Submissions

Author Guidelines

Submission Requirements

Language and Style

Manuscripts should be written in formal academic English, with consistent use of British spelling conventions throughout the text. Authors should avoid jargon and ensure that technical terms are clearly explained. Authors are also advised to use gender-neutral language where appropriate and to adhere to APA guidelines for bias-free language.

Multiple Submission Policy

When authors submit an article to a PED journal, it implies that the manuscript is original work and has not been previously published or submitted to another journal for consideration. Submissions should not be under review elsewhere at the time of submission.

Length

Manuscripts should not exceed 7,500 words, including an abstract, keywords, tables, figures, reference lists, and appendices. Word count for shorter pieces should be as follows: book reviews (1,000-1,500 words), commentaries (2,000-3,000 words), and short communications (up to 2,000 words).

Font and Spacing
The text must be formatted using Times New Roman, 12-point font. The entire manuscript must be double-spaced, including references, tables, and figures.

Margins, Alignment and Pagination

• Set 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins on all sides.
• Align the text to the left and do not justify the right margin.
• All pages must be numbered at the bottom right corner, flush right. The page number should show on all pages. The title page carries page number 1.

Capitalisation

Authors should be consistent in their use of capitalisation. Overcapitalisation should be avoided. The abbreviations ‘vol.,’ ‘no.,’ and ‘pt.’ are not normally capitalised.

 Italics

Use italics for the titles of publications, such as books and journals, as well as for non-English words that are not commonly used.

Manuscript Structure

Headings

PED recommends using a maximum of three heading levels, formatted as follows:

• Level 1: Flush Left, Bold, Title Case (Text begins as a new paragraph).
• Level 2: Flush left, bold, sentence case (Text begins as a new paragraph)
• Level 3: Flush left, bold italic, sentence case (Text begins as a new paragraph).

Title Page

Include the following details:

• Manuscript title (The title should be concise and informative, clearly reflecting the content of the article. Avoid abbreviations where possible).
• Author names and affiliations (Include the full names of all authors and their affiliations).
• The corresponding author should be clearly identified with full contact details (email and phone number).
• Acknowledgements (If applicable, please include acknowledgements for any individuals or organisations that contributed to the research, such as those who assisted with language, writing, or proofreading. Note that acknowledgements should only appear on the title page, as the journal employs a double-anonymised peer review process)

Abstract and Keywords

• Abstract
  Provide a concise and factual abstract of 100 to 150 words that summarises the purpose of your research, methodology, key findings, and conclusions/implications of the study. Where possible, avoid citations in the abstract.
• Keywords
  Include 3-6 relevant keywords directly below the abstract for indexing purposes

Main text

The main body of the manuscript for empirical reports should be structured into clearly defined major sections: Introduction (background and context), Literature Review (optional), Methodology (materials and methods), Results, Discussion, and Conclusions/Implications. PED prefers an integrated Results and Discussion section for cohesive interpretation, though authors may choose to present them separately if it improves clarity.

Glossary (if applicable)

Provide definitions for any field-specific terms used in your article in a separate list (where applicable). Ensure that each term is clearly defined to aid readers in understanding specialised concepts.

Abbreviations (if applicable)

Define abbreviations that are not standard in the field when first used in the text and avoid overuse. Common abbreviations such as "USA" or "UNESCO" do not need to be defined.

Referencing  System

Citations and references in the text should conform strictly to the 7^th edition of The American Psychological Association (APA) style found at: http://www.apastyle.org/index.aspx.

• References should be placed immediately after the Conclusions/Implications section, following APA (7th edition) guidelines.
• References should be in alphabetical order and formatted with a hanging indent.
• Include all sources cited in the text, ensuring that all in-text citations have a corresponding reference in the reference list and vice versa.

1. In-Text Citations

In-text citations follow the author-date method. Include the author's last name and the year of publication. For direct quotations, also include page numbers or paragraph numbers for electronic sources without page numbers. Avoid using terms like ibid., op. cit., infra., or supra.

