Nigerian Journal of Christian Studies
Journal / Nigerian Journal of Christian Studies / Submissions

 

Paper presenters at the annual conference of the National Association for Christian Studies, who desires that the papers be published in the journal, are to turn in their corrected/amended conference paper for review and editorial process. Each paper should be corrected in tandem with the following guidelines before submitting it for the peer review and editorial process.

• Title: The article’s full title should contain a maximum of 18 words.
• Abstracts: Abstract are to be written in British English and on the first page of the article following the title page (which has the title of the article and the author(s) details – names, institutional affiliation, phone numbers, email addresses).
• Abstract should include the following in a systematic manner: background to the study; justification and necessity for the study; statement of the problem emanating from previous studies; methods for collecting and analysing data; theoretical framework may be included; key research finding(s); significance of the study; and cogent recommendation(s).
• Abstract must not exceed 250 words and with a maximum of 5 key words.

2. MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION/ORGANISATION

(i)        Typescript should be on one side of A4 paper leaving a margin of 2.5cm margin on all sides. The manuscript should be typed using Microsoft Word in Time New Roman Font, 12-point size.

(ii)       Typing should be done double spaced throughout the text, including tables, figures, legends, endnotes and bibliography.

(iii)      The first page should only contain the title, name(s), academic address(s) or institutional affiliation of the author(s).

(iv)      Full paper should be arranged in the following sequence after the Abstract: Introduction, Discussion and Results put in different headings and subheadings in a sequential order; recommendation(s) as necessary; conclusion; endnotes; and bibliography.

(v)       All headings and subheadings should be typed in capital boldface with no punctuation mark and aligned left.

(vi)      All pages of the manuscript, including the title pages, should be numbered in Arabic numerals.

3. REFERENCES (Endnotes & Bibliography)

(i)        The list of references should include only works that are cited in the text.

(ii)       Endnotes are used with citations identified with Roman numerals hyphenated within the manuscript and the referenced at the end of the manuscripts.

(iii)      The bibliography is written after the Endnotes and should contain all works/materials used in writing the manuscript whether appearing in the endnotes or not. The bibliography is arranged alphabetically.

(iv)      The reference style for the journal as the Turabian Reference Style 8th Edition with Endnotes and Bibliography.

• Manuscript law: Full papers must not exceed 15 pages, including endnotes and a bibliography.
• The full papers with the Abstracts should be sent to the Editor a month after the association’s annual conference on: nacspapereditor@gmail.com
• Authors shall be notified of the acceptance of their abstracts and papers as and when due.
• Only articles prepared strictly in accordance with the journal’s guidelines will be considered for review and editorial process and eventually for publication.
• Authors will be given the opportunity to revise and approve the text of the accepted and peer-reviewed manuscript in the final phase of copy editing.

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

1. Duties of Reviewers

Importance of Peer Reviewing

Peer review is an essential part of formal communication, and lies at the heart of the scientific method. Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and through the editorial communications with the author may also assist the author in improving the paper. The job of the reviewer is critical to ensuring that the quality of a paper/article to be published meets the minimum requirements for a scholarly publication in line with the Nigerian Association for Christian Studies (NACS) publications.

Promptness

Any selected reference who feels unqualified to review the research reported in a paper, or knows that its prompt review will be impossible should notify the editor and excuse themselves from the review process. If a selected referee agrees to review a paper, they should then adhere to timelines set by the Editor.

Confidentiality

Any papers received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorized by the Editor.

Standard of Objectivity

Review should be conducted objectively, personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. References should express their views clearly with supporting arguments.

Study Ethics

Reviewers are encouraged to comment on ethical questions and possible research misconduct raised by submissions (e.g. unethical research design, insufficient detail on patient consent or protection of research subjects, including animals).

Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers are encouraged to be alert to redundant publication and plagiarism, reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any statement that an observation, derivation, or argument had been previously reported should be accompanies by the relevant citation. A reviewer should also call to the Editor’s attention any substantial similarly or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published paper of which they have personal knowledge.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in a reviewer’s own research without the express written consent of the author. Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers should not consider manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions corrected to the papers.

1. Questions to guide the reviewer in assessment of the paper:

Please provide examples, noted responses and evidence for responses, do not simply answer yes or no. responses to the questions below will be in the accompanying Reviewers’ Guidelines sent to a reviewer and to be returned to the Editor after fully the required portions.

Topic and Content

1. Is the topic relevant for the journal?
2. Is the topic in sync with the theme of the conference where the paper was presented?
3. Is the content important to Christian Studies, Christianity, and Christian theology with particular reference to issues of contemporary concern in Nigeria?
4. Is the work original? (If not, please give references).

