1. General Information
Social Scientific Centered Issues (SSCI) is an international, open-access, peer-reviewed journal (ISSN: 2687-6221) operating under a continuous publication model. The journal publishes original research, reviews, and theoretical contributions at the intersection of education, psychology, social sciences, and applied natural sciences.
| Journal Detail | Information |
|---|
| Journal Title | Social Scientific Centered Issues (SSCI) |
| ISSN | 2687-6221 (Online) |
| Publication Model | Continuous Publication (Open Access) |
| Peer Review | Double-Blind |
| Ethics Compliance | COPE Core Practices |
| Language | English |
| License | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) |
| Similarity Check | iThenticate / Turnitin — max. 20% threshold |
| Article Processing Charge | None — free to submit and publish |
2. Manuscript Types & Word Limits
Word counts apply to the main text only and exclude the abstract, references, tables, and figures.
| Manuscript Type | Word Limit | Description |
|---|
| Original Research Article | 5,000–9,000 | Empirical studies with clear methodology, results, and discussion. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods designs are welcome. |
| Systematic Review / Meta-Analysis | 6,000–10,000 | Comprehensive reviews following PRISMA guidelines. Must include a clearly defined search protocol. |
| Review Article | 5,000–8,000 | Critical synthesis of existing literature. Must identify research gaps and future directions. |
| Conceptual / Theoretical Paper | 4,000–7,000 | Papers that develop or critique theoretical frameworks. Must make a clear contribution to the field. |
| Short Communication | 2,000–4,000 | Brief reports of novel findings, preliminary data, or replication studies. |
3. Submission Requirements
3.1 Language
SSCI publishes exclusively in English. Authors whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to have their manuscript reviewed by a professional language editing service before submission. Manuscripts with significant language problems may be returned without peer review.
3.2 Originality
Submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. Simultaneous submission to multiple journals is a serious ethical violation and will result in immediate rejection.
3.3 ORCID Requirement
All authors must provide a valid ORCID iD at submission. Registration is free at orcid.org. ORCID iDs are required to meet the indexing requirements of Scopus and Web of Science.
3.4 Author Contributions (CRediT)
Manuscripts with two or more authors must include an Author Contributions Statement using the CRediT taxonomy. Example:
Author A: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing – Original Draft. Author B: Data Curation, Formal Analysis, Writing – Review & Editing. Author C: Supervision, Funding Acquisition.
3.5 Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial or professional relationships that could be perceived as influencing the research. If none: "The authors declare no conflict of interest."
3.6 Funding Statement
All funding sources must be acknowledged. If no funding was received: "This research received no external funding."
3.7 Data Availability
Authors are encouraged to deposit data in a public repository (e.g., OSF, Zenodo, Figshare) and include a Data Availability Statement. If data cannot be shared, a brief explanation must be provided.
4. Manuscript Structure
4.1 Title Page (Separate File)
Submit a separate title page (not included in the main manuscript file) containing:
- Full manuscript title (max. 20 words, no abbreviations)
- Running head (max. 60 characters)
- Full name(s) of all authors
- Institutional affiliations and country for each author
- ORCID iD for each author
- Corresponding author name, email address, and postal address
- Acknowledgements (if any)
- Funding statement
- Conflict of interest statement
- Author contributions (CRediT)
⚠ Important: The main manuscript must contain no author-identifying information to protect the integrity of double-blind peer review.
4.2 Main Manuscript Sections
| Section | Requirements |
|---|
| Title | Repeat the manuscript title (no author names). Max. 20 words. |
| Abstract | 150–250 words. Structured format (see 4.3). No citations or abbreviations. |
| Keywords | 5–8 keywords. Lowercase except proper nouns. Separated by semicolons. |
| 1. Introduction | State the problem, theoretical background, research gap, and objectives. End with a clear statement of research purpose or questions/hypotheses. |
| 2. Literature Review | Critical synthesis of relevant prior work (may be integrated into Introduction for shorter papers). |
| 3. Methodology | Describe research design, participants/sample, instruments, data collection, and analysis in sufficient detail for replication. Include ethics approval information. |
| 4. Results | Present findings objectively. Use tables/figures to support (not repeat) the text. Include effect sizes and confidence intervals where applicable. |
| 5. Discussion | Interpret findings in relation to literature and research questions. Address implications, limitations, and future research directions. |
| 6. Conclusion | Concise summary of main contributions. Do not repeat the Abstract. |
| References | APA 7th Edition. See Section 7. |
| Appendices | Label as Appendix A, B, etc. Reference each in the text. Place after references. |
4.3 Structured Abstract Format
All research articles must use a structured abstract with the following bold subheadings:
Purpose: What the study aimed to investigate or achieve.
