Submissions

Author Guidelines

Guidelines for Writing Articles for the International  Journal of Balkh University

These guidelines are designed for submitting scientific research articles to the International Journal of Balkh University in social sciences and natural sciences, ensuring articles meet proper structure and content standards.

Components of a Scientific Article

Title, author(s), affiliated institution, abstract, keywords, introduction, methods and materials, findings, discussion, conclusion, and references.

1. Title

The title of the submitted article must have the following characteristics:

1. Original and novel, practical, and researchable;
2. Comprehensive and reflective of the content of the research;
3. Short (fewer than 20 words), specific, attractive, free of abbreviations, trade names, and unnecessary words;
4. Not phrased as a question.

2. Author(s)

The author’s details should be written after the title on the right side in the next line; the name of the department, faculty, institution, email address, and researcher identification number (ORCID) should be provided.

Note (1): If multiple authors write the article, the corresponding author must be specified.
Note (2): Honorary and ceremonial titles that do not have an academic nature should be avoided.

3. Abstract

Abstracts of articles in the International Scientific Research Journal of Balkh University must have the following features:

1. A minimum of 150 words and a maximum of 250 words in a single paragraph;
2. Independent of the main text, concise, non-judgmental, and coherent;
3. The abstract should be written in the original language of the article and translated into English;
4. The structure of a scientific abstract should include the following elements in order:

• The background of the problem in one sentence, with reference to research results;
• The objective in one sentence, specifying the purpose of the study;
• The method in up to two sentences, including the type of data collection, statistical population, and sampling;
• The main and significant findings of the research in one or two sentences;
• Recommendations (optional).

Note: In the abstract, separate headings such as Introduction, Objective, Method, Findings, and Conclusion should be avoided.

4. Keywords: Keywords are key terms that express the subject of the article and are used for retrieving and introducing the article to the academic community. They should have the following characteristics:

1. Keywords are usually the most frequently used terms in the article.
2. Keywords must reflect the content of the article and should not be taken from the words used in the main title of the article;
3. They should include at least five words;
4. Keywords should be arranged in alphabetical order.

5. Introduction

The introduction of the article should include the following points:

1. Introduction of the research problem (who, when, where, what solution has been reached, and what the research is addressing the existing gap should be explained.
2. The problem under study should be explained by presenting scientific evidence in accordance with previous studies.
3. In the introduction, while stating the objectives and significance of the research, it should be made clear what results the researcher seeks to achieve;
4. Presentation of the research questions/hypotheses, research methodology, and background of the topic.

Note: In the introduction, the use of separate headings such as Objectives, Research Questions, and Significance of the Study, Literature Review, Findings, and Conclusion should be avoided.

6. Materials and Methods

Main elements of this section:

1. Research Design:

• The type of study (experimental, survey, correlational, qualitative, etc.) and the rationale for choosing it;
• Precise definition of independent, dependent, and controlled variables;
• Explanation of how variables are manipulated (in experimental studies) or how groups are formed (in non-experimental studies).

 

 

2. Population and Sample (Participants/Sample):

• Complete characteristics of the sample (size, age, gender, and participants’ characteristics);
• Sampling method (random sampling, convenience sampling, etc.) and ethical considerations (informed consent, etc.).

3. Data Collection Instruments (Instruments/Measures):

• Description of the instruments used (questionnaires, tests, scales, interviews);
• Explanation of scoring procedures and their psychometric properties (validity and reliability).

4. Procedure and Data Collection:

• Step-by-step description of the research implementation process in chronological order;
• Details of laboratory protocols or fieldwork procedures.

5. Data Analysis Methods (Data Analysis):

• Names of the statistical software used (such as SPSS, R);
• Types of statistical tests applied (such as t-tests, ANOVA) for data analysis.

7. Findings / Results

The findings include statistical and descriptive information, which should be explained clearly and in detail using statistical indicators such as numbers, figures, and symbols. Where necessary, relevant graphs and charts related to the topic should be used, taking into account the type of variables and numerical data.

Note: Explanations of tables should be written above the tables, and captions for figures should be placed below them.

8. Discussion

In this section, considering the research objectives, the main results obtained are briefly interpreted and discussed. In writing the discussion, the following points should be observed:

1. Presenting a summary of the key findings in one paragraph at the beginning of the discussion;
2. Comparing the results with previous studies and clarifying their similarities and differences;
3. Stating the strengths and limitations of the study and, if necessary, proposing directions for future research.

Note: In field-based research, findings and results are considered together.

 

9. Conclusion

The conclusion reflects the findings and achievements of the research and should remain within the scope of the study’s content. In the conclusion, long sentences, repetition of textual information, images, and tables should be avoided. If necessary, the researcher’s recommendations may be mentioned at the end of the conclusion without a separate heading.

Note: All tables and graphs should be formatted on an A4 portrait page in Word.

10. Referencing Style

All in-text citations used in this journal must follow the APA style.

11. References

The arrangement and formatting of references in the International Journal of Balkh University should follow the APA style.

Guidelines for Setting Font Size in Articles of the International Journals of Balkh University

Section	Arabic	Dari	Pashto	Font Type
Article title	14, Bold	14, Bold	14, Bold	BahijZar
Authors’ names	11, Bold	11, Bold	11, Bold	BahijZar
Abstract text	12, Bold	12, Bold	12, Bold	BahijZar
In-text headings	12, Bold	12, Bold	12, Bold	BahijZar
Keywords	12	12	12	BahijZar
Main text of the article	12	12	12	BahijZar
English abstract and keywords	12	12	12	Times New Roman
English article text	12	12	12	Times New Roman
References	To be arranged according to the APA style.

Note!

In submitting international articles, respected professors must adhere to the required APA 7th edition standards; otherwise, their articles will not be accepted.