Title: Does the title reflect the contents of the article?

Abstract: To what extent does the abstract reflect aspects of the study; background, objectives, methods, results and conclusions? Is it is in alignment with statement on abstract in the Authors’ Guidelines.

Introduction/Background: Is the study rationale adequately described?

Objectives: Are the study objectives clearly stated and defined?

Methodology:

1. To what extent is the study/research design appropriate and adequate for the objectives?
2. Is the sample size appropriate and adequately described?
3. Is the sampling technique appropriate and adequately described?
4. How well are the methods and instruments of data collection described?
5. How well techniques to minimize bias/errors in are documented?

Ethical Consideration: If there are issues related to ethics, are they adequately described? (For human studies, has ethical approval been obtained?).

Analysis and Results:

1. Are the methods adequately described?
2. Are the methods of data analysis appropriate?
3. Do the results answer the research question?
4. Are the results credible?
5. Is statistical significance well documented (e.g. as confidence intervals or P-value)?
6. Are the findings presented logically with appropriate displays and explanations?

Discussion:

1. How well are the key findings stated?
2. To what extent have differences or similarities with other studies been discussed and reasons for these given?
3. Are the findings discussed in the light of previous evidence?
4. Are the implications of these findings clearly explained?
5. Is the interpretation warranted by and sufficiently derived from and focused on the data and results?

Conclusion(s): Do the results justify the conclusion(s)?

References:

1. Are the references appropriate and relevant?
2. Are they up to date? (With at least 80% of the references not more than 10 years away from the year the paper is been reviewed).
3. Are there any obvious, important references that should have been included and have not been?
4. Do the references follow the recommended style?
5. Are there any errors?

Writing:

1. Is the paper clearly written?
2. Is the paper presented logically (e.g. correct information in each section, logical flow of arguments)?
3. Are there problems with the grammar/spelling/punctuation/ language?

The reviewer is to do business with 2 accompanying documents that the Editor sends to him/her along with the paper to be reviewed.

PUBLICATION FEES

• All our readers and authors enjoy the benefits of free open access. We believe that open access of the journal promises accessibility and uptake worldwide; saving the best interests of the academic, ecclesiastical and professional communities and be public at large. Hence, no fees are charged for access to published articles online.
• Authors pay for presenting their papers at the association’s annual conference and an acceptance fee for the hard copy/print edition as determined at the Annual General Meeting of the association held at the conference.
• Authors are not charged for access to the online publication, peer review management, journal production and online hosting and archiving by charging Article Processing Charges (APC), also known as page fees.

SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR THE NJCS

The funds for publishing the journal, Nigerian Journal of Christian Studies, is sourced from the publisher’s, National Association for Christian Studies (NACS), financial account, which is funded by members’ annual dues, donations received during the association’s annual conferences, and from the token paid by the authors of accepted manuscripts. The journal nor publisher has no donor, institutional, nor private finding.

PUBLICATION ETHICS

The Nigerian Journal of Christian Studies (NJCS) is committed to publishing and widely disseminating high quality content. Submission of an article for publication in the NJCS implies that the author(s) adhere to the following conditions:

1. The contents of the manuscript have not been published in part or in whole in any language of a journal, published lecture, article/book or academic thesis.
2. Authors will submit only entirely original works and will appropriately lite or quote the work and/or works of others. Publications that have been influenced in determining the nature of the submitted manuscript should also be cited. There must be explicit written permission to use information obtained in the course of confidential services before inclusion in submitted paper. NJCS considers plagiarism a serious offence.
3. There will be objective discussion of the ideas, concepts and issues presented in the manuscripts and its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately in the paper. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.
4. Acknowledged and accepted manuscripts shall not be submitted to any other journal for publication. And manuscripts that have been published as copyrighted material elsewhere cannot be submitted.
5. Authorship of the paper should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, discussion or interpretation of the submitted manuscript.
6. Any submitted manuscripts must have been presented and critiqued at the annual conference of the publisher, NACS.
7. Authors are to disclose in their manuscript any financial or other substantial conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of the submitted manuscript.
8. Authors are to transfer the copyright of the accepted manuscripts to the publisher, NACS.

JOURNAL CONTACT INFORMATION

For further enquiries, please feel free to contact the Editor:

Dr. Samuel O. Okanlawon

Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan,

Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Email: nacspapereditor@gmail.com

Phone: +2348035122963

Website: www.nacs.com.ng

Publisher Contact Person:   Professor Afolorunso O. Dairo

                                                +2348034001020

                                                dairoa@run.edu.ng