Guidelines for Authors’ Submission

The Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (ERJSSH) is a peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly publication issued by the University of Gondar, Ethiopia. It operates under a no-fee policy, imposing neither article processing charges nor subscription costs on authors or readers.

Please, submit your manuscript online to 

https://erjssh.uog.edu.et/index.php/ERJSSH/submissions.

Prospective authors may seek clarification through this website, as all correspondence is conducted electronically. Manuscripts that do not align with the journal’s thematic scope or fail to meet submission requirements may be declined at the discretion of the editorial team.

ERJSSH accepts a range of scholarly contributions, including original research articles, article reviews, book reviews, case studies, scoping review, systematic review, protocols and research synopses and other academically meritorious submissions.

Each submission must include:
• Two versions of the manuscript- one anonymized for peer review, and one containing the full names and contact details of the author(s).

By submitting a manuscript to ERJSSH, authors affirm that the work is original, unpublished, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Manuscript Preparation

Manuscripts should be written in English. All files must be compatible with OpenOffice or Microsoft Word and submitted in one of the following formats: .doc, or .docx

Submitted manuscripts should not exceed 25 typed pages or 8,000 words, inclusive of tables, footnotes, and references.

Format and Style

Manuscripts must adhere to the following formatting standards: Times New Roman font, 12-point size, 1.5 line spacing throughout, and 1-inch margins on all sides. Authors are required to use APA style for in-text citations and references.

Contributors are encouraged to prioritize clarity, conciseness, and precision in their writing. Sentences should be well-structured, and paragraphs should maintain appropriate length to ensure readability and coherence. Authors whose first language is not English may consider having their manuscripts reviewed by a native English speaker prior to submission. While optional, this step can help ensure that the scholarly content is clearly conveyed to editors and peer reviewers.

Spelling in English may adhere to either British or American conventions; however, consistency must be maintained throughout the manuscript. The use of diacritical marks is generally discouraged, except in cases where their inclusion is essential—such as in submissions related to philology or linguistics. When used, diacritical marks must be compatible with the Unicode standard. (see https://home.unicode.org/ )

For further information on how to prepare your manuscript see https://apastyle.apa.org/

Abstracts and Blurb

Authors must include an abstract of 200 to 250 words that succinctly summarizes the manuscript’s core arguments and findings. Additionally, 5 to 8 carefully selected keywords should be provided to facilitate indexing and discoverability.

A concise author blurb is also required, detailing the author’s academic background, institutional affiliation, highest earned degree, mailing address, and email contact. Authors may include acknowledgments intended for publication in the Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (ERJSSH).

Tables, figures, and photos

All tabular materials, flowcharts, and similar visual elements should be embedded within the main manuscript file using the same font style and size as the body text. Each table and figure must be accompanied by a clear caption that includes a descriptive title and source attribution.

Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively using Arabic numerals (e.g., Table 1, Figure 2) in the order in which they appear in the manuscript. They must be cited appropriately within the text, and authors should indicate their preferred placement. Captions for tables should appear above the table, while captions for figures should be placed below the image.

Graphs, diagrams, and drawings are categorized as figures. Original drawings should not exceed dimensions of 16 × 12 cm and must be rendered in black ink on tracing paper suitable for direct reproduction. Either original artwork or high-quality glossy prints are acceptable. The use of color should be avoided unless essential for clarity.

Photographs must be submitted in high resolution (300 dpi) and saved in one of the following formats: TIFF, JPEG, or PNG.

All tables and figures must include the author(s) and year of source material, where applicable. Contributors are responsible for securing permission to reproduce any copyrighted material and must ensure that appropriate acknowledgments are included in the manuscript.

 Informants and Expert Interviews

Authors whose manuscripts incorporate data from informants or expert interviews must be prepared to provide documentation of prior informed consent upon request by the editorial team of ERJSSH. Additionally, authors are expected to furnish relevant details about the interviewees—such as name, professional title, date and location of the interview, and any other pertinent information—if requested by the editors.

Participants in surveys, focus group discussions, and similar research activities should generally be anonymized and coded to protect their identity. Authors must be able to submit empirical evidence of such anonymization procedures upon editorial request.

Authorship of the Paper

The editorial committee of ERJSSH recognizes authorship only for individuals who have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research presented. All individuals who meet these criteria must be listed as co-authors.

Those who have contributed to specific aspects of the research—such as data collection, technical support, or administrative assistance—should be appropriately acknowledged or listed as contributors.

The corresponding author bears responsibility for ensuring that all eligible co-authors are included, that no individuals are inappropriately credited, and that all listed co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. Furthermore, all co-authors must consent to the manuscript’s submission for publication in ERJSSH.

Reporting Standards

Authors of original research are expected to provide an accurate and transparent account of the work conducted, accompanied by an objective analysis of its significance. All underlying data must be presented truthfully and precisely. Manuscripts should include sufficient methodological detail and appropriate references to enable replication and verification by other scholars.

The Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (ERJSSH) maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward unethical practices. The fabrication or falsification of data, as well as the use of Generative AI for substantive content creation beyond language polishing, constitutes a serious breach of academic integrity and will be treated as such. Authors must maintain ultimate human oversight and responsibility for all work, including any use of AI tools.

 Data Access and Retention

Authors may be requested to submit the raw data associated with their manuscript for editorial review. They should be prepared to make such data publicly accessible when appropriate and are expected to retain all relevant data for a reasonable period following publication.

Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must ensure that all submitted manuscripts are original, have not been previously published, and do not contain plagiarized content or knowingly inaccurate statements. Such practices constitute serious ethical violations and are strictly prohibited by the Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (ERJSSH). . If an author has used the work and/or words of others, the original must be appropriately cited or quoted to accurately reflect individuals’ contributions to the stock of knowledge.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors must not submit manuscripts to ERJSSH that substantially overlap with work already published or under consideration elsewhere. Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously constitutes unethical publishing practice and is strictly prohibited.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in his/her published work, the author must promptly notify the journal editor or publisher and cooperate with our editors to retract or correct the paper.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest
Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers do not consider manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the papers.

Copyright
Upon initial submission, authors agree that, if their manuscript is accepted, they will grant the Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (ERJSSH) an exclusive, irrevocable license to publish the work. Authors retain copyright of their work.

Authors are not required to seek permission from ERJSSH to reuse their work. Authors who have granted ERJSSH an exclusive license to ERJSSH retain the following rights:

1. Use all or part of the work in compilations or other publications of the Authors’
   own works (includes theses/dissertations), to use figures, photos, and tables created by them and contained in the work, to present the work orally in its entirety, and to make copies of all or part of the work for the Authors’ use for lectures, classroom instruction or similar uses. If the author is employed by an academic institution, that institution also may reproduce the article for teaching purposes.
2. Post the accepted manuscript version of the work, the “Paper in Press,” on the author’s web page, their personal or institutional repository, or their funding body’s archive provided that a link to the article in the Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities is included.
3. Post a manuscript version of the work on not-for-profit preprint servers provided that the Authors retain distribution rights to the work, that ERJSSH formatted final files are not posted, and that a link to the article in the Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities is included.
4. Re-use of ERJSSH content must include the following: This research was originally published in the Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. Author(s). Title. ERJSSH. Year; Volume: pages. © Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Gondar.

Ethics Policy

The Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (ERJSSH) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. All submitted manuscripts must comply with the following principles:

• Use of Personal Photographs

Manuscripts containing personal photographs or identifiable images of individuals will not be accepted for publication. Exceptions may be made only when explicit, documented consent has been obtained from the individuals depicted, and such consent is verified by the editorial committee.

• Content Sensitivity and Social Responsibility

Manuscripts that incite violence, promote injustice, or unfairly target specific ethnic, religious, or social groups will be rejected. Authors are expected to contribute to the advancement of global welfare, equity, and human rights through their scholarly work.

• Academic Integrity

Submissions must be free from plagiarism, academic dishonesty, and inappropriate paraphrasing. Manuscripts must be original and reflect the authors’ direct engagement with the subject matter. Any manuscript found to contain more than 20% AI-generated or AI-paraphrased content will be rejected.

• Authorship and Consent

For manuscripts with multiple authors, all listed authors must approve the final version and consent to its submission. Submitting a manuscript without the agreement of all co-authors, or re-using previously published data without proper acknowledgment, will result in automatic rejection.

• Research Misconduct and Investigations

Authors must cooperate fully with the editorial committee or external reviewers in the event of any allegation of research misconduct. If a allegation is made, each author is required to respond with appropriate documentation. In cases involving published articles, the corresponding author will be asked to provide an explanation. If the original data cannot be produced within three years of publication, the editors may request retraction; failure to comply may result in annulment of the article.

• Dispute Resolution

If a disagreement arises between the author(s) and the editorial committee regarding corrections or retractions, the final decision will be made by the ERJSSH editorial committee in consultation with the journal’s advisory board.

• Human Subjects Research

Any research involving human participants must obtain ethical clearance from a recognized Ethics Review Board. Informed consent and, where applicable, assent must be secured from all participants.

• Publishing License

By submitting a manuscript, authors grant ERJSSH the license to publish their work in accordance with the terms outlined in this policy.

Authors submitting manuscripts to the Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (ERJSSH) are required to ensure that their submission includes all essential components outlined in the journal’s guidelines.

