Submissions

Author Guidelines

Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.

Author Guidelines

Social Prism follows the APA Style (7th edition) for formatting and citations. Submissions that deviate significantly from these guidelines may be returned for revision. 

1. General Submission Requirements

Originality: Manuscripts must be unpublished and not under review elsewhere. 

Interdisciplinary Focus: We prioritize work that bridges social sciences, humanities, or natural sciences. 

Languages: Primarily English (Urdu submissions considered for special issues; contact editors). 

2. Manuscript Structure

Follow this order (APA 7th standards): 

1. Title Page (separate file):

   - Title (concise). 

   - Author names, affiliations. 

   - Corresponding author’s email. 

   - At least 5 keywords. 

3. Main Document (anonymous for peer review):

   - Abstract: 150–250 words, summarizing objectives, methods, and implications. 

   - Main Text: 

     - Introduction (clear arguments/literature gap). 

     - Methods (clearly identify your research methods). 

     - Results/Analysis. 

     - Discussion (broader interdisciplinary relevance). 

     - Conclusion

- References: APA 7th edition (see examples below). 

   - Tables/Figures: Embedded in text (high-resolution, APA-formatted captions). 

4. Formatting

- Font: 12pt Times New Roman, Line space 1.5. 

- Margins: 1-inch (2.54 cm) all sides. 

- Word Limits: 

  - Research articles: 6,000–8,000 words (incl. references). 

  - Reviews/commentaries: 2,000–4,000 words. 

4. Citations & References

- In-text: (Author, Year) for paraphrasing; (Author, Year, p. X) for direct quotes.

- Footnotes & Endnotes are not accepted.

- Reference List: in alphabetical order: 

APA 7th Edition Reference Examples

1. Journal Article

Ahmed, F., & Khan, R. (2023). Digital activism and gender in South Asia. Social Prism, 5(2), 112–130. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxx 

2. Authored Book

Nadeem, S. (2020). Urban informality in Karachi: The politics of space and belonging. Oxford University Press.

3. Chapter in Edited Book

Ali, T. (2021). Climate migration in coastal Pakistan. In K. Abbas & L. Shah (Eds.), Disaster futures in South Asia (pp. 45–67). Routledge. 

4. Newspaper/Magazine Article

Hussain, Z. (2023, April 10). Pakistan’s digital divide and education gaps. Dawn. https://www.dawn.com/xxxx 

5. Website/Webpage

Human Rights Watch. (2022, August 15). Pakistan: Surveillance and threats against journalists. https://www.hrw.org/xxxx 

6. Report (NGO/Govt.)

World Bank. (2021). Urban resilience in Pakistan (Report No. 12345). https://www.worldbank.org/xxxx 

7. Thesis/Dissertation

Akhtar, M. (2022). Gendered labor in Pakistan’s gig economy [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Lahore University of Management Sciences. 

8. Social Media Post

Malik, S. [@sarahmalik]. (2023, March 5). New research on Lahore’s air pollution shows how policy failures exacerbate class inequalities [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/xxxx

5. Ethical & Legal aspects

- Plagiarism: <15% similarity (checked via Turnitin). 

- Permissions: Secure rights for reproduced images/data if any. 

- Disclosures: Conflicts of interest, funding sources. 

6. Submission & Review Process

- Fast-Track Policy: Peer review completed within 4–6 weeks. 

- How to Submit: Upload via Journal Website  [https://www.socialprism.pk] in .docx format. 

- Post-Acceptance: Authors approve final proofs within 48 hours. 

7. Contact

Queries? Email: info@socialprism.pk | Website: [https://www.socialprism.pk]