Author Guidelines

Submission Guidelines

Originality:

Manuscripts submitted to the journal should be original contributions to their field and should only be the work of the stated author(s). Manuscripts should not be under consideration for any other publication at the same time, or to be already published.

Language: 

The journal accepts manuscripts written in English only. The author must use only British English spelling throughout the manuscript (exclusive of bibliography). Authors are responsible for the language quality in their article, and it a must to have your manuscript checked by an English language specialist before submission to ensure that the language is acceptable. Proof of language editing must be submitted together with the main article and turnitin report.

Preparation of Manuscripts: 

Full text of manuscript should contain:

Title

The title of the manuscript should be clear and representative (reflecting the content of the whole manuscript, the employed method, or the raised issue under study).

Author identities

All authors’ names, affiliation and complete affiliation address, and corresponding email address should be submitted as a separate file to ensure blind review. Ensure that all authors information is included in the metadata.

Abstract

An abstract of a maximum of 250 words is required for any submitted manuscript. It is written narratively, containing at least the aim(s), method, the theory used, and the result(s) of the research. It should be self-contained and must be citation-free. It should not contain any undefined abbreviations or unspecified references.

Keywords

Each manuscript should have 3 to 6 keywords. The keywords should help the audience search for the relevant literature for their interest.

Introduction

The introduction should establish the relationship among the research background, rationale, justification of the research needs, the emergence of research problems, alternative solutions, the solutions that are chosen, and the research aims. The background and rationale should be stated according to the theories, evidence, pre-survey, and/or relevant research. It may also contain the narrative operational definition of the main constructs, variables, or terminologies used. Besides, the aim of the research/study should be written clearly.

Literature Review

The Literature Review section presents the theoretical framework and discusses previous research relevant to the study topic. Authors should summarise and analyse the work of prior researchers, highlighting key findings and trends in the field. High quality and recent sources (preferably published within the last 10 years) should be included. All references must be cited in-text following APA 7th edition guidelines.

Methodology

The method comprises the design of the research, population, and sample; sampling techniques; procedures; instruments; data collection tools; and data analysis techniques. All of these components need to be detailed in a report format (past tense), except for general explanations and references. Writing the definition of certain general terms related to the method used is not necessary.

Findings and Discussion

The findings and discussion should presented in section. Findings are the presentation of the research purely based on the analysed data, while discussion is the explanation of the findings relevant to the literature discussed in the introduction and other relevant theories and ideas. The author(s) is/are required to provide the findings and discussion in the same sequence as the research aims and should also provide a summary of the discussion aimed at answering the grand question of the research at the end of the discussion part.

Conclusion (and implications, recommendations or suggestions, if any)

The conclusion should answer the objectives of the research. Tells how your work advances the field from the present state of knowledge. Without clear conclusions, reviewers may find it difficult to judge the work and whether it merits publication in the journal. Do not repeat the abstract or list experimental results. Provide a clear scientific justification for your work, and indicate possible applications and extensions.

List of Declaration

All manuscripts must include declarations placed after the conclusion and before references. Authors should follow the structure below.

Acknowledgments/Funding

This section is compulsory. The following is an example of an acknowledgement statement: 

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, Kampus Kuala Pilah and Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia for providing the facilities and financial support on this research.

Conflict of Interest Statement

This section is compulsory. The following is an example of a conflict-of-interest statement:

The authors agree that this research was conducted in the absence of any self-benefits, commercial or financial conflicts and declare the absence of conflicting interests with the funders.

Authors' Contributions 

Each author contribution must be stated clearly reflecting each contribution to the body of the work and manuscript. Authors can refer to CRediT (Contribution Roles Taxonomy) for the detailed information about individual contributions to the work. For example: 

Jaya Subramaniam carried out the research, wrote and revised the article. Rahmah Hassan conceptualised the central research idea and provided the theoretical framework. Rahmah Hassan and Chong Ju Lian designed the research, supervised research progress; Rahmah Hassan anchored the review, revisions and approved the article submission.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

Disclose any AI tools used in writing, analysis, or data processing.

Example: All authors confirm that the manuscript is original, has not been published elsewhere, is not under consideration by another journal, and that all authors approve the final version and accept responsibility for its content.

References

All references referred to in the article text must be listed in the reference section. The references shall contain at least 80% of the total references from primary sources (scientific journals, conference proceedings, research reference books) or  which are published within 5 (five) years. The citation format and the references must follow the APA 7.0 style.

Please ensure that every reference cited in the text is also present in the reference list (and vice versa).

FULL PAPER TEMPLATE

Manuscript should be type in Times New Roman with 10-point font and single spaced (Use the template provided). All diagrams, tables and figures are placed within the text at the appropriate point with their own legends and headings, be self-explanatory, numbered in Arabic numerals in order of their appearance in the text.To facilitate the typesetting process, tables should be uploaded as separate files. Any diagrams should be in .TIF or .JPG formats and submitted in separate individual files. Figures and diagrams could be prepared in black and white or color. Tints should be avoided; use patterns instead.

