Author Guidelines and Submission

General Information

General articles and research manuscripts. All manuscripts must be submitted electronically at https://ejournal.idresearch.or.id/index.php/daras/. This system will permit the editorial team to keep the submission and review process as efficient as possible. Our user-friendly, online manuscript submission and review system also offers authors the option to track the review process of manuscripts in real time.

Please note that DARAS: Journal of Education and Learning uses a double-blind review process, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed from each other throughout the review process. Therefore, writers must exclude authors’ names, institutions, and any clues to the authors’ identities that exist within the manuscript. Authors should also avoid self-referencing that may reveal their identity (e.g., replace “as we demonstrated in our previous study (Author, 2020)” with “as demonstrated in a previous study (Author, 2020)”).

⚠ Important – Double-Blind Review Requirements:
  • Remove all author names and affiliations from the manuscript file.
  • Remove or anonymize any identifying information in the document properties/metadata.
  • Replace self-citations with “[Author]” or “[removed for review]” where applicable.
  • Do not include acknowledgements that may identify the authors in the review version.
  • Avoid references to specific grants, institutions, or projects that could reveal authorship.

Manuscript Criteria

The fitness of a manuscript for publication in DARAS: Journal of Education and Learning is carefully reviewed based on each of the dimensions listed below:

  • Significance/relevance to education and learning
  • Conceptual framework (connections to relevant constructs in literature)
  • Methods (manuscript MUST be an empirical study): appropriateness to questions, adequate description of methods (including data collection and analysis), and rigor of methods
  • Findings/conclusions are data-based
  • Overall contribution to the field
  • Writing style/composition/clarity

Manuscript General Format

The manuscript should follow this structure:

Title → Abstract → Introduction → Literature Review/Theoretical/Conceptual Framework → Methods → Findings/Results → Discussion → Conclusion/Implications → Conflict of Interest → Acknowledgements → References

Detailed Formatting Guidelines

Title Page

Title should not exceed 16 words. Due to the double-blind review process, the title page submitted for review must not contain authors’ names, affiliations, or contact information. Author details should only be entered in the OJS submission metadata fields during the online submission process.

Typing

DARAS: Journal of Education and Learning only accepts electronic submission in MS Word. All text, including title, headings, references, quotations, figure captions, and tables, must be typed, 1.5 line spaced, with one-inch margins all around and typed on one side of A4 paper. Please use a 12-point Times New Roman font. Your manuscript, including its headings and subheadings, should conform to the APA Style 7th edition (American Psychological Association, 2020).

For more information on APA 7th edition headings and formatting, please visit: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines

Your manuscript should be 1.5 line spaced throughout, including references and any quotations of 40 or more words. You can find an APA 7th edition sample paper here: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/sample-papers

Length

When submitting to DARAS: Journal of Education and Learning, a manuscript, including all references, tables, and figures, should not exceed 10,000 words. Submissions exceeding this limit may not be accepted for review. Authors should keep tables and figures to a minimum and include them in the text.

Style

For writing and editorial style, authors must follow guidelines in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition, 2020). Authors should number all text pages.

Key changes in APA 7th edition that authors should note:

  • Use singular “they” as a gender-neutral pronoun.
  • Include up to 20 authors in a reference list entry before omitting names with an ellipsis.
  • Use the author’s surname and initials for all in-text citations; no distinction between first and subsequent citations for works with three or more authors—use et al. from the first citation.
  • DOIs should be presented as hyperlinks (e.g., https://doi.org/xxxxx).
  • For online sources, no retrieval date is needed unless the content is designed to change over time.
  • No location (city/state/country) is required for publisher information in references.
  • Use inclusive and bias-free language throughout the manuscript.

Abstract and Keywords

All research manuscripts for DARAS: Journal of Education and Learning must include an abstract and keywords. Abstracts describing the essence of the manuscript must be 150–250 words. Authors should provide 3–5 keywords listed below the abstract in italics, separated by commas, and not capitalized (unless proper nouns). Keywords should be selected to enable readers to search for the article after it is published.

Example:
Keywords: educational technology, blended learning, student engagement, higher education

References

References should be cited both in text and in the references list and should conform to the APA 7th edition style guide.

For detailed reference formatting guidelines, please visit: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references

Reference Examples (APA 7th Edition):

Journal Article (with DOI):
Rahman, A., & Sari, D. P. (2023). The impact of digital literacy on student academic performance. DARAS: Journal of Education and Learning, 5(2), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.xxxxx

Book:
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Edited Book Chapter:
Johnson, R. B. (2020). Mixed methods research design. In A. J. Mills & G. Durepos (Eds.), Encyclopedia of case study research (pp. 560–564). SAGE Publications.

Online Source:
World Health Organization. (2021). Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak. https://www.who.int/publications

Dissertation/Thesis:
Smith, L. M. (2020). Teacher perceptions of inclusive education practices [Doctoral dissertation, University of Melbourne]. University of Melbourne Research Repository. https://doi.org/10.xxxxx

In-Text Citation Examples (APA 7th Edition):

  • One author: (Rahman, 2023) or Rahman (2023)
  • Two authors: (Rahman & Sari, 2023) or Rahman and Sari (2023)
  • Three or more authors: (Rahman et al., 2023) or Rahman et al. (2023) — from the first citation onward
  • Direct quotation: (Rahman, 2023, p. 45)
  • Multiple works: (Johnson, 2020; Rahman & Sari, 2023)

Tables and Figures

DARAS: Journal of Education and Learning requires all tables and figures to conform with the APA 7th edition style guide.

