Manuscripts submitted to SMAR are expected to meet established scientific, formal, and technical standards. Accordingly, authors are required to prepare their manuscripts in accordance with the journal’s current manuscript template and the guidelines set out below. These guidelines cover the principal requirements concerning manuscript structure and length, title and abstract format, formatting specifications, presentation of scientific content, in-text citations and references, tables and figures, ethics committee approval and research permissions, and end-of-manuscript declarations. SMAR follows the APA Style 7th Edition (APA 7) for in-text citations and references.

Authors are required to use the SMAR manuscript template provided below when preparing their manuscripts. The template has been designed to facilitate compliance with the formal and technical requirements specified in these guidelines.

Manuscript Template: 📝 Article Template.docx 

Before submission, authors are required to carefully review both the guidelines below and the current manuscript template and prepare their manuscripts accordingly.

1. General Principles and Manuscript Structure

Manuscripts submitted to SMAR must be prepared in accordance with the journal’s current manuscript template and the guidelines specified below. Manuscripts that fail to meet the fundamental scientific, formal, or technical requirements may be returned to the authors for necessary revisions before the peer review process is initiated.

SMAR employs a double-blind peer review system. Accordingly, the main manuscript file submitted for evaluation must be completely anonymized. The main manuscript file must not contain the author’s name, institutional affiliation, email address, ORCID information, or any other information that may directly or indirectly reveal the identity of the author(s). Acknowledgements, project information, funding information, or similar statements that may enable identification of the author(s) must also be removed from the main manuscript file during the anonymous review process. Authors must also ensure that the document properties and file metadata do not contain any personal information that could reveal their identity.

Authors’ full names, institutional affiliations, academic titles, contact information, ORCID identifiers, and any other identification information requested as part of the submission must not be included in the main manuscript file. Such information must instead be provided by completing the Author Identification Information Form below and uploading it to the system as a separate file during submission.

Author Identification Information Form: 📝 SMAR - Author Information Form.docx 

Authors are required to complete the Author Identification Information Form fully and accurately with current information. It is the authors’ responsibility to ensure that the information provided in the form is consistent with the author and affiliation information entered into the DergiPark system.

Each published manuscript is classified according to its article type. The article type (Research Article, Conceptual Article, Review Article, etc.) is clearly indicated both in the Table of Contents and on the first page of the published article. Subject to differences arising from the nature of specific article types, manuscripts are generally expected to follow the following structure: Title, Abstract, Keywords, Extended English Abstract for manuscripts written in Turkish, Introduction, Conceptual/Theoretical Background, Research Methodology, Findings, Discussion and Conclusion, Acknowledgements, References, and Appendices, where applicable.

The standard empirical article structure is not mandatory for conceptual and review articles. In such manuscripts, section headings may be organized in accordance with the nature of the study. Nevertheless, all manuscripts are expected to clearly identify the scientific problem or rationale addressed, its relationship with the relevant literature, and the contribution made to the existing body of knowledge.

2. Manuscript Length

The manuscript, including references and appendices, should generally be between 3,000 and 8,000 words. When assessing the contribution of tables and figures to manuscript length, approximately 200 words should be taken into account for each table or figure.

Where the scientific nature, methodology, data structure, or scope of the study necessitates exceeding the 8,000-word limit, the manuscript may be prepared beyond this limit with editorial approval. Authors of such manuscripts are expected, where possible, to contact the Editorial Office prior to submission and provide a brief explanation of why the manuscript needs to exceed the stated word limit.

Manuscripts that substantially exceed the specified word limit without prior editorial approval may be returned to the authors for shortening before peer review.

3. Title, Abstract, Keywords, and Extended Abstract

The manuscript title should reflect the content of the study clearly, accurately, and as concisely as possible. It is recommended that the title not exceed 10 words and, except where necessary, it is expected not to exceed 12 words. Where a longer title is scientifically necessary, the authors may contact the Editorial Office.

The manuscript title should be written in title case, with the initial letters of principal words capitalized. The title provided in the manuscript file must be identical to the title entered into the DergiPark submission system.

