Author Guidelines

SOCIAL SCIENCES JOURNAL

Guidelines for Manuscript Submission

 

1. Nature of the manuscripts

The Social Sciences Journal publishes original and unpublished works in the field of Social Sciences. Manuscripts that have been previously published, either partially or in full, in print or digital format, or that are under review by another journal, will not be accepted.

Authors must submit a signed statement certifying the originality of the manuscript and compliance with these conditions.

At the time of submission, authors must explicitly indicate the type of contribution, selecting one of the following categories:

• Research article
• Review article
• Academic essay
•  

2. Types of Accepted Contributions

The Social Sciences Journal accepts the following types of academic contributions:

 

2.1 Research Article

A research article is a manuscript derived from a study conducted within a specific discipline of the Social Sciences. It is characterized by:

• Clearly defined topic and objectives
• A well-established theoretical and methodological framework
• Use of academic language (preferably in the third person)
• An original contribution to scientific knowledge

 

Required structure:

• Title (in Spanish and English)
• Author information (name, institutional affiliation, ORCID, and email)
• Abstract and keywords (in Spanish and English)
• Introduction
• Theoretical and conceptual framework
• Methodology
• Results and discussion
• Conclusions
• References (according to APA Style, 7th edition)

Research articles are subject to double-blind peer review, followed by editorial and copyediting review.

 

2.2 Academic Essay

An academic essay is a reflective text in which the author develops a thesis or argument on a specific topic. It is characterized by:

• Analytical and argumentative style
• Greater discursive flexibility compared to research articles
• Support from academic sources
• Rigorous citation and referencing

Required structure:

• Author information (name, institutional affiliation, ORCID, and email)
• Abstract and keywords (in Spanish and English)
• Introduction
• Development or argumentative proposal
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• References (APA Style, 7th edition)

Academic essays are subject to peer review and editorial review.

 

2.3 Book Review

A book review is a text that analyzes an academic work, highlighting its contributions, structure, and relevance. It may include a critical assessment based on scholarly criteria.

Required structure:

• Bibliographic reference of the reviewed work (APA 7)
• Author information (name, institutional affiliation, ORCID, and email)
• Abstract, keywords
• Introduction
• Development
• Discussion or critical assessment
• Conclusions
• References

Book reviews are not subject to peer review but must pass editorial and copyediting review.

 

3. Submission of Manuscripts

Manuscripts must be submitted exclusively through the University of Costa Rica’s Journal Portal (OJS). Submissions via email or other means will not be accepted.

 

4. Length and Format

Manuscripts must comply with the following requirements:

• Maximum length: 25 letter-sized pages
• Line spacing: 1.5
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
• Pages must be numbered consecutively

 

5. Structure of the Manuscript

5.1 Title

Clear and precise, with a maximum of ten words (excluding connectors). Must be presented in Spanish and English.

5.2 Abstract

Must include objective, methodology, location and period of study, and main results. Presented in Spanish and English.

5.3 Keywords

Five keywords in Spanish and English, selected from recognized thesauri (OECD, UNESCO, ILO).

5.4 Research Note

Authors must indicate whether the manuscript derives from a research project or program and specify the responsible institution.

 

 

6. Author Information

In a separate file, authors must include:

• Full name
• Institutional affiliation
• Email address
• ORCID identifier
• A brief curriculum (maximum six lines), including nationality, academic degree, institutional affiliation, recent publications, and research interests

 

7. Citation and References

Citations and references must follow APA Style (7th edition).

In-text citations follow the author-date format. Direct quotations must include page numbers.

References must be listed alphabetically at the end of the manuscript.

Authors are solely responsible for any form of plagiarism. Any improperly referenced material may result in retraction and institutional notification.

 

8. Tables, Figures, and Graphic Information

Tables, figures, graphs, maps, and illustrations must be prepared in accordance with the institutional guideline:

https://inie.ucr.ac.cr/descarga/revista/Digital_Guia_presentacion_informacion_estadistica_06_08_24.pdf

They must include:

• Consecutive numbering (Table 1, Figure 1, etc.)
• Clear and descriptive titles
• Indication of place and date when applicable
• Source:
• Source: Author’s own elaboration
• Source: Adapted from…

If reproduced or adapted, proper authorization and citation are required.

 

 

9. Use of Images

Images including identifiable individuals must have publication authorization. Otherwise, they will be removed.

 

10. Use of Artificial Intelligence

The journal has a specific policy on artificial intelligence:

https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rsociales/politicainteligencia

• The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) must be explicitly declared
• AI cannot be listed as an author
• Authors are responsible for the generated content
• AI must not be used to generate results, analysis, or conclusions without rigorous academic validation

 

11. Ethics and Good Practices

Authors must comply with the journal’s Code of Ethics:

https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rsociales/codigodeetica

The journal follows the guidelines of the
Committee on Publication Ethics.

Requirements include:

• Originality
• Absence of plagiarism
• Declaration of conflicts of interest
• No simultaneous submission

Non-compliance will result in rejection.

 

12. Editorial Process

The editorial process can be consulted at:

https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rsociales/diagramaprocesos

Manuscripts undergo:

• Preliminary editorial review
• Formal quality control and similarity check
• Double-blind peer review
• Editorial and copyediting review

 

13. Peer Review Procedures

All manuscripts are evaluated by external specialists under a double-blind system. Review reports are confidential.

Authors have up to four weeks to submit revisions.

In case of disagreement, authors may submit a reasoned response to the Editor.

Revised manuscripts are re-evaluated to ensure compliance with reviewers’ comments.

Final decisions are made by the Editor and the Editorial Board.

Review criteria include:

• Academic rigor
• Argumentative consistency
• Theoretical clarity
• Methodological coherence
• Writing clarity
• Originality
• Proper citation
• Updated references
• Coherence of conclusions
• Relevance to the journal

 

14. Mandatory Statements

When applicable, manuscripts must include:

• Conflict of interest statement
• Funding statement
• Ethical considerations

15. Copyright and Dissemination

Authors retain copyright but authorize the journal to publish and disseminate the work in print and digital formats.

The journal operates under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 International License.