Publication Frequency and Format

 

The International Research Journal of Social Sciences (IRJOSS) follows a biannual publication schedule, ensuring consistency, timely dissemination of research, and alignment with HEC’s minimum publication frequency requirements.

Each issue will uphold rigorous academic standards, featuring a balanced mix of empirical, theoretical, and applied research.

Publication Frequency

·        Frequency: Two issues per year

·        Issue 1 (January–June): Spring Issue

·        Issue 2 (July–December): Fall Issue

·        Additional Special Issues may be published occasionally, focusing on emerging themes, regional development challenges, or conference proceedings (subject to approval by the Journal Steering Committee).

Article Types Published

IRJOSS welcomes a wide range of scholarly contributions, including:

1.     Original Research Articles: Empirical and theoretical studies contributing new insights to the field.

2.     Review Papers: Systematic or conceptual reviews summarizing key trends and developments.

3.     Case Studies: Context-specific analyses from business, education, policy, or community development perspectives.

4.     Short Communications / Research Notes: Brief reports of novel findings or preliminary data.

5.     Book Reviews: Critical evaluations of newly published books relevant to social sciences.

6.     Editorials / Commentaries: Invited pieces highlighting significant academic or policy issues.

All manuscripts must conform to the journal’s formatting, referencing, and ethical guidelines provided in the Author Submission Manual (Annexure B).

Language and Style

·        The journal publishes articles in English only.

·        All manuscripts must follow the APA (7th Edition) citation and referencing style.

·        Submissions undergo language editing and technical formatting before publication.

·        Authors are responsible for grammatical accuracy, clarity, and scholarly tone; however, the journal provides final proofreading by the Language Editor.

 

Layout and Design Standards

·        IRJOSS follows an A4-sized, double-column layout with a professional design suitable for both print and online publication.

·        Each article will include:

o   Title, author information, and ORCID ID

o   Abstract (150–250 words) and keywords (4–6 words)

o   Main text divided into sections (Introduction, Methodology, Findings, Discussion, Conclusion, and References)

o   DOI (Digital Object Identifier) assigned via CrossRef

o   Page numbering and citation metadata for indexing.

·        Graphs, tables, and figures must be clearly labeled, cited, and formatted in high resolution.

·        The online version will include HTML, PDF, and XML formats to meet indexing and archiving requirements.

Online and Print Availability

·        The journal will be available in both online (e-ISSN) and print (p-ISSN) formats.

·        The online edition will be hosted via the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform managed by the University of Mirpurkhas IT team.

·        The print version will be published for university libraries, partner institutions, and contributors.

·        Each published article will receive a unique DOI and metadata registration to ensure discoverability across international indexing services.

Issue Structure and Content Plan

Each biannual issue will typically include:

·        5–8 full-length research articles

·        1–2 review papers or case studies

·        1 editorial or commentary

·        1 book review (optional)

The total length of each issue will be approximately 100–150 pages, depending on content and layout.

Publication Workflow

The publication workflow will proceed as follows:

1.     Manuscript submission via OJS.

2.     Initial screening and plagiarism check.

3.     Double-blind peer review and editorial decision.

4.     Revision, copyediting, and proofreading.

5.     Final approval and DOI registration.

6.     Online publication with immediate open access.

7.     Print compilation for institutional archives and libraries.

Archival and Backup

·        All issues will be digitally archived in the University of Mirpurkhas repository and backed up on institutional servers.

·        IRJOSS will also register with PKP’s Private LOCKSS Network (PLN) to ensure long-term preservation and recovery.

·        The journal will maintain backup copies of all published materials for at least ten years.

Publication Timeliness

·        IRJOSS is committed to publishing each issue within one month after the closing period (January–June issue in July, July–December issue in January).

·        Delays beyond one month will be reported to the Journal Steering Committee with justification.

·        Timely publication will be one of the key performance indicators (KPIs) for annual evaluation by HEC.