Each Turkish and English abstract, including keywords, must not exceed 250 words. The abstract should present the purpose, methodology, principal findings, and conclusions of the study clearly and concisely, as appropriate to the nature of the manuscript.

Each manuscript must include 4-6 keywords. Keywords should be selected to represent the main subject, concepts, and scientific scope of the study and should support the discoverability of the article.

Manuscripts written in Turkish must include an Extended English Abstract of 500-1,000 words before the Introduction section. The Extended Abstract should provide sufficient information to represent the manuscript as a whole, including the purpose and rationale of the research, its theoretical or conceptual framework, methodology, principal findings, and conclusions.

During submission through DergiPark, all relevant metadata fields, particularly the title, abstract, and keywords, must be completed fully in both Turkish and English. The information entered into the system must be consistent with the information provided in the manuscript file.

4. Page Layout and Formatting Requirements

Manuscripts must be prepared on A4-size pages with 2.5 cm margins on all sides. Paragraph spacing must be set to 10 pt before and 10 pt after, and the main text must use 1.15 line spacing. Reference entries must be formatted using single line spacing.

The manuscript title must be written in Times New Roman, 20 pt, bold and italic, and centered.

The Abstract heading must be formatted in Calibri, 14 pt, bold; the abstract text must be in Calibri, 10 pt. The “Keywords” heading must be in Calibri, 10 pt, bold, and the keywords must be in Calibri, 10 pt.

The main manuscript file used during the double-blind peer review process must not contain author or institutional information. Following acceptance for publication, footnotes containing author and institutional information in the final publication file must be formatted in Times New Roman, 9 pt.

The Extended English Abstract heading must be formatted in Calibri, 13 pt, bold, and the Extended Abstract text must be in Times New Roman, 12 pt. First-level headings in the main text must be in Calibri, 13 pt, bold. The References heading must be in Calibri, 13 pt, bold, while the reference list must be formatted in Times New Roman, 12 pt.

For all other heading levels, tables, figures, and detailed technical formatting requirements, authors must follow the journal’s current manuscript template.

5. Organization of Scientific Content

The Introduction section must clearly present the research problem or research gap, the purpose of the study, its scientific rationale, and its significance on the basis of the existing literature. The importance of the research problem should be explained in relation to relevant scientific studies. The principal findings and main conclusions of the study should also be briefly stated in the Introduction, while their detailed interpretation should be provided in the Discussion and Conclusion section with reference to the relevant literature.

In the conceptual or theoretical background section, the relevant literature should not merely be summarized; it should be evaluated analytically and critically in relation to the research problem. The manuscript should clearly demonstrate which problem, debate, or research gap in the existing literature it addresses and how it aims to advance the existing body of knowledge.

In quantitative studies examining relationships between variables, merely testing statistical relationships between variables is not considered sufficient. The theoretical or conceptual rationale underlying the relationships examined must be explained on the basis of the relevant literature, and the expected relationships between variables must be grounded in a critical discussion of the literature.

In studies involving hypotheses, each hypothesis must be developed through discussion of the relevant theoretical and empirical literature. Hypotheses must not be presented merely as a sequence of statements independent of the literature. Before each hypothesis is proposed, authors must explain the theoretical rationale and previous empirical findings underlying the relationship between the relevant variables, and evaluate similarities, differences, and, where applicable, conflicting findings in previous studies. At the conclusion of this discussion, the theoretical expectation derived from the literature should be clearly articulated, followed by the corresponding hypothesis.

Hypotheses may be developed as a natural outcome of the relevant literature discussion within the conceptual or theoretical background section or may be structured under a separate literature-based “Hypothesis Development” section. However, merely listing hypotheses consecutively as “H1, H2, H3...” without explaining the theoretical or empirical rationale supporting them is not considered sufficient. Similarly, presenting hypotheses only as a list in the Research Methodology section is not appropriate.

The literature used in hypothesis development is expected to directly explain the relationship being investigated and to provide a scientific basis for the direction or expectation expressed in the hypothesis. Manuscripts in which hypotheses are not adequately developed on the basis of the relevant literature and are merely listed for statistical testing may not be considered for peer review.

