Instruction for Author

1. General Submission Requirements

The Journal of Social Commerce, published by Celebes Scholar pg, accepts original scholarly manuscripts within its areas of interest. Authors should consult the journal's Focus and Scope before submitting a manuscript.

Manuscripts must be original, must not have been published previously, and must not be under consideration by another journal. All submissions are subject to similarity screening. Manuscripts with a similarity score exceeding 20% may be returned to the authors for revision.

Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format through the journal's online submission system. Authors must follow the journal's official Article Template for manuscript formatting and presentation.

Authors should also consult the journal's policies on Publication Ethics, Article Processing Charges (APC), and Copyright. Published articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

2. Manuscript Preparation

2.1. Length and Formatting

Manuscripts should generally contain 2,500–5,000 words, including references, notes, and tables, subject to the journal's applicable requirements.

Authors must follow the formatting specifications in the official article template. The manuscript should be clearly organized, consistently formatted, and written in academic English.

2.2. Title, Authors, and Affiliations

The title should be concise, informative, and relevant to the manuscript's content. It must not exceed 20 words.

Author names should be written in full without academic titles. Each author's institutional affiliation must be provided. The corresponding author's email address and contact information must also be included.

2.3. Abstract and Keywords

The abstract must not exceed 250 words and should be written as a single paragraph. It should summarize the research purpose, approach or methodology, principal arguments or findings, and conclusions.

Authors must provide up to five relevant keywords, separated by commas.

2.4. Article Types and Structure

The Journal of Social Commerce welcomes empirical research articles and theoretical or conceptual papers, provided they fit the journal's scope and make a clear scholarly contribution.

A. Empirical Research Articles

Empirical articles report original research based on collected or existing data. They should generally include the following sections:

  1. Introduction: Present the research background, problem statement, research gap, objectives, and significance.

  2. Literature Review and Theoretical Framework: Review relevant literature, establish the theoretical foundation, and develop research questions or hypotheses where appropriate.

  3. Research Method: Explain the research design, data sources, population and sample where applicable, data collection procedures, and analytical techniques.

  4. Results and Discussion: Present the findings and interpret them in relation to the research questions, theoretical framework, and previous studies.

  5. Conclusion and Suggestions: Summarize the principal findings, contributions, limitations, and relevant practical or research implications.

  6. Acknowledgments and Funding: Include these statements where applicable.

  7. References: List all cited sources according to APA Style.

The structure may be adapted to qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research, provided that the manuscript remains logically organized and methodologically transparent.

B. Theoretical and Conceptual Papers

Theoretical and conceptual papers develop, critically examine, integrate, or extend theories and concepts without necessarily presenting original empirical data. These papers must offer a clear and substantive intellectual contribution rather than merely summarize existing literature.

They should generally include the following sections:

  1. Introduction: Explain the research problem, the importance of the topic, the limitations or gaps in existing theoretical understanding, and the paper's objectives.

  2. Theoretical Background and Literature Review: Critically examine relevant theories, concepts, and prior scholarly arguments. Authors should identify agreements, contradictions, limitations, and unresolved issues in the existing literature.

  3. Theoretical or Conceptual Analysis: Develop the central argument, integrate or compare theories, clarify conceptual relationships, or propose a new theoretical perspective. Authors should explain the reasoning that supports their arguments and demonstrate how the proposed analysis advances existing knowledge.

  4. Propositions or Conceptual Framework: Where appropriate, present theoretically grounded propositions, a conceptual model, or a framework illustrating relationships among relevant constructs. Each proposition or relationship should be justified through logical argument and relevant literature.

  5. Discussion and Theoretical Implications: Explain the paper's contribution to existing theory, its implications for research and practice, and how it advances understanding of the subject.

  6. Conclusion and Future Research: Summarize the principal theoretical contributions, acknowledge the limitations of the analysis, and suggest directions for future research, including possible empirical testing where appropriate.

  7. Acknowledgments and Funding: Include these statements where applicable.

  8. References: List all cited sources according to APA Style.

The headings and organization may be adapted to the nature of the theoretical contribution. Not every theoretical paper must include propositions or a conceptual model. However, all theoretical and conceptual papers must demonstrate critical analysis, coherent reasoning, engagement with relevant literature, and a clearly articulated contribution to scholarship.