Design/Methodology: Research approach, data collection, sample/participants, and analysis strategy.
Findings: Main results of the study.
Originality/Value: What the study contributes to the field, practice, or policy.
Limitations: Major limitations (1–2 sentences).
5. Formatting & Style
| Element | Specification |
|---|
| File Format | Microsoft Word (.docx) — do NOT submit PDF for initial submission |
| Page Size | A4 (210 × 297 mm) |
| Margins | 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides |
| Font | Segoe UI, 12 pt |
| Line Spacing | Double-spaced throughout (including references) |
| Paragraph Indent | 0.5 inch first-line indent; no extra space between paragraphs |
| Headings | APA 7th Edition heading levels (Level 1–5) |
| Page Numbers | Bottom center, starting from page 1 of the main manuscript |
| Spelling | American English (e.g., analyze, behavior, center) |
| Numbers | Spell out one through nine; use numerals for 10 and above |
| Statistics | Italicize all statistical symbols: M, SD, t, F, p, r, η² |
6. Tables, Figures & Appendices
6.1 Tables
- Number consecutively: Table 1, Table 2, etc.
- Table title: above the table, bold, title case (APA 7)
- Use horizontal lines only — no vertical borders (APA style)
- Include a note below the table to explain abbreviations or statistics
- Do not duplicate data already presented in the text
6.2 Figures
- Number consecutively: Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.
- Figure caption: below the figure, bold label followed by plain-text description (APA 7)
- Minimum resolution: 300 dpi
- Preferred formats: TIFF, EPS, or high-resolution PNG
- All figures must be mentioned in the text before they appear
7. References — APA 7th Edition
SSCI uses APA 7th Edition for all citations and references. For full guidance, consult apastyle.apa.org.
7.1 In-Text Citations
| Case | Format |
|---|
| One author | (Smith, 2021) or Smith (2021) |
| Two authors | (Smith & Jones, 2020) — always use & in parentheses |
| Three or more authors | (Smith et al., 2019) — from first citation onward |
| Direct quote | (Smith, 2021, p. 45) — page number required |
| No author | Use first few words of title in italics: ("Article Title," 2020) |
7.2 Reference List Examples
Journal Article
Aydınlı, B., & Yılmaz, C. (2022). Interdisciplinary approaches in social science education: A systematic review. Social Scientific Centered Issues, 4(2), 112–128. https://doi.org/10.XXXXX/ssci.2022.XX
Book
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE.
Book Chapter
Mayer, R. E. (2019). How multimedia can improve learning and instruction. In J. Dunlosky & K. A. Rawson (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of cognition and education (pp. 460–479). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108235631.019
Conference Paper
Yılmaz, K. (2023, May 14–16). Digital competence in teacher education: Findings from Turkey [Paper presentation]. International Conference on Education and Psychology, Ankara, Turkey.
Dissertation / Thesis
Kaya, M. (2020). The role of self-regulated learning in academic achievement [Doctoral dissertation, Ankara University]. YÖK Thesis Database.
7.3 DOI Policy
- Include a DOI for all references that have one
- Format: https://doi.org/10.XXXXX/XXXXX (full URL — do not use "doi:" prefix)
- If no DOI, include the direct URL. No retrieval date needed unless content changes over time.
- Do not include database names (JSTOR, EBSCO) unless no DOI or URL is available
8. Ethical Standards & Research Integrity
SSCI follows the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) Core Practices in all editorial decisions. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to comply fully with these standards.
8.1 Human Participants Research
- All studies involving human participants must have received approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent ethics committee
- The ethics approval number and institution must be stated in the Methodology section
- Informed consent must have been obtained from all participants or their legal guardians
- For survey-based research conducted after 2020, ethics committee approval is mandatory (per Turkish Council of Higher Education regulation)
8.2 Plagiarism & Similarity
- All manuscripts are screened using iThenticate or Turnitin prior to review
- Maximum acceptable similarity index: 20% (excluding references and direct quotations)
- Manuscripts exceeding the threshold will be returned without review
- Self-plagiarism (reusing significant portions of one's own published work without attribution) is treated as a serious violation
8.3 Authorship Criteria
- All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the work
- Ghost authorship and gift authorship are strictly prohibited
- Any changes to authorship after submission must be requested in writing and approved by the editor-in-chief
8.4 Data Fabrication & Falsification
Fabricating, falsifying, or selectively reporting data is a cardinal violation. SSCI reserves the right to retract published articles and notify the authors' institutions if misconduct is discovered post-publication.