For studies employing a research methodology, authors must explain why the selected methodology is appropriate for addressing the research problem. The research design, sample or data source, data collection process, and analytical method must be described with sufficient clarity to permit scientific evaluation. Important methodological limitations of the research should also be addressed where appropriate.

Findings must be presented consistently with the research questions, hypotheses where applicable, and the methodology employed. In the Discussion and Conclusion section, the principal findings must be evaluated in relation to the relevant literature. Similarities and differences between the findings and previous studies should be identified, and the theoretical or empirical implications of the results should be discussed.

Every manuscript must clearly demonstrate its original contribution to the existing body of knowledge. This contribution may be theoretical, conceptual, methodological, empirical, interdisciplinary, or practice-oriented. Merely reporting findings is not sufficient; the manuscript is expected to clearly demonstrate what it adds to the existing literature and how it advances the research problem addressed.

6. In-Text Citations and References

SMAR follows the APA Style 7th Edition (APA 7) for in-text citations and references. Authors are required to prepare all in-text citations and reference entries consistently and in accordance with APA 7.

6.1. In-Text Citations

In-text citations should generally include the author’s surname and the year of publication. For direct quotations or where reference to a specific page is necessary, the relevant page number should also be provided.

Basic examples are provided below:

• General citation: (Aydın, 2020)
• Citation to a specific page: (Aydın, 2020, p.7)
• Citation to a page range: (Dibek, 2020, p.7-14)
• Citation to non-consecutive pages: (Crowley, 2020, p.7, 14, 24)
• When the author’s name appears in the sentence: Aydın (2020), or where reference is made to a specific page, Aydın (2020, p.7)
• Parenthetical citation to a work by two authors: (Barry & Lee, 2020, p.7)
• Narrative citation to a work by two authors: Barry and Lee (2020, p.7)
• Citation to a work by three or more authors: (Akın et al., 2004, p.45)
• Citation to multiple works within the same parentheses: (Lekhavat, 2010; Pavia, 2007)
• Citation to specific pages in multiple works: (Lekhavat, 2010, p.3; Pavia, 2007, p.24)
• Citation to multiple works by the same author published in the same year: (Uygur, 2020a) and (Uygur, 2020b)

Where an author has published more than one work in the same year, the relevant works must be ordered in accordance with APA 7 and distinguished by adding the letters “a,” “b,” “c,” and so forth to the publication year.

Where multiple sources are cited within the same parentheses, they must be ordered in accordance with APA 7 and separated by semicolons.

Authors are expected to consult primary sources wherever possible. Where the primary source cannot be accessed and it is necessary to cite it through a secondary source, both the original source and the source actually consulted should be indicated. For example:

(Freud, 1900, as cited in Weber, 2017)

In such cases, only the secondary source actually accessed and consulted by the author should be included in the reference list.

Direct quotations must be presented in accordance with APA 7. Direct quotations of fewer than 40 words must be enclosed in double quotation marks and accompanied by the author, year, and page number. Direct quotations of 40 words or more must be presented as a separate block quotation without quotation marks. Direct quotations are not required to be italicized.

For more detailed information and examples regarding APA 7 in-text citation rules, authors may consult the official APA Style website.

6.2. Reference List Examples

All works included in the reference list must be formatted in accordance with APA 7. The examples below illustrate the reference format for commonly used source types.

Journal Articles

Greenwood, R., Suddaby, R., & Hinings, C. R. (2002). Theorizing change: The role of professional associations in the transformation of institutionalized fields. Academy of Management Journal, 45(1), 58-80. https://doi.org/10.5465/3069285

Erhan, T., Uzunbacak, H. H., & Aydin, E. (2022). From conventional to digital leadership: Exploring digitalization of leadership and innovative work behavior. Management Research Review, 45(11), 1524-1543. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRR-05-2021-0338

Books

Patten, M. L. (2018). Understanding research methods: An overview of the essentials (10th ed.). Routledge.

Hair, J. F., Jr., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Prentice Hall.

