Policies and Guidelines

The International Journal of Religion, Business and Society (IJRBAS) is a biannual, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary scholarship exploring the intersections of religion, business ethics, organizational behavior, and societal development. These guidelines provide a framework for authors to prepare and submit manuscripts, ensuring alignment with the journal’s mission, ethical standards, and formatting requirements. All submissions must follow the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition) for citations, references, and manuscript structure. Authors are encouraged to review the journal’s Aims and Scope on the IJRBAS website before submission.

  1. Scope and Aims

IJRBAS seeks original, high-quality contributions that examine the interplay of religious values, business practices, and social impact. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Religion and Society
  • Business and Management
  • Economics
  • Islamic Banking and Finance
  • Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Education and Culture
  • Sustainable Development
  • Leadership and Governance

The journal welcomes diverse methodologies, including empirical, theoretical, and qualitative approaches, fostering dialogue across disciplines such as theology, management, sociology, and economics.

  1. Submission Types

IJRBAS accepts the following manuscript types:

  • Original Research Articles: Empirical or theoretical studies (3,000–6,000 words)
  • Review Articles: Comprehensive syntheses of existing literature (4,000–8,000 words)
  • Case Studies: In-depth analyses of specific organizations or events (3,000–6,000 words)
  • Conceptual Papers: Theoretical or philosophical explorations (5,000–8,000 words)
  • Short Communications: Brief reports or commentaries (1,500–3,000 words)

Word counts include abstract, references, tables, and appendices.

  1. Submission Process
  • Online Submission: Manuscripts must be submitted through the IJRBAS online submission portal (available on the journal website). Create an account to begin the process.
  • File Format: Submit manuscripts as Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) files.
  • Anonymization: For double-blind peer review, remove all identifying information (e.g., author names, affiliations) from the main manuscript file. Include a separate title page with author details.
  • Cover Letter: Provide a brief letter confirming the manuscript’s originality, non-submission elsewhere, and alignment with IJRBAS scope.
  • Supplementary Files: Upload datasets, appendices, or multimedia separately, with clear labels.
  1. Manuscript Preparation

Manuscripts must adhere to APA 7th edition guidelines and include the following components:

4.1. Title Page (Separate File)

  • Title: Concise, descriptive, and reflective of the manuscript’s content (max 15 words).
  • Author Details: Full names, institutional affiliations, department (if applicable), city, country, and email addresses for all authors. Indicate the corresponding author.
  • ORCID iDs: Provide ORCID identifiers for all authors (it’s mandatory).
  • Acknowledgments: include funding sources or contributions not warranting authorship.
  • Conflict of Interest Statement: Declare any financial, personal, or professional conflicts (e.g., “The authors declare no conflicts of interest”).

4.2. Main Manuscript

  • Abstract: 150–250 words, summarizing the research question, methods, findings, and implications. Avoid citations.
  • Keywords: 4–6 terms for indexing and discoverability.
  • Main Text: Use clear, inclusive language. Structure with APA-style headings (Levels 1–3).
    At minimum, the paper must include:
  • Introduction: Context, research gap, and objectives.
  • Conclusion: Key insights, implications, and future directions.
  • Additional sections (optional) may include:
  • Literature Review: Theoretical framework or background.
  • Methods: Methodology, data sources, and ethical considerations.
  • Results/Discussion: Presentation and interpretation of findings.
  • Tables and Figures: Number sequentially (e.g., Table 1, Figure 2), include titles, and follow APA format. Provide alt text for accessibility.
  • Formatting: Double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, 1-inch margins, numbered pages.

4.3. References

  • List all sources alphabetically in APA 7th edition format.
  • Ensure accuracy and completeness (e.g., include DOIs where available).
  • Examples:
    • Book: Patel, R. (2021). Spirituality in corporate governance. Sage Publications.
    • Journal Article: Nguyen, T., & Kim, S. (2023). Faith-based entrepreneurship: A global perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 45(3), 210–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-023-01234-5
    • Chapter: Lopez, M. (2020). Religious values in sustainable business. In J. Brown (Ed.), Ethics and economics (pp. 89–104). Routledge.

4.4. Appendices

Include supplementary material (e.g., survey instruments) after references, labeled as Appendix A, B, etc.

