Author Guidelines

1. Introduction
The International Journal of Data Science (IJoDS) welcomes submissions of high-quality research that contribute significantly to the field of data science. Manuscripts submitted to IJoDS should report original, unpublished work and adhere to the ethical guidelines established by the journal. Authors are expected to present their research in a clear, concise, and understandable manner, suitable for an international readership. All manuscripts must be written in proficient English.

An acceptable manuscript should meet the following general criteria:

  • It reports a significant and original contribution to data science, covering the entire lifecycle of data, including data capture, maintenance, processing, analysis, and communication, with an emphasis on bridging theory and practical applications.
  • The methodology employed is sound, appropriate for the research questions, and explained with sufficient detail to allow for reproducibility by other capable researchers.
  • Conclusions are robust, clearly stated, and strongly supported by the presented data and analyses.
  • The manuscript is well-organized, written in clear and concise English, and is readily understandable.

2. Manuscript Preparation

  • Language: All manuscripts must be submitted in English. Authors for whom English is not their first language are encouraged to have their manuscripts professionally edited for language and clarity before submission.
  • File Format: Manuscripts should be prepared using Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) . Upload your manuscript to the IJoDS online submission system (OJS).
  • Length: While IJoDS does not impose strict length limits, manuscripts should be as concise as possible while providing sufficient detail for understanding and reproducibility.
  • Font and Spacing: Use a standard font (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial) in 12-point size with double line spacing for the main text.
  • Units of Measurement: Use the International System of Units (SI).
  • Abbreviations: Define all abbreviations at their first appearance in the text and use them consistently thereafter. Avoid abbreviations in the title and abstract where possible.

3. Manuscript Structure Manuscripts should generally adhere to the IMRaD structure (Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion). The typical structure for submissions is as follows:

  • Title:

    • The title should be concise, informative, and accurately reflect the content of the manuscript.
    • It should be written clearly, describing the main scope and findings of the research.
    • Avoid abbreviations and formulas where possible.

  • Authors and Affiliations:

    • Provide the full names of all authors (no abbreviations).
    • Include the affiliation (department, university/institution, city, country) for each author.
    • Clearly indicate the corresponding author and provide only one email address for correspondence.
    • ORCID iDs for all authors are strongly encouraged.

  • Abstract:

    • The abstract should provide a concise summary of the article, typically not exceeding 200 words, written in a single paragraph.
    • It should clearly state the research objectives, primary methods, main results, and principal conclusions.
    • The abstract must be self-contained, without references, table/figure numbers, or undefined abbreviations.
    • It should be suitable for direct inclusion in abstracting services. Given its importance for information retrieval, ensure it is clear and accurately reflects the paper's content.

  • Keywords:

    • Provide a maximum of five (5) keywords or short phrases immediately after the abstract.
    • Keywords should be specific, relevant to the article's content, and listed in alphabetical order.
    • Use English terms and avoid general or plural terms, and multiple concepts (e.g., avoid 'and', 'of').
    • Only use abbreviations that are firmly established in the field. These keywords are used for indexing purposes.

  • Introduction (IMRaD - I):

    • Provide sufficient background information to establish the context of your research for a broad data science audience.
    • Clearly identify the problem you are addressing and its significance.
    • Include a concise review of relevant literature, highlighting existing gaps or limitations that your research aims to address (gap analysis).
    • Clearly state the objectives of your work and the specific research questions or hypotheses.
    • Briefly outline the approach taken and the main contributions of your study. Avoid a detailed summary of the results in this section.

  • Materials and Methods (IMRaD - M):

    • This section should provide a detailed description of the methodology used to conduct the research, enabling others to replicate your work.
    • If applicable, state the time and place of the research, particularly for studies involving specific data collection periods or locations.
    • Data Sources: Describe the data used, including its origin, characteristics, and any pre-processing steps.
    • Procedures and Algorithms: Clearly explain all methods, algorithms, tools, software (including versions), and experimental designs. For novel methods, provide comprehensive details. For established methods, provide brief descriptions and cite relevant sources.
    • Theoretical Basis (if applicable): If your work involves significant theoretical development or a novel framework, this section can include subsections detailing the underlying theory and any mathematical derivations necessary for understanding the subsequent practical application or calculations. This should extend, not merely repeat, the background provided in the Introduction.
    • Ethical Considerations: If the research involves human participants, animals, or sensitive data, provide a statement confirming that appropriate ethical approvals were obtained and ethical guidelines were followed (refer to IJoDS Publication Ethics policies).