2.5. Tables, Figures, and Conceptual Models

Tables, figures, diagrams, and conceptual models should be numbered consecutively, given descriptive titles, and discussed in the manuscript text.

Authors must provide appropriate citations for material reproduced or adapted from other sources and obtain permission when required.

2.6. References and Citation Style

The Journal of Social Commerce follows the latest edition of APA Style for in-text citations, reference lists, headings, tables, figures, and other applicable manuscript elements.

Authors should consult the official APA Style website: Style and Grammar Guidelines for the latest guidance and updates.

The journal currently uses the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association as its reference standard. Authors should check the official APA Style website for any subsequent changes or announcements.

All sources cited in the manuscript must appear in the reference list, and every listed reference must be cited in the manuscript. Authors should prioritize relevant, reliable, and appropriate scholarly sources.

2.7. Funding and AI-Assisted Technologies

Authors must disclose relevant sources of research funding, including grant information where applicable. If no funding was received, authors may use the following statement:

"The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article."

The use of generative artificial intelligence or AI-assisted technologies in preparing a manuscript must be disclosed where applicable and in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policy. AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Human authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and final content of their manuscripts.

3. Authorship Criteria and Responsibilities

3.1. Eligibility for Authorship

Authorship is limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the research and manuscript. Such contributions may include developing the research idea or design, conducting substantial research or analysis, interpreting findings, or drafting and critically revising the manuscript for important intellectual content.

Individuals whose contributions are limited to routine administrative assistance, general supervision, or funding acquisition alone should not automatically be listed as authors. Their contributions may be acknowledged where appropriate.

3.2. Responsibilities of All Authors

All listed authors must:

  1. Make a substantial contribution to the research or manuscript.

  2. Participate in drafting the manuscript or critically revising it for important intellectual content.

  3. Review and approve the final version submitted for publication.

  4. Agree to the manuscript's submission to the Journal of Social Commerce.

  5. Accept responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of their contributions.

  6. Cooperate in addressing questions concerning the accuracy, originality, or integrity of the published work.

Gift, honorary, and ghost authorship are not permitted.

3.3. Corresponding Author

The corresponding author serves as the principal contact between the authors and the editorial office. The corresponding author is responsible for providing accurate author information, confirming that all authors approve the submission, communicating editorial decisions and reviewer comments, coordinating revisions, and ensuring that required disclosures are provided.

Designation as corresponding author does not, by itself, establish eligibility for authorship.

3.4. Author Order and Changes in Authorship

The order of authors should reflect their relative scholarly contributions and must be agreed upon by all authors before submission.

Requests to add, remove, or reorder authors after submission must be supported by a legitimate explanation and the agreement of all affected authors. The journal may request written confirmation before considering such changes.

3.5. Authorship Disputes

Authors are expected to resolve authorship disagreements through appropriate communication and, where necessary, their affiliated institutions. The editorial team may request clarification or refer unresolved concerns to the relevant institution. Editorial processing may be suspended while a substantial authorship dispute is being addressed.

4. Originality and Ethical Compliance

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that the work is original, appropriately referenced, and prepared in accordance with applicable research and publication ethics standards.

Authors must disclose relevant conflicts of interest and comply with the journal's policies concerning plagiarism, research integrity, ethical approval, corrections, and retractions.

For detailed requirements, authors should consult the journal's Publication Ethics page.

5. Submission Checklist

Before submitting a manuscript, authors should confirm that:

  • The manuscript fits the journal's Focus and Scope.

  • The manuscript follows the official Article Template.

  • The article type and structure are appropriate for the submitted work.

  • The manuscript is original and is not under consideration elsewhere.

  • All listed authors meet the authorship criteria and approve the submission.

  • Citations and references follow the latest applicable APA Style guidance.

  • Funding, conflicts of interest, ethical approvals, and AI-use disclosures are included where applicable.

  • The manuscript has been checked for language, clarity, and compliance with the journal's guidelines.

By submitting a manuscript, authors acknowledge their responsibility to comply with these guidelines and the journal's applicable editorial and publication ethics policies.

Important Policy Notice

Please note that the Journal of Social Commerce DOES NOT accept any Review Paper submissions starting from August 2026. Any review papers submitted after this effective date will be automatically rejected during the initial desk-review stage. Authors are strictly advised to submit original research articles.