Author Guidelines

1. About the Journal

Caruban: Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan Dasar publishes original scholarly works in the field of elementary education. The journal welcomes empirical research, systematic and literature reviews, conceptual studies, educational innovations, and research-based practices that contribute to the development of theory and practice in elementary education.

The journal encourages submissions that address contemporary issues in elementary education and demonstrate clear theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions.

2. Types of Manuscripts

Caruban accepts the following types of manuscripts:

  1. Original Research Articles – reports of empirical research using quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, design-based research, development research, or other rigorous research approaches.

  2. Systematic or Literature Reviews – comprehensive and critical reviews of relevant scholarly literature using transparent and systematic procedures.

  3. Conceptual or Theoretical Articles – well-developed theoretical or conceptual contributions addressing significant issues in elementary education.

  4. Educational Innovation and Development Articles – reports of the development, implementation, or evaluation of innovative educational models, media, materials, technologies, or assessment approaches.

  5. Research-Based Educational Practice Articles – evidence-based studies addressing significant practices and challenges in elementary education.

All submissions must demonstrate a clear connection to elementary education and provide a meaningful contribution to the field.

3. Language

Manuscripts should be written in clear and professional English.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that the manuscript has been carefully checked for grammar, spelling, terminology, and overall language quality before submission.

Poorly written manuscripts may be returned to the authors for language improvement before entering the peer-review process.

4. Originality and Exclusivity

Manuscripts submitted to Caruban must:

  • be original and have not been published previously;

  • not be under consideration by another journal;

  • not contain substantial portions of previously published work without appropriate citation;

  • accurately acknowledge the contributions of other researchers; and

  • comply with the journal's publication ethics policy.

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that the manuscript is not simultaneously submitted to another publication.

5. Manuscript Structure

Research articles should generally follow the structure below:

Title

The title should be:

  • concise, informative, and specific;

  • clearly reflect the main topic or research focus;

  • avoid unnecessary abbreviations; and

  • preferably not exceed 15–20 words.

Authors and Affiliations

The manuscript should include:

  • full name of each author;

  • institutional affiliation;

  • department/program;

  • institution;

  • city and country; and

  • email address of the corresponding author.

Authors should ensure that all individuals listed as authors have made substantial contributions to the research and manuscript.

Abstract

The abstract should provide a concise overview of the manuscript and generally include:

  • background or research problem;

  • purpose/objective;

  • research method;

  • key findings; and

  • conclusion or implications.

The abstract should normally contain 150–250 words and should be understandable independently of the main text.

Keywords

Provide 3–5 keywords or key phrases that represent the main concepts of the manuscript.

Keywords should be specific and preferably use terminology commonly recognized in the relevant field.

Introduction

The introduction should:

  • establish the research context and significance;

  • explain the relevant theoretical or empirical background;

  • identify the research gap;

  • present the rationale for conducting the study;

  • state the research objectives or questions; and

  • clearly indicate the contribution or novelty of the study.

Authors should use relevant and recent scholarly literature to establish the research context and demonstrate the position of the study within existing scholarship.

Literature Review / Theoretical Framework

Where appropriate, the manuscript should provide a critical discussion of relevant theories, concepts, and previous studies.

The literature review should not merely summarize previous research but should synthesize existing knowledge, identify unresolved issues, and establish the theoretical or conceptual basis of the study.

Methods

The Methods section should provide sufficient information to allow readers to understand and, where appropriate, reproduce the research.

Depending on the research design, authors should describe:

  • research design and approach;

  • research setting and participants;

  • population and/or sample;

  • sampling procedures;

  • instruments or research materials;

  • data collection procedures;

  • data analysis techniques;

  • validity, reliability, or trustworthiness procedures; and

  • ethical considerations, where applicable.

For qualitative studies, authors should clearly explain the analytical procedures and strategies used to establish the credibility of the findings.

Results

The Results section should present the findings clearly and systematically.

Results should be directly related to the research questions or objectives. Tables, figures, and statistical analyses should be used appropriately to support the presentation of findings.

Authors should avoid repeating all information from tables or figures in the main text.

Discussion

The Discussion should interpret the findings rather than simply restating them.

Authors should:

  • explain the meaning and significance of the findings;

  • relate findings to previous studies and relevant theories;

  • identify similarities and differences with previous research;

  • discuss possible explanations for the findings; and

  • explain the theoretical and/or practical implications of the study.

Conclusion

The conclusion should directly answer the research objectives or research questions.

It should summarize the principal contribution of the study without simply repeating the Results section. Where appropriate, authors may include implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research.

References

All sources cited in the manuscript must appear in the reference list, and all references listed must be cited in the manuscript.

Authors are strongly encouraged to use recent and relevant scholarly sources, particularly articles published in reputable peer-reviewed journals.

References should be managed consistently using a recognized reference-management tool such as Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote.

6. Manuscript Length

The recommended length for a research article is approximately 5,000–8,000 words, excluding the reference list.

Authors should prioritize the quality, clarity, and completeness of the manuscript rather than increasing the length unnecessarily.

The editorial team may consider manuscripts outside this range when the content and scholarly contribution justify the length.

7. Formatting Requirements

Authors should prepare manuscripts according to the journal's official manuscript template.

In general:

  • use a consistent academic font and formatting style;

  • use appropriate headings and subheadings;

  • number tables and figures consecutively;

  • provide descriptive titles or captions for tables and figures;

  • ensure that all tables and figures are referred to in the text;

  • use standard mathematical notation where applicable; and

  • ensure consistency between in-text citations and the reference list.

Authors are strongly encouraged to download and use the official Caruban Manuscript Template before preparing their submission.