 Introduction/Background:15%

• The title accurately reflects the content, focus, and scholarly intent of the study.
• The abstract provides a concise and coherent summary of the background, objectives, methodology, key findings, and conclusions.
• The manuscript demonstrates originality, relevance, and alignment with the scope of ERJSSH.
• The rationale for the study is clearly articulated and contextually grounded within relevant literature or societal concerns.
• The research objectives, questions, or hypotheses are explicitly stated, well-defined, and logically derived.
• The stated aims clearly convey the intended scholarly contribution and significance of the study

 Literature Reviews and Conceptual/Theoretical Framework: 15%

• The reviewed literature is current, relevant, and appropriately cited in accordance with academic standards.
• The literature review effectively establishes the theoretical and methodological foundations of the study.
• Gaps, controversies, or unresolved issues in the existing literature are clearly identified and critically discussed.
• The conceptual or theoretical framework is coherently articulated and appropriately applied to guide the research design, data analysis, and interpretation of findings.

Methodology: 15%

• The selected research design is clearly justified and supported by relevant scholarly literature.
• Data collection methods and procedures are thoroughly described and appropriately aligned with the study’s objectives.
• Data sources- whether primary or secondary-are reliable, valid, and ethically obtained.
• Constructs and variables are clearly defined and effectively operationalized to support analytical rigor.

Ethical Consideration 5%

• Ethical protocols are clearly described, including documentation of informed consent and institutional ethics approvals where applicable.
• All authors have transparently disclosed their individual contributions to the research and publication process.
• Mechanisms to prevent ghost authorship—such as authorship declarations and contribution checklists—are clearly in place.
• The manuscript is free from plagiarism, data fabrication, and any form of research manipulation.
• All relevant competing interests have been openly and transparently declared.

Analysis and Results (15%)

• Data analysis methods are appropriate to the research design and rigorously applied.
• The results directly address the stated research questions or hypotheses.
• Findings are credible, clearly presented, and supported by sound statistical evidence (e.g., confidence intervals, p-values).
• Data interpretations are transparent, coherently linked to data excerpts, and grounded in well-articulated methodological procedures such as coding, thematic development, and reflexivity.
• Interpretations are logically derived from the data and consistently integrated into the discussion and conclusions.

Discussion: 15%

• Key findings are clearly articulated and meaningfully contextualized within the broader scholarly discourse.
• Comparisons with existing studies are made, with thoughtful explanations for observed similarities or differences.
• The implications of the findings are critically examined and thoughtfully explored in relation to theory, practice, or policy.
• Interpretations are grounded in the presented data and consistently aligned with the study’s stated objectives.

Conclusions: 10%

• The conclusions are logically derived from the results and discussion, demonstrating analytical coherence.
• The conclusions reinforce the claims made throughout the manuscript and reflect engagement with the reviewed literature.
• The conclusions are meaningful, relevant, and contribute to the broader scholarly discourse within the field.

Language, Presentation, Recommendations and Acknowledgements: 10%

• The language used throughout the manuscript is clear, precise, and adheres to recognized academic standards.
• The manuscript offers novel insights or perspectives that contribute meaningfully to existing scholarly debates.
• The structure of the manuscript is coherent and well-organized, with clearly delineated sections that enhance readability.
• The recommendations are logically derived from the study’s findings and directly address the original research problem.
• Acknowledgements for funding sources, institutional support, and individual contributions are clearly and appropriately stated.

Disclaimer: Neither the editors nor the Editorial Board of the ERJSSH is responsible for authors’ expressed opinions, views, and the contents of the published manuscripts in the journal. The originality, proofreading of manuscripts and errors are the sole responsibility of the individual authors.

All manuscripts submitted for publication in the journal go under double-blind reviews for authenticity, ethical issues, and useful contributions.

 References

References, citations, and the general style of manuscripts are to be prepared by the 7^th American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual. Citations and references in the text should be done by (author, year, p. and page number), e.g. (John, 1983, p. 13). 

A complete list of references is to be provided at the end of the article as shown in the
following examples:

1. a) Journal:

Firestone, W. A. (1987). Meaning and Method: The Rhetoric of Quantitative and Qualitative Research. Educational Researcher, 16(7), 16-21.

1. b) Book:

Rapport, N., & Overing, J. (2000). Social and Cultural Anthropology: The Key Concepts. London: Rutledge (Special Indian Edition).

1. c) Edited Book:

Gibbs, J. T., & Huang, L. N. (Eds.). (2001). Children of color: Psychological interventions with culturally diverse youth. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

1. d) Essay or chapter in edited books: Ospina, S. (2002). Qualitative Research. In G. Goethals, G. Sorensen & J. MacGregor(Eds.), Encyclopedia of Leadership (pp. 239-252). London: SAGE Publications.
2. e) Internet source:

Marshall, E. (2007). Chidi Amuta’s A Dialectical Theory of African Literature: Categories and Stringboards. Retrieved June 3, 2014, from https:// www.rlwclarke.net/courses/ LITS3303/2009- 2010/ 04DAmuta, ADialecticalTheoryofAfricanLiterature.pdf
For further information on the APA style see the following websites: http://www.apastyle.org/