Key formatting notes for APA 7th edition:

  • Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively (Table 1, Table 2; Figure 1, Figure 2).
  • Each table and figure must have a descriptive title in italics placed above the table/figure.
  • Table and figure notes should be placed below the table/figure.
  • Tables should use no vertical lines and minimal horizontal lines.
  • Figures should be of high resolution (at least 300 dpi).

For detailed guidance, please visit: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/tables-figures

Double-Blind Review Process

DARAS: Journal of Education and Learning employs a double-blind peer review process to ensure the objectivity and impartiality of the review. Under this process:

  • Authors do not know the identity of the reviewers.
  • Reviewers do not know the identity of the authors.

The review process follows these stages:

  1. Submission: Authors submit their manuscript through the OJS online submission system. Author information is entered only in the metadata fields and must not appear in the manuscript file.
  2. Initial Screening: The editorial team conducts an initial screening to check whether the manuscript meets the journal’s scope, formatting requirements, and double-blind preparation standards. Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements will be returned to the author for revision before proceeding.
  3. Assignment to Reviewers: Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to at least two independent reviewers who are experts in the relevant field. Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and the absence of any conflict of interest.
  4. Peer Review: Reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on the criteria outlined above (significance, conceptual framework, methods, findings, contribution, and writing quality). Reviewers provide detailed comments and recommendations.
  5. Editorial Decision: Based on the reviewers’ recommendations, the editor makes one of the following decisions:
    • Accepted: The manuscript is accepted for publication without revisions.
    • Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires minor changes before acceptance.
    • Major Revisions: The manuscript requires substantial revisions and will be subject to re-review.
    • Rejected: The manuscript is not suitable for publication in this journal.
  6. Revision and Resubmission: If revisions are required, authors must address all reviewer comments and resubmit the revised manuscript within the specified timeframe along with a detailed response letter.
  7. Final Decision: The editor makes the final decision on acceptance or rejection after evaluating the revised manuscript and the author’s response to reviewer comments.
  8. Publication: Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting, proofreading, and publication.
✅ Estimated Review Timeline:
  • Initial Screening: 1–2 weeks after submission
  • Peer Review: 4–8 weeks after assignment to reviewers
  • Editorial Decision: 1–2 weeks after receiving all reviews
  • Revision Period: 2–4 weeks (depending on the extent of revisions required)

Professional Editing Services

Authors seeking assistance with English language editing and/or translation should contact idresearchdissemination@gmail.com.

More Than One Author: Notice to Authors of Joint Works

This journal uses a contributor agreement that requires just one author (the Corresponding Author) to sign on behalf of all authors. Please identify the Corresponding Author for your work when submitting your manuscript for review to DARAS: Journal of Education and Learning.

Conflict of Interest

Please provide a conflict of interest statement. If there is no conflict of interest, state that clearly (e.g., “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”). It should be placed in a separate section after the Conclusion and before the References.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements of people, grants, funds, etc. should be placed in a separate section before the References. Note: For the double-blind review version, please omit or anonymize acknowledgements that could identify the authors. Full acknowledgements can be added after the manuscript is accepted.

Appendices

Supplementary material should be collected in an Appendix (placed after the References).

Copyright Notice

After the manuscript is accepted for publication, authors will be required to sign a copyright transfer form. Copyright will be transferred to idresearchdissemination@gmail.com via e-mail. A copyright form will be sent to you via e-mail after the accepted manuscript has been submitted.

Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.

Submission Preparation Checklist

All submissions must meet the following requirements:

  1. ☐ The paper has not been published or considered for publication in other journals or other media.
  2. ☐ The format of the file is Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).
  3. ☐ DOIs and/or URLs for references are provided where available, formatted according to APA 7th edition (e.g., https://doi.org/xxxxx).
  4. ☐ The manuscript follows the guidelines outlined in these Author Guidelines.
  5. ☐ The manuscript has been prepared for double-blind review:
    • All author names and affiliations have been removed from the manuscript file.
    • Document properties/metadata have been anonymized.
    • Self-identifying citations have been replaced with “[Author]” or “[removed for review].”
    • Acknowledgements that could reveal authorship have been omitted or anonymized.
  6. ☐ All text, including title, headings, references, quotations, figure captions, and tables, is typed in 1.5 line spacing, with one-inch margins all around, on A4 paper, using 12-point Times New Roman font.
  7. ☐ The abstract is 150–250 words and includes 3–5 keywords.
  8. ☐ All references are formatted according to APA 7th edition style.
  9. ☐ The manuscript does not exceed 10,000 words, including references, tables, and figures.
  10. ☐ Tables and figures conform to APA 7th edition formatting guidelines.

Summary of Key APA 7th Edition Updates (Compared to APA 6th Edition)

Feature APA 6th Edition (2009) APA 7th Edition (2020)
In-text citation (3+ authors) First citation: list all (up to 5); subsequent: et al. Use et al. from the first citation
Number of authors in reference list List up to 7, then use ellipsis List up to 20, then use ellipsis
DOI format doi:10.xxxxx https://doi.org/10.xxxxx
Publisher location City, State/Country: Publisher Publisher name only
Running head Required with “Running head:” label Required but without “Running head:” label
Font Times New Roman 12pt only Multiple fonts acceptable (Times New Roman 12pt recommended)
Singular “they” Not addressed Endorsed as gender-neutral pronoun
Bold for Level 3 headings Not bold Bold and italicized

For further inquiries, please contact the editorial team of DARAS: Journal of Education and Learning at contact.idresearch@gmail.com.