8.5 Duplicate Submission
Manuscripts must not be submitted to SSCI while under review elsewhere. Authors must disclose if any part of the work has been previously presented at a conference.
8.6 Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
Authors who use AI-assisted writing tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly AI) must disclose this in the Acknowledgements section. AI tools may not be listed as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all AI-assisted content.
9. Peer Review Process
SSCI employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process. Both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the evaluation.
| Stage | Description |
|---|
| Submission | Author submits via DergiPark. Automatic acknowledgement sent immediately. |
| Editorial Pre-check | Editor checks scope fit, formatting, similarity report, and ethics statement. Decision within 5–10 working days. Manuscripts not meeting minimum standards are returned without review. |
| Reviewer Assignment | Editor assigns 2 independent reviewers with relevant expertise. |
| Peer Review | Reviewers evaluate the manuscript. Target turnaround: 4–6 weeks. |
| Editorial Decision | Based on reviewer reports: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject. |
| Revision | Authors submit a revised manuscript with a detailed Response to Reviewers document addressing each comment point-by-point. |
| Final Decision | Revised manuscripts may undergo a second round of review. Final acceptance confirmed by editor-in-chief. |
| Publication | Accepted manuscript is typeset, assigned a DOI, and published online immediately (continuous model). |
Response to Reviewers: When submitting a revision, include a separate document titled "Response to Reviewers" that addresses each comment individually, stating (a) the reviewer's comment, (b) the change made, and (c) the location in the revised manuscript (page and line number).
10. Copyright, Licensing & Open Access
SSCI is a fully open-access journal. There are no article processing charges (APCs) and no subscription fees.
| Item | Policy |
|---|
| License | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) |
| Author Rights | Authors retain copyright. The journal holds the right of first publication. |
| Permitted Reuse | Anyone may share, adapt, and build upon the published work with appropriate credit. |
| Preprint Policy | Authors may post preprints on SSRN, OSF Preprints, or PsyArXiv before, during, or after review. Update the preprint with the final DOI upon publication. |
| Self-Archiving | Authors may deposit the final published PDF in any institutional or public repository immediately upon publication. |
| APCs | None. Publication in SSCI is completely free of charge. |
11. After Acceptance
11.1 Proofreading
Authors will receive a typeset proof and must return corrections within 48 hours. Only minor typographical corrections are accepted at this stage.
11.2 Publication
Accepted manuscripts are published online immediately upon completion of production, with a unique DOI. Articles are not held for issue compilation (continuous publication model).
11.3 Promoting Your Article
Authors are encouraged to share their published article on ResearchGate, Academia.edu, LinkedIn, and social media using #SSCIJournal. Sharing the DOI link is preferred over sharing the PDF.
11.4 Corrections & Retractions
If an error is discovered in a published article, contact the editorial office at bahattinaydinli0637@gmail.com. SSCI follows COPE guidelines for corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions.
12. Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit in Turkish?
No. SSCI publishes exclusively in English. This policy is required for international indexing in Scopus and Web of Science.
Is there a submission or publication fee?
No. Submission, review, and publication are all free of charge.
How long does peer review take?
The target turnaround is 4–6 weeks from reviewer assignment. The full process from submission to first decision is typically 6–10 weeks.
Can I suggest reviewers?
Yes. Authors may suggest up to three qualified reviewers and may also indicate individuals they wish to exclude. The editor is not obligated to follow these suggestions.
What is the similarity threshold?
Maximum 20%, excluding references and direct quotations.
Can I publish a conference paper?
Yes, if the paper has been substantially expanded (at least 30% new material) and the conference presentation is disclosed in the cover letter.
What reference style does SSCI use?
APA 7th Edition. See Section 7 for detailed guidelines and examples.
Manuscript Template: Click here for the article submission template.
Copyright Form: Click here for the copyright form.