A: Basic Citation Examples

• Paraphrasing (one author)
  • Parenthetical citation format: (Author, Year)
    • Example: (Smith, 2020)
  • Narrative citation format: Author (Year)
    • Example: According to Smith (2020), education has a crucial role in societal development.
  • Direct Quotation (one author):
    • Parenthetical citation format: (Author, Year, p. X)
      • Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 45)
    • Narrative citation format: Author (Year) noted, "Quote" (p. X)
      • Example: Smith (2020) noted, "The impact of early childhood education is far-reaching" (p. 45).
    • Two Authors
      • Parenthetical citation format: (Author & Author, Year)
        • Example: (Green & Jones, 2019)
      • Narrative citation format: Author and Author (Year) found that "Quote" (p. X)
        • Example: Green and Jones (2019) found that "collaborative learning enhances student engagement" (p. 90).
      • Three or More Authors:
        • Parenthetical citation format: (First Author et al., Year)
          • Example: (Chen et al., 2021)
        • Narrative citation format: First Author et al. (Year) found that "Quote" (p. X)
          • Example: According to Chen et al. (2021), blended learning models can improve educational outcomes.

B: Special Cases

• Multiple Sources in One Citation (List sources alphabetically and separate them with a semicolon).

• Format: (Author, Year; Author, Year)
• Example: (Brown, 2018; Smith, 2020; Thompson, 2019)
• Example in text: Multiple studies (Brown, 2018; Smith, 2020; Thompson, 2019) suggest improvements in policy.

• Secondary Sources

• Name the source and indicate "as cited in," followed by the secondary source.
• Format: (Author, Year, as cited in Author, Year)
• Example: (Taylor, 2005, as cited in Johnson, 2020)
• Example in text: Taylor's (2005) theory of cognitive development (as cited in Johnson, 2020) has been influential.

• Direct Quotations from Electronic Sources Without Page Numbers
• Use paragraph numbers (para. X) or section headings.
• Format: (Author, Year, para. X)

• Example: (Smith, 2020, para. 3)
• Example in text: Smith (2020) stated, "Online education has transformed accessibility" (para. 3).

• Group Author (Organisation)

• First citation: (Full Organisation Name, Year)
• Subsequent citations: (Abbreviation, Year)
• Example: (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2020)
• Example: (WHO, 2020)
• Example in text: The World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) recommended new educational policies.

C: Citing Participant Quotes

When citing participant quotes in APA style (7th edition), follow these guidelines:

Direct Short Quotes (fewer than 40 words):

• Incorporate the quote into the text with double quotation marks. Include the author, year, and page number in parentheses immediately after the quote.
• Example: According to Smith (2020), "effective communication is essential for successful teamwork" (p. 45).

Long Quotes (40 or more words)

• Place the quote in a block format, indented 0.5 inches from the left margin, without quotation marks. Include the author, year, and page number in parentheses after the final punctuation.
• Block quotation example: Smith (2020) Smith (2020) explained the impact of technology on education:

Technology in education has brought a significant shift. Online platforms allow students to access materials at their own pace, which fosters a more inclusive and dynamic learning environment. The challenge remains in ensuring equitable access for all students, regardless of their socio-economic background (p. 45).

Paraphrasing

• When paraphrasing a participant's statements, provide an in-text citation with the author and year without quotation marks.
  • Example: Smith (2020) emphasised the importance of communication in facilitating teamwork and preventing errors.

Personal Communication

• Place the quote in a block format, indented 0.5 inches from the left margin, without quotation marks. For non-recoverable personal communications (e.g., interviews, conversations), include the communicator's initials and last name, the phrase "personal communication," and the exact date.
  • Example: (J. Smith, personal communication, March 15, 2024).
• Participants direct quote example (Parenthetical citation)

• Example: The Maasai student shared insights on the challenges of balancing traditional responsibilities with formal schooling:

Education has been a challenging yet transformative experience for me. Growing up in Monduli, the traditional Maasai lifestyle often conflicted with school demands. Attending school meant balancing my responsibilities at home with my studies. Despite these challenges, formal schooling has opened doors to new opportunities. I've learned to appreciate the value of education and how it can empower us to advocate for our community's development. Still, there are ongoing issues, such as the need for more culturally sensitive teaching methods and resources that address the unique needs of Maasai students (M. L. Kilemi, personal communication, April 10, 2024).

2. Reference List Entries

Arrange the reference list alphabetically by the authors' last names. Use a hanging indent for each entry (second and subsequent lines are indented).

1. Books

• Book with one author
  Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book. Publisher.

• Smith, J. (2020). Education in the 21st century. Oxford University Press.

• Book with two authors
  Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the book. Publisher.

• Green, T. J., & Jones, M. L. (2019). Teaching and learning strategies. Cambridge University Press.