Chapter in an Edited Book

Allen, M. R., & Wright, P. M. (2009). Strategic management and HRM. In P. Boxall, J. Purcell, & P. M. Wright (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of human resource management (pp. 88-107). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199547029.003.0005

Aron, L., Botella, M., & Lubart, T. (2019). Culinary arts: Talent and their development. In R. F. Subotnik, P. Olszewski-Kubilius, & F. C. Worrell (Eds.), The psychology of high performance: Developing human potential into domain-specific talent (pp. 345-359). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000120-016

For additional source types and detailed examples of APA 7 reference formatting, authors may consult the official APA Style website.

Bibliographic entries in the reference list must be presented using the Latin alphabet. Where sources originally published in a non-Latin script are cited, their bibliographic information must be transliterated into the Latin alphabet in accordance with appropriate transliteration conventions.

Every source cited in the manuscript must have a corresponding entry in the reference list, and every source included in the reference list must be cited in the manuscript. Authors are responsible for verifying the accuracy of author names, publication years, titles, journal or book titles, volume and issue numbers, page ranges, and all other bibliographic information.

For scholarly sources with a DOI, the DOI must be included in the reference entry. DOI links must be presented in the following format: https://doi.org/...

During submission through DergiPark, the complete reference list must also be entered into the system. Authors are responsible for ensuring consistency between the references entered into the system and the citations and reference list contained in the manuscript.

7. Tables, Figures, and Other Materials

Tables, figures, graphs, and other visual materials must be numbered consecutively, provided with an explanatory title, and referred to at the appropriate point in the manuscript.

Tables and figures should support the scientific presentation of the study, and unnecessary repetition of information already provided in the text should be avoided. Visual materials must be of publication quality and prepared at a clearly legible resolution.

Where tables, figures, scales, tests, images, or other materials belonging to third parties and protected by copyright are used, authors are responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions. The source of the material must be appropriately acknowledged.

8. Ethics Committee Approval and Research Permissions

For research requiring ethics committee approval, the necessary approval must be obtained before the research begins. The name of the ethics committee, the date of the decision, and the decision or document number must be clearly stated in the Methodology section and in the relevant ethics declaration section appearing on the first or final pages of the manuscript.

For studies requiring ethics committee approval, the relevant approval document must be uploaded to the submission system as a supplementary file.

For research involving human participants, informed consent must be obtained where required. Authors are responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions for scales, tests, questionnaires, visual materials, or other research instruments subject to permission or copyright restrictions.

9. End-of-Manuscript Declarations

To ensure transparency in scholarly publishing, manuscripts must include, where applicable, the following declarations at the end of the article: Ethics Committee Statement, Informed Consent Statement, Author Contribution Ratio and CRediT Contributor Roles Statement, Conflict of Interest Statement, Funding Statement, Support and Acknowledgements Statement, Data Availability Statement, and Artificial Intelligence Use Statement.

Under the Author Contribution Ratio and CRediT Contributor Roles Statement, the contribution percentage of each author and the contributor roles undertaken by each author within the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) framework must be specified. For multi-authored manuscripts, the total contribution percentages must equal 100%. For single-authored manuscripts, the contribution ratio must be stated as 100%, and the author’s relevant CRediT contributor roles must be specified. Further details regarding the determination of CRediT contributor roles are provided in the Author Guidelines.

Where the research has received support from any individual, institution, project, or funding body, the source of support must be disclosed. Where no conflict of interest exists, this must also be explicitly stated.

10. Final Check Before Submission

Before uploading their manuscripts to the system, authors are expected to conduct a final check of the manuscript title, Turkish and English abstracts, keywords, manuscript length, references, tables and figures, ethical information, required end-of-manuscript declarations, and the anonymity of the main manuscript file.

The manuscript title, abstracts, keywords, author order, and reference information entered into the DergiPark system must be consistent with the information contained in the uploaded files. Author and institutional information must not be included in the main manuscript file; such information must instead be provided through the Author Identification Information Form and the relevant fields in the DergiPark system.

Manuscripts that fail to meet the fundamental writing and submission requirements specified above may be returned to the authors for the necessary revisions before the peer review process is initiated.