Writing Rules

Author Guidelines

Writing Rules

To ensure the publication of high-quality scholarly research, authors submitting manuscripts to the Review of Studies on Criminology, Sociology, and Law (RSCSL) are expected to comply with the following requirements:

 

Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration for publication in any other journal or conference proceedings.

 

Authors are strongly encouraged to screen their manuscripts using reputable similarity detection software prior to submission to minimize plagiarism and facilitate a more efficient editorial review process.

 

Manuscripts derived from conference presentations or proceedings are considered only if they have been substantially revised and expanded into a distinct scholarly work. Authors must secure any necessary permissions from the copyright holder, where applicable.

 

RSCSL does not accept research notes, brief communications, or opinion pieces. Only complete, original scholarly manuscripts are considered for publication.

 

All listed authors must have made substantial scholarly contributions to the manuscript and must confirm that they have read, approved, and agreed to the submitted version.

 

Authors are required to comply with the journal's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement, which outlines policies on authorship, originality, plagiarism, conflicts of interest, research integrity, and ethical publication practices.

 

RSCSL is a fully Open Access journal. Published articles are freely accessible to readers worldwide, and authors retain copyright to their work under the journal's licensing policy.

 

All manuscripts must be written in clear, scholarly English. Authors are responsible for ensuring grammatical accuracy, language quality, and overall readability before submission.

 

Original research articles should generally contain 6,000–8,000 words, excluding tables, figures, appendices, and references. Manuscripts exceeding this range may be considered when their scholarly contribution justifies the additional length.

Organization of the Manuscript

Authors should prepare their manuscripts using the following structure.

§ 1
 

Title and Author Information

Title

The title should be concise, informative, and accurately reflect the content of the study.

Author Information
  • Provide the full names of all authors.
  • Include institutional affiliations for each author.
  • Provide ORCID iDs where available.
  • Identify the corresponding author using an asterisk (*) and include an active institutional or professional email address.
§ 2
 

Editorial Information

The published article will include the following editorial details:

  • Academic Editor
  • Date Received
  • Date Revised (if applicable)
  • Date Accepted
  • Date Published
§ 3
 

Abstract & Keywords

Abstract

The abstract should not exceed 250 words, accurately represent the study without overstating its significance, and provide a concise summary including:

  • Background or rationale
  • Research objective(s)
  • Methodology
  • Major findings
  • Conclusions and practical implications
Keywords

Provide three to six keywords, separated by semicolons (;), that accurately describe the content of the manuscript and facilitate indexing and discoverability.

§ 4
 

Introduction

The introduction should:

  • Present the research problem and its significance.
  • Review relevant literature and establish the theoretical or conceptual foundation of the study.
  • Identify research gaps.
  • Clearly state the study's objectives, hypotheses, or research questions.
  • Follow the APA Style (7th Edition) citation guidelines.
§ 5
 

Materials and Methods

This section should provide sufficient detail to allow replication of the study. Include, where applicable:

  • Research design
  • Participants or study population
  • Sampling procedures
  • Research instruments
  • Data collection procedures
  • Data analysis techniques
  • Ethical considerations
  • Availability of research data or datasets, when appropriate
Studies involving human participants or animals must include the name of the approving ethics committee and the corresponding approval or protocol number.
For doctrinal or legal research, authors should clearly describe the legal research methodology, sources of law, analytical framework, and methods of legal interpretation employed.
§ 6
 

Results

  • Present the findings clearly and objectively.
  • Use tables, figures, illustrations, or legal summaries where appropriate.
  • Avoid repeating identical information in both text and tables.
  • Organize lengthy results into logical subsections.
§ 7
 

Discussion & Conclusions

Discussion

Interpret the findings in relation to existing literature and frameworks. Explain theoretical, practical, and policy implications. Highlight the significance of the study, address limitations, and suggest directions for future research.

Conclusions

The conclusion should summarize the major findings and contributions of the study without introducing new information.

§ 8
 

Figures, Tables & Equations

Figures and Tables
  • Every figure and table must be cited in the text.
  • Number figures and tables consecutively.
  • Position each figure or table as close as possible to its first citation.
  • Provide clear titles and explanatory notes where necessary.
Mathematical Equations
  • Be prepared using an equation editor.
  • Be numbered consecutively.
  • Include definitions of symbols and variables upon first use.
§ 9
 

Declarations & Supplementary

  • Supplementary Materials: Submit additional tables, datasets, multimedia files, or appendices. Provide links or repository identifiers where applicable.
  • Author Contributions: Specify individual contributions using the CRediT taxonomy.
  • Funding: Disclose all funding sources. If none, state: "This research received no external funding."
  • Institutional Review Board: Provide name of the ethics committee, approval number, and date.
  • Informed Consent: State whether informed consent was obtained from participants.
  • Data Availability: Indicate where supporting data can be accessed.
  • Acknowledgments: Acknowledge contributors who do not meet authorship criteria.
  • Conflicts of Interest: Disclose any relationships that could influence the research. If none, state: "The authors declare no conflict of interest."
  • Appendices: Include methodological details, legal documents, instruments, etc., as necessary.
§ 10
 

References

All references must conform to the APA Style (7th Edition) and include complete and accurate bibliographic information for every source cited in the manuscript.

Authors are encouraged to use the official APA Style resources when preparing their reference list.

Open the APA Style website

These writing requirements are intended to promote consistency, transparency, methodological rigor, and ethical scholarly publishing while supporting the journal's commitment to high-quality research in criminology, sociology, law, criminal justice, legal studies, and related interdisciplinary fields. The guidelines accommodate empirical, doctrinal, comparative, qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and interdisciplinary research, ensuring that all published manuscripts meet internationally recognized standards of academic excellence and publication ethics.