation style for in-text referencing and bibliographic formatting. Accordingly, compliance with APA 6th-edition rules is required for all types of citations, including in-text references, multiple-author works, repeated works by the same author, institutional publications, and indirect citations. The bibliography must also adhere to APA standards, with sources listed alphabetically and second lines formatted with a hanging indent.

• To ensure academic integrity, manuscripts should be structured around fundamental sections such as Introduction, Method, Findings, and Conclusion–Discussion–Recommendations. Turkish and English abstracts must be prepared within the prescribed word limits, and manuscripts not written in English must additionally include a 700–750-word Extended Abstract. Tables, figures, and illustrations must be suitable for black-and-white printing, properly numbered, and positioned in a manner that preserves content coherence.

• This text serves as a preliminary overview of KÜSBD’s writing principles; all technical specifications and formatting requirements are detailed in the official template and writing guidelines document. Authors are strongly encouraged to prepare their manuscripts in accordance with these standards, as adherence is essential for the smooth progression of the peer-review process and for maintaining the academic consistency of the journal’s published content.

• Click here to access the KUJSS Article Template and Writing Rules...

• Click here to access the KÜSBD Article Template and Writing Guidelines for the March 2026 Special Issue… 

        Publication Ethics Statement

• All parties involved in the publication process (authors, editorial board, and reviewers) are required to make decisions in accordance with ethical behavior standards. Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences expects all parties to comply with these standards. The highest publication ethics standards are supported, and all possible measures are taken against publication malpractices. As the publisher, Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences takes its custodial duties seriously at every stage of publication and acknowledges its ethical and other responsibilities.

        International Standards for Authors

• Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences does not require a signed submission letter from all authors of a manuscript and does not impose prescriptive practices on authors. All authors submitting work to the Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences are expected to voluntarily comply with the international standards set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (https://publicationethics.org).

• Authors must confirm that their manuscripts are original works. Plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, data manipulation, and similar practices are strictly prohibited.

• Authors must ensure that no physical or legal harm is inflicted upon research participants and must not engage in psychological abuse. They must also guarantee the privacy and anonymity of research participants.

• Authors must clearly identify individuals or institutions (sponsors) that support the research.

• Authors must confirm that the manuscript has not been previously published and is not currently under consideration elsewhere.

• Authors must ensure that all sources used in the preparation of the manuscript are included in the reference list.

• If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they must notify the journal editor or publisher immediately and cooperate with the editor to retract or correct the article.

• Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest or common interests to Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences.

• All submitted manuscripts must undergo similarity checking by the authors using the iThenticate program, and the similarity report must be uploaded to the journal system together with the manuscript. Authors must strictly avoid plagiarism, including self-plagiarism. Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 20% (excluding the references section) will not be considered for evaluation by Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences.

        International Standards for the Editorial Board

• Members of the Editorial and Publication Boards must adhere to international editorial standards. The editor and editorial board members of Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences are expected to voluntarily comply with the ethical principles established by COPE (https://publicationethics.org).
  

• The Editorial Board thoroughly examines submitted manuscripts in order to decide on publication and to prevent misconduct. If a research study is identified as involving misconduct, the corresponding author is held responsible for the retraction or correction of the manuscript based on the feedback from the editor and reviewers.
  

• The Editorial Board must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts.
  

• The Editorial Board is responsible for making publication decisions on submitted manuscripts.
  

• The Editorial Board must strive to meet the needs of both readers and authors.
  

• The Editorial Board must make efforts to improve and enhance the quality of Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences.
  

• The Editorial Board must place the utmost importance on scientific quality and originality.
  

• The Editorial Board must always be prepared to publish corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies when necessary.
  
  International Standards for Reviewers
  
  
• Upon accepting an invitation to review, reviewers are required to comply with international peer-review standards. Reviewers of Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences are expected to voluntarily adhere to the ethical principles established by COPE (https://publicationethics.org).
  
  
• Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of all information regarding the manuscript.
  
  
• Reviewers must bring to the attention of the Editorial Board any information that may constitute grounds for rejecting the manuscript.
  
  
• Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts based on scientific merit.
  
  
• Reviewers must assess manuscripts objectively and solely on the basis of originality, significance, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
  
  
• Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest to Kırıkkale University Journal of Social Sciences.
  
  Informed Consent Policy
  
  
• Authors must comply with ethical and legal standards, and individuals participating in research must be informed of the following conditions:
  
      Participants must be informed that research concerning them is being conducted.
  
      Participants must be informed that participation is voluntary, that refusal involves no penalty, and that they may withdraw at any time without negative consequences.
  
      Participants must be informed about the purpose of the research and the procedures that will be followed.
  
      Participants must be provided with contact information for inquiries regarding the research.
  
      Participants must be informed of any potential risks or discomforts that may affect them should they agree to participate.
  
      Participants must be informed of any potential direct benefits of participation (e.g., receiving a copy of the article or chapter).
  
      Participants must be informed of how their confidentiality will be protected.
  
  If you encounter any unethical situation, please report it via email to sbd@kku.edu.tr