Author Guidelines

Criteria and general regulations

  1. A research article should focus primarily on an original research contribution supported by empirical data and results. This type of original study should include a clear description of the issues discussed and their scientific or educational context in relation to existing knowledge in the field of natural science and/or science education. Relevant theories, conceptual frameworks, or scientific principles should be presented where appropriate. Research design decisions must be clearly justified, and research methodologies should be described in sufficient detail to allow the quality, validity, and reliability of the study to be assessed. The data presented must adequately support the interpretation of the results. In the conclusion, the importance and implications of the findings for advancing scientific knowledge, science education research, or educational practice should be clearly explained.

  2. This publication is written in English. Therefore, all articles must be written in clear, accurate, and academic English. Authors whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to have their manuscripts reviewed by a proficient English speaker or professional language editor prior to submission.

  3. Articles submitted for publication must be original works and must not have been previously published, submitted, or be under consideration by another journal or publication. Any consequences arising from violations of this policy are the sole responsibility of the authors.

  4. META: Journal of Science and Technological Education is an open-access journal. Open access grants users the right to read, download, distribute, copy, print, search, and create links to the full texts of the articles, provided proper attribution is given to the authors and the journal in accordance with the applicable Creative Commons license.

  5. All submitted manuscripts are first evaluated by the editorial board through an editorial review process. Manuscripts that do not align with the journal’s aims, scope, academic standards, or submission requirements will not be considered for further review.

  6. The publishing committee reserves the right to make necessary corrections to grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting to improve clarity and consistency, without altering the scientific substance of the manuscript.

  7. Manuscripts that satisfy the fundamental requirements of META: Journal of Science and Technological Education will be forwarded to at least two independent anonymous reviewers through a double-anonymous peer review process. In some cases, more than two reviewers may be involved to ensure scientific rigor and objectivity.

  8. Copyright and licensing of published papers follow the journal’s Copyright and License policy. Authors retain responsibility for the legal, ethical, and scientific content of their work.

  9. The papers published in META: Journal of Science and Technological Education may be cited, shared, and reused, provided that proper citation and acknowledgment of the original publication are given.

  10. All submitted manuscripts are screened for potential plagiarism using Turnitin/iThenticate. Screening may be conducted at the initial submission stage and again prior to publication. Manuscripts identified as containing plagiarism, self-plagiarism, or excessive similarity beyond acceptable limits will be rejected in accordance with the journal’s publication ethics policy.

  11. META: Journal of Science and Technological Education is an Open Access Journal and does not charge any article submission fees or article processing charges (APCs).

 

Submission Guidelines

Authors are encouraged to use the official journal template, which has been prepared in accordance with the journal’s formatting and structural requirements, to facilitate the review and publication process.

The following word processor file types are accepted for manuscript submission: Microsoft Word (DOC, DOCX) and Rich Text Format (RTF).

Page layout must be arranged as A4 portrait size with margins of 3.5 cm on all sides.

Typically, the article should include the following main sections (Heading 1): Introduction, Method, Findings and Discussion, and Conclusion. Additional sections may be included if relevant to the nature of the study.

The entire manuscript, including references, tables, and figures, must be formatted with single line spacing using Times New Roman, 12-point font. Paragraphs should be clearly structured and consistently formatted. The initial letter of each word in headings should be capitalized.

If abbreviations or acronyms are used, they must be defined in full at their first occurrence in the text.

 

Heading Guidelines

HEADING 1

Heading 2 (Subheading)

Heading 3 (Subheading)

Authors should maintain a clear and logical hierarchy of headings. Avoid skipping heading levels. For example, it is inappropriate to follow a Heading 1 directly with a Heading 3.

 

Title

The title of the article must be written in capital letters, consist of no more than 22 words, and be formatted in Times New Roman, 14-point font, bold. The title should clearly reflect the content, focus, and scope of the study. A single line space must be left after the title.

 

Author Information 

The full name(s) of the author(s), institutional affiliation(s), and country must be provided. One corresponding author must be clearly indicated, and only the email address of the corresponding author should be included in the manuscript. If authors wish to provide additional contact details, these may be included in a biographical statement at the end of the article.

 

Abstract

The abstract must be between 150 and 270 words and written in Times New Roman, 11-point font. The abstract must be structured and include the following components:

  • Background: the context and purpose of the study;

  • Methods: how the study was conducted and the rationale for selecting specific methods;

  • Results: the main findings of the study;

  • Conclusions: a brief summary of the results and their potential implications.

Acronyms should be used sparingly, and references should not be cited in the abstract. Below the abstract, authors must provide 4–7 keywords that reflect the core topics of the article.

 

INTRODUCTION

The Introduction should present the background of the study, clearly state the research objectives or questions, review relevant literature, and explain the significance of the study within the context of natural science, science education, or related applied fields.

 

METHOD

The Method section must include sufficient detail to allow replication of the study and should contain:

  • The objectives, research approach, and setting of the study;

  • Characteristics of participants, samples, or materials used;

  • A clear and detailed description of research procedures, instruments, and techniques (generic names should be used where applicable);

  • The statistical or analytical methods employed, including power analysis if relevant;

  • An ethics approval and informed consent statement for studies involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data.

 

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

This section should present the research findings clearly and systematically. Statistical analyses, tables, and figures should be integrated into the text where appropriate. The discussion should interpret the findings in relation to existing literature, theoretical frameworks, or practical implications, and should also address limitations of the study.

 

CONCLUSION

The Conclusion should summarize the main findings and clearly articulate their significance, relevance, and contribution to science, science education, or related educational practices. Suggestions for future research may also be included.

 

REFERENCES

Submissions must adhere to the APA 7th edition style and citation requirements. Authors are advised to interact the American Psychological Association's Publication Manual (7th ed, 2020). http://www.apastyle.org/.

Slifka, M.K., & Whitton, J.L. (2000). Clinical implications of dysregulated cytokine production. Journal of Molecular Medicine, 78(2), 74-80. https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s001090000086.

Calfee, R.C., & Valencia, R.R. (1991). APA guide to preparing manuscripts for journal publication. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

German emigrants database (1998). Historisches Museum Bremerhaven. http://www.deutsche-auswanderer-datenbank.de. Accessed 1 January 2008.

 

 

Tables

Tables must be prepared using Times New Roman, 10-point font. Vertical lines should be avoided except where necessary for clarity in the table heading. Each table must be numbered and titled above the table. Authors should refer to tables by their number (e.g., “see Table 2”) rather than by position in the text.

 

Figures

Figures and images should be of high resolution and clear quality. Each figure must be numbered and provided with a title below the figure. Authors should refer to figures by number (e.g., “see Figure 2”) rather than by their location in the manuscript.