• Edited book
  Editor, A. A. (Ed.). (Year). Title of the book. Publisher.

• Brown, K. (Ed.). (2021). Critical issues in educational leadership. Routledge.

1. Journal Articles

• Journal article with one author
  Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume (Issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxx

• Chen, L. (2021). The role of teacher education in sustainable development. Journal of Educational Policy, 45(2), 123–139. https://doi.org/10.1000/j.jedupol.2021.02.005

• Journal article with two authors:
  Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal, Volume (Issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxxx

• Patel, S., & Singh, R. (2020). Innovative pedagogical strategies in secondary education. International Journal of Educational Research, 50(3), 88–105. https://doi.org/10.1000/ijedres.2020.03.003

1. Chapters in Edited Books

• Chapter in an edited book
  Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the chapter. In A. A. Editor (Ed.), Title of the book (pp. xx-xx). Publisher.

• Gray, R. (2020). Policy implications for educational development. In J. Stevens (Ed.), Education and development: Global perspectives (pp. 112–132). Routledge.

1. Dissertations and Theses

• Unpublished doctoral/master's thesis/dissertation
  Author, A. A. (Year). Title of dissertation (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Name of Institution.

• Carter, R. J. (2019). The role of instructional leadership in improving student achievement (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Nairobi.

• Doctoral/Master's thesis published in an online repository
  Author, A. A. (Year). Title of thesis (Master's thesis, Name of Institution). Repository Name. URL

• Ndege, M. (2020). Factors influencing dropout rates in rural secondary schools (Master's thesis, University of Dar es Salaam). Institutional Repository of the University of Dar es Salaam. https://repository.udsm.ac.tz/handle/123456789/1234.

1. Reports

• Report by a government agency or organisation
  Group Author. (Year). Title of report (Report No. if applicable). Publisher. URL (if applicable)

• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2019). Education for sustainable development: A roadmap for 2030 (Report No. ESD2030). UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000370215.

• Report with individual authors
  Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of report. Publisher.

• Thomas, L., & Williams, J. (2021). Teacher retention in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and solutions. International Institute for Educational Planning.

1. Conference Papers and Posters

• Conference paper or poster presentation
  Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year, Month). Title of the paper/poster. Paper/poster presentation at the meeting of Organization Name, Location.

• Engle, E. K., Cash, T. F., & Jarry, J. L. (2009, November). The Body Image Behaviours Inventory-3: Development and validation of the Body Image Compulsive Actions and Body Image Avoidance Scales. Poster session presentation at the meeting of the Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY.

1. Datasets

• Reference to a dataset
  Author, A. A., Author, B. B., Author, C. C., & Author, D. D. (Year). Title of dataset (Version number if applicable) [Data set]. Repository Name. https://doi.org/xxxx

• Oguro, M., Imahiro, S., Saito, S., & Nakashizuka, T. (2015). Mortality data for Japanese oak wilt disease and surrounding forest compositions [Data set]. Mendeley Data, v1. https://doi.org/10.17632/xwj98nb39r.1.

1. Software

• Reference to software:
  Author, A. A., Author, B. B., Author, C. C., Author, D. D., Author, E. E., Author, F. F., Author, G. G., Author, H. H., & Author, I. I. (Year, Month Day). Title of software (Version number if applicable) [Computer software]. Repository Name. https://doi.org/xxxx

• Coon, E., Berndt, M., Jan, A., Svyatsky, D., Atchley, A., Kikinzon, E., Harp, D., Manzini, G., Shelef, E., Lipnikov, K., Garimella, R., Xu, C., Moulton, D., Karra, S., Painter, S., Jafarov, E., & Molins, S. (2020, March 25). Advanced Terrestrial Simulator (ATS) v0.88 (Version 0.88) [Computer software]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3727209.

1. Webpages

• Webpage with a group author
  Group Author. (Year, Month Day). Title of the page. Website Name. URL

• World Health Organization. (2020, May 22). The role of education in promoting health. WHO. https://www.who.int/education-health

• Webpage with an individual author
  Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of the page. Website Name. URL

• Jones, M. (2021, July 5). The impact of online learning in higher education. Education Today. https://www.educationtoday.com/online-learning

Note: Ensure that all references cited in the text are listed in the reference section and vice versa. Use italics for titles of books and journals and ensure proper use of capital letters as per APA rules.