Guidelines for Authors

The Journal of Applied Research & Development (JARD) publishes high-quality, original research that advances knowledge, policy, and practice across applied research and development disciplines. Authors are encouraged to prepare manuscripts that are clear, ethical, inclusive, and accessible to a broad academic and professional readership.

Compliance with the following guidelines will support an efficient review and publication process.

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Writing and Formatting Standards

Manuscripts must be written in clear, scholarly English, using either American or British English consistently throughout the document. Authors are responsible for ensuring grammatical accuracy, clarity of expression, and logical flow. Submissions should be prepared using Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or LaTeX, following the official JARD templates where provided.

The manuscript should be single-spaced or 1.5-spaced, include page and line numbers, and use a standard academic font such as Times New Roman (12-point). All tables, figures, and equations must be editable and properly labeled.

Title

The title should be concise, informative, and specific, accurately reflecting the core contribution or main conclusion of the manuscript. Wherever possible, titles should communicate the study's key outcome rather than merely stating the topic. Abbreviations and jargon should be avoided.

JARD discourages titles that are framed solely as questions, are overly broad, or use vague phrases such as "Role of," "Effect of," or "Link between" without specifying the nature of the relationship or finding.

Abstract

The abstract should clearly communicate the significance, purpose, methods, key results, and conclusions of the study in a single paragraph of approximately 150–250 words. It should be written for a broad readership and highlight the conceptual or practical contribution of the research.

Authors are encouraged to follow a structured logic (e.g., Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion), while minimizing abbreviations and avoiding citations, figures, or tables. For studies involving registered trials or datasets, relevant identifiers and registration details should be included where applicable.

Keywords

Authors must provide 5–8 keywords that accurately reflect the content of the manuscript. A mix of general and specific terms is encouraged to improve discoverability across academic databases and search engines.

Manuscript Length

Authors should adhere to the recommended word limits for their selected article type. The word count includes the main body text and in-text citations, but excludes the abstract, headings, tables, figures, acknowledgements, and references. The total word count, along with the number of tables and figures, should be stated on the first page.

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Organisation of the Manuscript

Introduction

The introduction should provide a clear and concise overview of the research background, identifying the knowledge gap or problem that the study seeks to address. Authors should situate their work within existing literature while avoiding an extensive literature review. The section should clearly state the study objectives and explain the significance of the research in advancing theory, practice, or policy.

Materials and Methods

This section must describe the study design, data sources, sampling procedures, instruments, and analytical methods in sufficient detail to allow replication. Established methods should be cited appropriately, while any modifications should be clearly explained. For studies involving human or animal subjects, authors must include a statement on ethical approval, informed consent, and compliance with relevant institutional or national guidelines.

Results

Results should be presented clearly, objectively, and logically, focusing on findings rather than interpretation. Tables and figures should be used where appropriate to enhance clarity and should be referenced in the text. Authors should not duplicate data across text, tables, and figures.

Discussion

The discussion should interpret the results in relation to existing literature, highlighting similarities, differences, and the novelty of the findings. Authors should explain the implications of their results for research, practice, or policy. This section should also acknowledge the limitations of the study and suggest areas for future research. Speculative interpretations are acceptable where clearly identified and grounded in evidence.

Conclusion

The conclusion should provide a concise summary of the main findings and their broader relevance. It should reinforce the contribution of the study without repeating detailed results or introducing new data. Where appropriate, authors may include practical recommendations or policy implications derived from the study's findings.

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Reference Styles Accepted by JARD

JARD accepts two internationally recognized referencing systems: Harvard (author–date) and Vancouver (numbered). Authors must select one reference style only and apply it consistently throughout the manuscript. All sources cited in the text must appear in the reference list and vice versa.

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Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

JARD permits the use of artificial intelligence tools (such as language models or image-generation tools) as supportive aids in writing, editing, data visualization, or analysis. However, AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors, as authorship requires accountability that AI systems cannot provide.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content. Any use of AI tools that meaningfully contributed to the manuscript should be transparently disclosed in the acknowledgements or methods section. AI use must not result in plagiarism, fabricated references, or misleading content.

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Language, Inclusivity & Final Responsibility

JARD is committed to inclusive, respectful, and unbiased scholarly communication. Authors should avoid language that is discriminatory, stereotypical, or exclusionary. Abbreviations should be used sparingly and defined upon first use. Standard International Units (SI) should be applied throughout.

Submission of a manuscript to JARD confirms that the work is original, has not been published elsewhere, and complies with ethical and academic standards. Authors retain full responsibility for the content of their work throughout the submission, review, and publication process.

Quick Reference

• Format: Word / LaTeX
• Font: Times New Roman 12pt
• Spacing: Single / 1.5
• Keywords: 5–8
• Abstract: 150–250 words
• Referencing: Harvard / Vancouver