Our reference Policy

This policy defines standards for reference quantity, currency, and quality, ensuring manuscripts demonstrate engagement with credible and contemporary scholarship.

References situate research within existing knowledge and allow readers to evaluate claims independently. Editors and reviewers must ensure compliance with these standards during evaluation.

1. Purpose

Establishing minimum expectations for source selection and balance.
+

2. Reference Quantity

Proportional to manuscript length:

2.0 to 3.0 references per page

Example: A 10-page paper should have 20–30 references.

3. Reference Currency

Primary focus on work from the last 10 years.

Sources older than 10 years must be seminal and cannot exceed 10% of the total list.

4. Reference Quality

To uphold international standards, manuscripts must meet these minimum thresholds:

Impact Factor Journals (2011–Present) 35%
 
Indexed (Scopus/ESCI) or Impact Factor 50%
 

5. Referencing Style

Strict adherence to APA Referencing Style.
+

6. Editorial Role

  • Confirm APA compliance at final decision
  • Ensure reviewers assess source balance
  • Request revisions for non-compliant lists

Reviewer Role

  • Evaluate currency and relevance of sources
  • Assess journal credibility and indexing
  • Identify excessive reliance on outdated work

7. Continuous Review

This policy is subject to periodic updates to remain aligned with evolving indexing standards, citation practices, and discipline-specific developments.