Guidelines for Authors
Articles that do not comply with these guidelines cannot be accepted for review.
I. Two article versions
Please note that two versions (two files) have to be submitted to IBAS Journal:
- The first version has to ensure a blind peer review, this means: (1) The author(s) name(s) must not appear in the whole article and any accompanying files (such as figures of supplementary material). (2) The address, affiliation, biographical notes and any acknowledgements, disclosures, or funding information must be erased. (3) Authors should avoid citing their own work in a way that could reveal their identity. Please name the first file “blind version”.
- The second version has to be complete with all names appearing in the article and any accompanying files. Please attach the second version as an extra file in the submission process named “non-blind version”. The non-blind version should start with a title page which include - besides the title and structured abstract (context, alternative term: purpose; approach, alternative term: methods; findings, alternative term: results; conclusions) - (1) the names, Email addresses, ORCID numbers and affiliations of all authors, (2) the name of the corresponding author, (3) a brief professional biography (biographical notes) of not more than 100 words for each named author, (4) ethics statement, (5) funding information (if applicable).
- Addtionally, all figures (charts, diagrams, line drawings, photographic images, etc.) should be submitted as supplementary files with at least 300 dpi (therefore additional to the embedded figures in the submitted versions).
II. Ensure a blind review
To ensure the integrity of the blind peer-review for submission to this journal, every effort should be made to prevent the identities of the authors and reviewers from being known to each other. This involves the authors, editors, and reviewers (who upload documents as part of their review) checking to see if the following steps have been taken with regard to the text and the file properties:
In case of several authors, please make sure that no author can be identified during the blind review process. Authors should avoid citing their own work in a way that could reveal their identity.
With Microsoft Office documents, author identification should also be removed from the properties for the file (see under File in Word), by clicking on the following, beginning with File on the main menu of the Microsoft application: File > Save As > Tools (or Options with a Mac) > Security > Remove personal information from file properties on save > Save.
III. Requirements
General requirements
- Language: Articles which are not in proper English will not be accepted and the article will not be forwarded to the reviewers. If English is not your native language, we recommend a professional proofreading prior submission.
- Chicago, 17th Edition: In-text citations and references have to be in Chicago style, 17th Edition. A quick guide can be found here.
- Lengths: An article should be about 5.000 to 9.000 words in length.
- Format: The Article has to be submitted in Word format. Use 12-point Times New Roman
Article-specific requirements
- Title: Please select an informative and specific title.
- Abstract: An abstract should comprise maximum 300 words.
- Keywords: Please choose and name 3–5 keywords. Carefully selecting the most appropriate keywords will enhance the ability of others to find your articles. Please use keywords from A guide to VOCEDplus subjects and keywords
- Headings: The maximum number of levels is three.
- Figues and Tables: (1) All Figures have to be of high quality (> 300 dpi), legible and numbered consecutively. (2) All illustrations, figures, and tables should be placed within the text at the appropriate points. (2) All illustrations, figures, and tables should be numbered and should have a title. (3) The title of a table should be above the table and the title of a figure should be below the figure. (4) All illustrations, figures, and tables should be cited in the text and should be explained. (5) References should be put in the legend.
- Abbreviations: If you use abbreviations, please define them. If the abbreviation is the name of an organisation, it should be written in full once.
- Footnotes and acknowledgements: You can use footnotes (but no endnotes) for additional information but not for the citation of a reference or for bibliographic details of a reference. A footnote should not contain figures or tables. Acknowledgments of grants, funds, etc. should be mentioned in a footnote at the beginning of your article.
- References: The Heading “References” is an unnumbered “Heading 1”.
IV. Citation Quality and Reference Selection
At IBAS Journal, we emphasize the importance of citing high-quality, relevant, and authoritative sources to ensure the scholarly rigor and impact of published research. Authors are strongly encouraged to prioritize references from reputable, peer-reviewed journals and scholarly books.
Specifically, we recommend that authors:
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Prioritize publications indexed in leading global databases such as Clarivate Analytics' Web of Science (including SCIE, SSCI, AHCI, ESCI), Scopus, DOAJ, Ebsco, etc.. These indexes are recognized for curating high-quality, peer-reviewed academic literature.
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Ensure the relevance and direct contribution of each cited work to their manuscript's arguments, methodology, or discussion.
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Use a diverse range of current and seminal works in their field, reflecting a comprehensive understanding of the existing literature.
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Carefully evaluate the quality and credibility of all sources, including those from emerging fields or interdisciplinary areas that may not yet be widely indexed.
By upholding these standards in reference selection, authors contribute to the overall academic excellence of their work and to the integrity and standing of IBAS Journal within the global scholarly community.
V. Generative AI Policy
For Authors:
At IBAS Journal, we embrace technological advancements while upholding the highest standards of scientific integrity and transparency. This policy outlines our guidelines for authors regarding the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process.
This guidance applies specifically to the writing of your manuscript, not to the use of AI tools for data analysis or drawing insights as part of your research.
Declaration of Generative AI Use:
If you use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the writing of your manuscript, you must declare this upon submission. This declaration will be published with your article.
Please add a new section before your References list at the end of your manuscript, titled:
Declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted Technologies in the Writing Process:
Within this section, include a statement following this example:
"During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [NAME TOOL / SERVICE] in order to [REASON, e.g., improve readability, refine language]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article."
Important Notes:
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This declaration does not apply to basic tools used for grammar checks, spelling corrections, or reference management.
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If you have nothing to disclose regarding the use of generative AI in your writing process, you do not need to add this statement.
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We encourage authors to review broader industry standards. For additional context, you can refer to Elsevier’s author policy on the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies.
VI. Submission
Submissions are only accepted online. Please register and log on to Interdisciplinary British and American Studies Journal. Two roles are available in the registration process: “Reader” and “Author”. If you want to submit an article, you need the role “Author”. Registration, submission and publishing is without any fees or costs.
VII. Further information