Plagiarism 

Authors should submit only original work that is not plagiarised, and has not been published or being considered elsewhere.  Appropriate softwares may be used by the editorial office to check for similarities of submitted manuscripts with existing literature. Inclusion of fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements are unacceptable. Work and/or words from other publications must be appropriately cited or quoted.

Reporting

Authors should state their results clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification or inappropriate data manipulation.The methods used in the work should be clearly and unambiguously described so that the findings can be repeated and confirmed by other researchers.

Conflicts of Interest

A statement on conflict of interest must be included in the manuscript if authors receive any support that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. All sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed. 

Authorship and Collaboration

Name of authors listed in a paper should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the report. Only those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. Others who have participated in certain substantive aspects of the work must be acknowledged or listed as contributors. It is the duty of the corresponding author to ensure that all appropriate co-authors and no inappropriate co-authors are included on the paper.  All co-authors must approve the final version of the paper and agree to the version of the paper before submission.

Multiple or Redundancy

Authors should not publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research output in more than one journal or primary publication. A similar manuscript should not be submitted to more than one journal concurrently as this constitutes as unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

AI Policy

1. Scope and Purpose

This policy governs the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies in the research, writing, review, and editorial processes for articles submitted to GJSS. It aims to maintain academic integrity, ensure transparency, and promote ethical practices in scholarly communication. As AI tools become increasingly integral to academic work, this policy provides a framework to address their responsible use, ensuring that the standards of scholarly excellence and integrity are upheld. This policy will be updated periodically to reflect advancements in AI technologies and their implications for academic publishing.

2. Guidelines for Authors

2.1. Use of AI in Research

Authors are permitted to use AI tools for data analysis, simulation, or other research purposes, provided the tools are explicitly mentioned in the methodology section of the manuscript.
The limitations, assumptions, and potential biases of the AI tools must be acknowledged and discussed to ensure transparency and reproducibility of the research findings.

2.2. Use of AI in Writing

Authors must disclose any use of AI in drafting, editing, or proofreading the manuscript. This includes tools such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, DeepL, or similar platforms.
AI tools should not be used as a substitute for the authors’ intellectual contributions. Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and originality of the manuscript content.
AI-generated content must be explicitly reviewed, validated, and contextualised by the authors.

2.3. Authorship and AI

AI systems cannot be credited as authors under any circumstances. Authorship is reserved for individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the research and manuscript preparation.
Authors are responsible for all aspects of the manuscript, including the portions where AI tools were utilised.

2.4. Ethical Considerations

Authors must ensure that the use of AI does not violate ethical standards, such as data privacy, informed consent, or institutional research ethics guidelines.
AI tools must not be used to fabricate, falsify, or manipulate data. Any breach of these principles will be treated as research misconduct.

2.5. Referencing AI-Generated Texts

If AI tools such as ChatGPT or others are used to generate text or assist in writing, their contributions must be explicitly cited in both the manuscript and the references section.
The following format is recommended for citing AI-generated texts:
APA Style:
OpenAI. (Year). ChatGPT (Version). Retrieved from website [Provide the date of access as well].

3. Guidelines for Reviewers

3.1. Use of AI in Peer Review

Reviewers may use AI tools for auxiliary tasks such as grammar checking or summarisation, but not for forming critical evaluations or recommendations regarding the manuscript.
Any use of AI in the review process must be disclosed to the editorial team to ensure transparency.

3.2. Responsibilities and Human Oversight

The peer review process must remain a human-led activity. AI tools can assist but must not replace the reviewer’s intellectual judgment and expertise.
Reviewers are encouraged to exercise caution when using AI tools, ensuring that their evaluations are accurate and unbiased.

4. Guidelines for Editors

4.1. AI-Assisted Editorial Processes

Editors may use AI tools for non-decisional tasks, such as plagiarism detection, grammar checking, or workflow management, to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
Decisions regarding manuscript acceptance, rejection, or revision must remain the sole responsibility of human editors.

4.2. Disclosure and Transparency

The editorial team will disclose any significant use of AI tools during the editorial process to ensure accountability and trust.

5. Transparency and Disclosure

All stakeholders (authors, reviewers, and editors) must disclose the use of AI tools in their respective roles. This includes the type of AI tool used, the purpose of its use, and the extent of its influence on the research or editorial process.

Non-disclosure of significant AI usage will be treated as a violation of ethical standards and may result in corrective measures, including manuscript rejection, retraction of published articles, or removal from reviewer or editorial roles.

6. Integrity and Accountability

The journal reserves the right to:

Request detailed explanations or evidence regarding the use of AI tools in any aspect of the manuscript or review process.
Conduct investigations and take appropriate corrective actions in cases of undisclosed or unethical AI use.
Retract published articles where AI misuse or misrepresentation is discovered post-publication.

7. Continuous Review

This policy will be periodically reviewed and updated to align with evolving AI technologies and their implications for academic publishing. Feedback from stakeholders is encouraged to refine and improve the policy over time.