Editorial Policy

The Journal of Social Work in Developing Societies (JSWDS) is a scholarly, peer-reviewed academic journal hosted by the Department of Social Work at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It aims to extend knowledge and provide a vital forum for discussing developmental issues relevant to social work, social welfare, community development, and social policy in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The journal is dedicated to publishing high-quality research that offers insightful and practical contributions to social work and its associated disciplines.

Peer Review Policy

Manuscripts submitted to JSWDS undergo a rigorous review process:

  1. Editorial Screening: Initially, manuscripts are screened by the editorial team to ensure alignment with the journal's scope and adherence to submission guidelines.
  2. Blind Peer Review: Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are subjected to a blind peer review by at least two independent experts in the relevant field. The identities of both the reviewers and the authors are kept confidential to maintain the integrity of the review process.

Submission Guidelines

  1. Electronic Submission: All manuscripts should be submitted electronically to [email protected].
  2. Originality and Permissions: Submissions must be original works not published or under consideration elsewhere. Authors must obtain necessary permissions for reproducing any copyrighted material and must agree to transfer copyright to the publisher upon acceptance.
  3. Preparation of Manuscripts: Manuscripts should comply with the APA 7th Edition style for citations and formatting. Submissions should be blind, with no author names or affiliations in the manuscript body. These details should be provided on a separate title page.
  4. Document Specifications: Manuscripts should be typewritten, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, and should be 15-20 pages in length, with a maximum of 5 tables or figures.
  5. Abstract and Keywords: Each manuscript must include an abstract not exceeding 200 words and relevant keywords to help identify the core themes of the paper.

Ethical Considerations

  • Research Ethics: All research must adhere to ethical standards concerning human and animal rights. Where applicable, authors should provide evidence of ethical approval.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the manuscript’s results or interpretation.
  • Publishing Ethics: The journal adheres to strict ethical standards concerning plagiarism, data falsification, and other forms of malpractice. Issues identified before or after publication can lead to retraction or correction notices.

Open Access Policy JSWDS is an open-access journal, meaning all published articles are accessible immediately upon publication without charge to the reader.

Copyright and Archiving Upon acceptance, authors agree to transfer the copyright of articles to the journal. Published articles are archived to ensure permanent availability.

Publication Frequency The journal publishes issues regularly and may also release special issues to highlight significant themes or urgent discussions within the scope of social work in developing societies.

Post-publication authors are encouraged to engage with the journal community and broader public by promoting their research and participating in discussions that may arise from their published work.