8. Tables and Figures

Tables and figures should be clear, relevant, and necessary for understanding the research.

Each table should have:

  • a consecutive table number;

  • a concise and informative title; and

  • appropriate notes or source information where necessary.

Each figure should have:

  • a consecutive figure number;

  • a descriptive caption; and

  • sufficient resolution for publication.

Authors must ensure that figures, photographs, diagrams, and other visual materials are either original, appropriately cited, or used with the necessary permission.

9. Citations and References

Caruban recommends the use of a consistent scholarly citation style throughout the manuscript.

Authors should prioritize:

  • peer-reviewed journal articles;

  • recent scholarly publications;

  • authoritative academic books;

  • relevant international literature; and

  • primary research sources.

Authors should avoid excessive reliance on:

  • non-scholarly websites;

  • anonymous sources;

  • commercial websites;

  • predatory journals; and

  • outdated literature when more recent and relevant research is available.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all references are accurate and traceable.

10. Research Ethics

Research involving human participants, children, personal data, or other ethically sensitive materials must comply with applicable ethical standards.

Where applicable, authors should provide information regarding:

  • ethical approval;

  • informed consent;

  • parental or guardian consent for research involving children;

  • participant confidentiality; and

  • procedures for protecting participant rights and welfare.

Any identifying information that could compromise participant privacy should be removed or appropriately anonymized.

11. Data Availability and Transparency

Authors are encouraged to provide sufficient information about their data, research instruments, analytical procedures, and other supporting materials to enhance research transparency and reproducibility.

Where appropriate and ethically permissible, authors may provide access to research data or supplementary materials through a suitable trusted repository.

Restrictions on data availability should be clearly explained when confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property, or ethical considerations apply.

12. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Authors may use artificial intelligence tools for appropriate purposes such as language editing, grammar checking, translation support, or other limited aspects of manuscript preparation.

AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and scholarly content of their manuscripts.

If AI tools have made a substantial contribution to manuscript preparation or other research-related activities, authors should disclose such use in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policy.

13. Plagiarism and Similarity Checking

All submitted manuscripts may be screened for plagiarism or inappropriate textual similarity.

Authors should ensure that all ideas, statements, data, figures, and other materials derived from previous work are properly acknowledged.

A manuscript containing substantial plagiarism, fabricated data, falsified information, or other serious ethical violations may be rejected.

14. Authorship

Authorship should accurately reflect substantial contributions to the research and manuscript.

All authors should:

  • have made a meaningful contribution to the work;

  • participate in drafting or critically revising the manuscript;

  • approve the final version;

  • agree to be accountable for the work; and

  • approve the submission to Caruban.

Individuals who do not meet authorship criteria should not be listed as authors.

15. Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, professional, or personal relationships that could influence or be perceived to influence the research or its interpretation.

If no conflict of interest exists, authors should provide an appropriate declaration in the manuscript.

16. Acknowledgments

Individuals, institutions, funding agencies, or other parties that contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship may be acknowledged.

Any research funding or institutional support should be transparently disclosed.

17. Funding Statement

Authors should disclose all sources of financial support for the research.

The funding statement should identify:

  • the funding organization;

  • grant or project number, where applicable; and

  • the role of the funder in the research, if any.

If the research received no specific funding, authors may state:

“This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.”

18. Submission Checklist

Before submitting a manuscript, authors should ensure that:

  • The manuscript fits the focus and scope of Caruban.

  • The manuscript is original and is not under consideration elsewhere.

  • The manuscript follows the official journal template.

  • The title accurately reflects the study.

  • The abstract meets the journal requirements.

  • Keywords are provided.

  • The research objectives or questions are clearly stated.

  • The research methodology is sufficiently described.

  • Results and discussion are clearly presented.

  • Tables and figures are properly numbered and cited.

  • All sources cited in the manuscript appear in the reference list.

  • All references in the reference list are cited in the manuscript.

  • Ethical requirements have been addressed where applicable.

  • Authorship has been agreed upon by all authors.

  • Conflicts of interest have been disclosed.

  • Funding information has been provided.

  • The manuscript has been checked for plagiarism and language quality.

  • Any relevant use of artificial intelligence has been disclosed.

19. Submission Process

All manuscripts must be submitted electronically through the journal's online submission system.

Authors should register or log in to the journal's Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform and follow the submission steps provided.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all submission information is accurate and complete.

Manuscripts that do not comply with the journal's basic submission requirements may be returned to the authors before entering the peer-review process.

20. Editorial and Peer-Review Process

Submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial screening to assess their relevance, originality, completeness, and compliance with the journal's requirements.

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent for double-blind peer review, generally involving at least two independent reviewers.

The review process normally takes approximately 4–12 weeks, while an editorial decision is provided within a maximum of 12 weeks from the date the manuscript is received by the journal, subject to the completeness of the manuscript and the responsiveness of the authors and reviewers.

Editorial decisions may include:

  • Accept;

  • Minor Revision;

  • Major Revision; or

  • Reject.

Authors are expected to respond carefully and systematically to reviewer and editor comments when revisions are requested.

21. Publication Ethics

By submitting a manuscript to Caruban, authors agree to comply with the journal's publication ethics policy.

Authors are expected to uphold principles of originality, honesty, transparency, accountability, appropriate authorship, responsible research conduct, and respect for intellectual property.

For detailed information, please refer to the journal's Publication Ethics policy and the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

22. Final Note to Authors

Authors are encouraged to carefully read the Focus and Scope, Publication Ethics, Peer Review Process, Manuscript Template, and Submission Checklist before submitting a manuscript.

A complete and carefully prepared submission helps facilitate an efficient editorial and peer-review process and improves the quality and transparency of scholarly communication.