  1. Citation and Referencing Policy
  • Accuracy: Verify all citations against original sources. Cross-check DOIs and URLs.
  • Appropriate Citation: Cite foundational and recent works relevant to the study. Avoid excessive self-citation (limit to <10% of references unless justified).
  • Plagiarism Prevention: Paraphrase appropriately with citations; use quotation marks for verbatim text with page numbers. IJRBAS uses plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin); similarity scores >15% may lead to rejection.
  1. Authorship and Contributions
  • Eligibility: Authors must have made significant contributions to conception, design, data collection/analysis, or manuscript drafting. All authors must approve the final version and agree to accountability.
  • CRediT System: Include a statement detailing each author’s role (e.g., “Conceptualization: A.B.; Data Analysis: C.D.”).
  • Changes: Post-submission authorship changes require written consent from all authors and a detailed rationale, approved by the Editor-in-Chief.
  • Corresponding Author: Responsible for all communication, ensuring accuracy of co-author details.
  1. Ethical Standards

IJRBAS adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines to ensure integrity.

7.1. Originality

  • Manuscripts must be original and not under consideration elsewhere.
  • Disclose any prior presentation (e.g., conference papers) or related publications.

7.2. Research Involving Human/Animal Subjects

  • Provide evidence of Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee approval.
  • Include a statement in the Methods section (e.g., “This study was approved by [Institution] IRB, Protocol #123”).
  • Ensure informed consent and confidentiality for human participants.

7.3. Data Transparency

  • Share raw data upon reasonable request, adhering to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
  • Disclose any data manipulation or statistical adjustments.

7.4. Misconduct

  • Fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism results in rejection or retraction.
  • Report suspected misconduct via the journal’s confidential online form.
  1. Conflict of Interest
  • Disclosure: Authors must declare any financial (e.g., funding, consultancies), personal, or professional conflicts in the manuscript.
  • Reviewers/Editors: Disclose conflicts during assignment; recuse if necessary.
  • Handling: The editorial team assesses conflicts to ensure impartiality, reassigning roles if needed.
  1. Peer Review Process
  • Type: Double-blind; manuscripts are anonymized, and reviewers are independent experts.
  • Timeline:
    • Desk review: 1–2 weeks
    • Peer review: 6–8 weeks
    • Revisions (if required): 4–6 weeks
  • Criteria: Originality, methodological rigor, relevance to IJRBAS scope, clarity, and ethical compliance.
  • Outcomes: Accept, minor revisions, major revisions, or reject. Authors receive detailed feedback.
  1. Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawals
  • Corrections: Honest errors (e.g., typographical, data inaccuracies) are addressed via errata or corrigenda, linked to the original article.
  • Retractions: Issued for serious issues (e.g., misconduct, irreproducible results). Retracted articles remain online with a watermark and explanation.
  • Withdrawals: Pre-publication withdrawals are permitted for valid reasons (e.g., critical errors); post-publication withdrawals are treated as retractions.
  1. Appeals and Complaints
  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions or raise concerns (e.g., reviewer bias) within 15 days via email to the Editor-in-Chief.
  • Appeals are reviewed by an independent panel, with outcomes communicated within 30 days. Decisions are final.
  • Complaints are handled confidentially, following COPE guidelines.
  1. Open Access and Licensing
  • Open Access: IJRBAS is fully open access under Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0), allowing unrestricted use with proper attribution.
  • Copyright: Authors retain copyright and grant IJRBAS a non-exclusive license to publish and distribute.
  • Permissions: Authors must secure permissions for third-party content (e.g., images, extended quotes).
  1. Article Processing Charges (APC)
  • IJRBAS does not charge APCs, ensuring equitable access for authors and readers. Publication is supported by institutional sponsorship.
  1. Archiving and Accessibility
  • Articles are archived in a permanent digital repository, accessible via the journal website.
  • Authors are encouraged to deposit manuscripts in institutional or disciplinary repositories post-publication.
  1. Submission Checklist

Before submitting, ensure:

  • Manuscript aligns with IJRBAS scope.
  • APA 7th edition formatting is followed.
  • Anonymized manuscript and separate title page are prepared.
  • All authors meet authorship criteria and agree to submission.
  • Conflict of interest and ethics statements are included.
  • References are complete and accurate.
  • Supplementary materials are labeled and uploaded.
  1. Contact

For inquiries, contact the editorial office via the IJRBAS website or email ijrbs.info@gmail.com. Response time is typically 3–5 business days.

By adhering to these guidelines, authors contribute to the journal’s mission of fostering ethical, impactful scholarship. We look forward to your submissions.