  • Results and Discussion (IMRaD - R&D):

    • This section should present and discuss the findings of your research together.
    • Results: Present your findings clearly, concisely, and logically, using tables and figures where appropriate to illustrate key results. Report results with appropriate statistical measures and levels of significance. Avoid interpreting the results or discussing their implications in this sub-part; focus on reporting what was found.
    • Discussion: This sub-part should interpret the results in the context of the research questions and objectives.
      • Highlight the significance of your findings.
      • Compare your results with those of previous studies, discussing consistencies and discrepancies. Cite relevant literature to support your discussion.
      • Discuss any limitations of your study and their potential impact on the findings.
      • Explain the implications of your findings for theory, practice, or policy in data science.
      • Suggest directions for future research.
    • The unit of measurement used should follow the prevailing international system (SI units).

  • Conclusion:

    • Provide a brief summary of the main conclusions drawn from your study, directly supported by your findings.
    • Reiterate the significance of your work and its contribution to the field of data science.
    • Do not simply repeat the abstract or introduce new results not presented earlier.
    • Optionally, you may include brief recommendations or suggestions for practical applications or future research arising from your conclusions.

  • Acknowledgment (Optional):

    • This section should appear before the References.
    • Acknowledge any individuals, funding bodies, or organizations that provided support for the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship. This includes technical assistance, data provision, language help, writing assistance, or proofreading.
    • Clearly state all sources of funding for the research, including grant numbers if applicable.

  • References:

    • Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their references.
    • All sources cited in the text must be listed in the References section, and vice versa.
    • Style: IJoDS uses the IEEE citation style. References should be numbered sequentially in the order they appear in the text. In-text citations should be indicated by the reference number in square brackets [1], [2, 3], [4-6].
    • Provide enough information for readers to locate the cited works, whether in print or electronic form.
    • Review Articles: For review articles, including systematic literature reviews, systematic mapping studies, and similar comprehensive syntheses, a minimum of 50 references is generally required to ensure thorough coverage of the topic.

4. Figures and Tables

  • Include figures and tables in the manuscript text at their initial discussion point, not at the conclusion.
  • Numbering: Sequentially number the figures and tables in the text's reference order (e.g., Figure 1, Table 1).
  • Captions and Titles: Each figure must have a concise caption placed below it. Each table must have a concise title placed above it. Captions and titles should be self-explanatory.
  • Quality: Ensure figures are of high resolution and clearly legible.
  • Source: If figures or tables are reproduced from other sources, authors must obtain permission from the copyright holder and provide appropriate attribution.

5. Manuscript Submission

  • Online Submission: All manuscripts must be submitted through the IJoDS online submission system (OJS) available on our website: https://ijods.org/
  • Cover Letter: A cover letter must accompany each submission, briefly outlining the significance of the work, stating that the manuscript is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere, and confirming that all authors have approved the submission. Authors should also declare any potential conflicts of interest in the cover letter or during the submission process.
  • Peer Review Process: IJoDS employs a double-blind peer review process. Ensure your manuscript is prepared in a way that facilitates this (e.g., anonymize the manuscript file by removing author names and affiliations from the main document if prompted by the submission system for the review version). The OJS will separately enter author details.
  • Ethics and Disclosure: Authors must adhere to the IJoDS Publication Ethics policies regarding originality, plagiarism, data availability, conflicts of interest, and ethical approvals for research.

6. After Acceptance

  • Proofs: The corresponding author will receive page proofs for review before publication. Corrections should be limited to typographical errors.
  • Article Processing Charge (APC): Upon acceptance, an APC of USD 50 is payable. Details are provided in our Author Fees policy.
  • Copyright and Licensing: Authors retain copyright and publish under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license, as detailed in our Open Access Policy.

For any queries regarding manuscript preparation or submission, please contact the IJoDS Editorial Office.