Preparation Guidelines

This guide explains the typography and layout standards for submitting a final manuscript to the QCU Journals.

Types of Publications

Manuscript length is unrestricted in QCU Journals, as long as the material is concise and comprehensive. To ensure replicability, all practical information must be provided.

Manuscripts must not have been previously published or considered for publication in another journal. The main article types are:

  • Articles – Original articles containing scientifically sound findings and important new information. Quality and impact will be assessed during peer review.
  • Book, Literature, and Critical Reviews – Concise and accurate updates on recent developments in a specific field of study.

Before Submission

Authors must follow the journal's publication guidelines prior to submission. Submitting an article implies that:

  • The work has not been published previously (except as an abstract, lecture, or thesis).
  • The work is not under consideration by another journal.
  • All authors are informed about and approve the submission.
  • All authors have contributed significantly, approved the final article, and agreed to its publication.

Authors must also submit a CRediT author statement outlining their contributions, using the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT). These statements must appear above the acknowledgment section of the published manuscript.

Contributor Roles

  • Conceptualization – Ideas; formulation of research goals and aims.
  • Methodology – Development/design of methodology; creation of models.
  • Software – Programming, software development, implementation, testing.
  • Validation – Verification/replication of results and other outputs.
  • Formal Analysis – Application of statistical, mathematical, or computational methods.
  • Investigation – Conducting experiments, investigations, or data collection.
  • Resources – Provision of materials, equipment, or other tools.
  • Data Curation – Data management, cleaning, and maintenance for reuse.
  • Writing – Original Draft – Initial drafting of the manuscript.
  • Writing – Review & Editing – Critical review, commentary, or revisions.
  • Visualization – Preparation of visual data or figures.
  • Supervision – Oversight, leadership, mentorship.
  • Project Administration – Management and coordination of the project.
  • Funding Acquisition – Securing financial support for the research.

Submission

Manuscripts must be submitted through email. The submitting author (usually the corresponding author) is responsible for:

  • Ensuring all qualified co-authors are listed (see QCU Research Manual on Authorship and Co-authorship).
  • Confirming all authors have read and approved the final version.

Accepted File Formats

Authors must use the Microsoft Word template provided by the Editorial Board. Using the template will speed up copy-editing and publication.

QCU The Gavel Sample Format

Formatting Requirements

  • Include an abstract and keywords at the top of the paper.
  • Do not include page numbers, headers, or footers.
  • Submit as a single file (Word or RTF), including tables, figures, and appendices.
  • Paper size: 8.5 x 11 inches (Letter).
  • Margins: 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) on all sides.
  • Line spacing: single-spaced.
  • Layout: single-column, justified.
  • Fonts:
    • Main Body – 12 pt. Arial
    • References – 10 pt. Arial
    • Tables/Matrices – 10 pt. Arial
  • Paragraphs (except those after a heading) must be indented at least five em-spaces.

Language, Grammar, and Formatting

  • Manuscripts must be in English (with exceptions for specific cases).
  • Filipino quotations should be translated; Filipino words in-text should be italicized.
  • Follow APA 7th Edition for grammar, citations, and references.
  • Adhere to the QCU Journal Publication Format.

Back Matter / Supplemental Pages

  • Supplementary Materials – Provide details of any figures, tables, videos, etc.
  • Funding – Indicate financial support.
  • Author Contributions – Must follow the CRediT format.
  • Acknowledgments – Thank individuals or organizations not listed as authors or funders.
  • Conflict of Interest – Disclose any potential conflicts.
  • Ethical Statement – Required for research involving humans and animals.

Article Format (IMRaD)

Manuscripts submitted to QCU Journals must follow the IMRaD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion).

  • Title – Short, precise, avoid abbreviations/formulas.
  • Authors, Affiliations, ORCID – Provide complete names, affiliations, addresses, and ORCID.
  • Abstract – 250–300 words, summarizing objectives, methods, findings, and conclusions. Include at least five italicized keywords.
  • Introduction – State the research problem, present the gap, review existing literature, and explain how the study addresses it.
  • Methods – Describe study design, participants, instruments, and statistical treatments.
  • Results – Present findings only (tables and figures properly labeled).
  • Discussion – Interpret results, compare with other studies, state limitations, and provide recommendations.
  • References – Follow APA 7th Edition.
  • Back Matter / Supplemental Pages – As described above.