FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FENOMENA: Journal of the Social Sciences

Published by the Centre for Research and Community Service (LP2M), Universitas Islam Negeri Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq Jember, Indonesia.

A. About the Journal

1. What is FENOMENA: Journal of the Social Sciences?

FENOMENA is a peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly journal dedicated to advancing research in the social sciences. The journal emphasizes interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to contemporary social, cultural, educational, political, legal, and economic issues, with particular attention to local wisdom, cultural diversity, and the relationship between local knowledge and global scholarly perspectives.

Reference: About the Journal

2. What are the aims and scope of FENOMENA?

FENOMENA: Journal of the Social Sciences is a reputable peer-reviewed journal in the field of Social Sciences that focuses on the scientific analysis of socio-cultural phenomena in addressing contemporary socio-cultural issues. The journal promotes theoretical and empirical interdisciplinary research that bridges global scholarly perspectives with locally grounded empirical contexts and socio-cultural dynamics across diverse communities worldwide, positioning Indonesia as one of the research contexts.

Its scope includes, but is not limited to, studies on educational development, political dynamics, legal issues, humanities and cultural studies, and economic transformation. Specifically, it covers educational innovation and Islamic education, governance and socio-political processes, law and social justice systems, cultural and religious studies, as well as economic development and Islamic economics.

The journal emphasizes a comprehensive and contextual approach that integrates local knowledge and cultural practices as objects of scholarly inquiry with global academic discourse to produce meaningful contributions to the advancement of social sciences.

Reference: Aims, Focus and Scope

3. Who can submit manuscripts to FENOMENA?

FENOMENA welcomes submissions from researchers, academics, and scholars from Indonesia and other countries. Editorial decisions are based on academic quality, originality, methodological rigor, ethical integrity, and relevance to the journal's scope, regardless of the authors' nationality, religion, gender, ethnicity, or institutional affiliation.

Reference: Publication Ethics

4. How frequently is FENOMENA published?

FENOMENA publishes two issues annually. Authors should consult the journal's current issue, archives, and publication frequency policy for the publication schedule.

References: About the Journal | Publication Frequency

5. Is FENOMENA an open-access journal?

Yes. FENOMENA provides open access to its published articles, allowing readers to access scholarly content without subscription fees. Reuse is governed by the applicable Creative Commons license.

Open access to published articles does not necessarily mean that manuscript publication is free of charge.

References: Open Access Policy | Copyright and License

B. Manuscript Preparation and Submission

6. How can I submit a manuscript?

Manuscripts must be submitted through FENOMENA's online submission system, powered by Open Journal Systems (OJS). Authors must register or log in, complete the required manuscript metadata, upload their files, and follow the submission instructions.

Email may be used for editorial inquiries or technical assistance but is not the standard manuscript submission channel.

Reference: Online Submission

7. What types of manuscripts does FENOMENA accept?

FENOMENA's Author Guidelines identify original field research articles as an accepted manuscript type. Manuscripts should present a clearly defined research problem, appropriate methodology, verifiable findings, critical discussion, and scholarly contributions.

Prospective authors should consult the latest Author Guidelines for the currently accepted article categories.

Reference: Author Guidelines

8. What are the manuscript formatting requirements?

Authors must follow the official manuscript template and Author Guidelines. The available guidelines specify a manuscript length of approximately 4,000–7,000 words for original field research articles and a maximum title length of 15 words.

Authors should verify the latest instructions before submission, including requirements for abstracts, keywords, tables, figures, references, and author information.

Reference: Author Guidelines

9. Which citation and reference style should I use?

FENOMENA's dedicated Author Guidelines specify the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition citation and reference style. Authors are encouraged to use reference management software such as Mendeley or Zotero to maintain accuracy and consistency.

Reference: Author Guidelines

10. Can I submit a manuscript that is being considered by another journal?

No. Manuscripts submitted to FENOMENA must be original and must not be simultaneously under consideration by another journal. Authors must disclose any related publications, overlapping manuscripts, or previous dissemination that could affect the originality assessment.

Reference: Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

11. What should I do after submitting my manuscript?

The corresponding author should regularly check the OJS dashboard and registered email address for editorial notifications, reviewer comments, revision requests, and publication decisions.

Authors are responsible for responding to editorial correspondence and completing requested revisions within the specified deadlines.

Reference: Peer Review Process

12. Can I suggest potential reviewers?

Authors may suggest up to four potential reviewers, as described in the journal's existing FAQ. Reviewer suggestions do not guarantee appointment. The editorial team retains full authority over reviewer selection and must consider expertise, independence, confidentiality, and potential conflicts of interest.

References: Peer Review Process | Publication Ethics

C. Peer Review and Editorial Decisions

13. Does FENOMENA conduct peer review?

Yes. FENOMENA conducts editorial screening followed by scholarly peer review for manuscripts considered suitable for external evaluation. The journal's ethics statement specifies review by at least two qualified reviewers.

Manuscripts may be rejected during the initial editorial screening if they do not meet the journal's scope, quality, ethical, or submission requirements.

References: Peer Review Process | Publication Ethics

14. What criteria are used to evaluate manuscripts?

Manuscripts are evaluated on their relevance to the journal's scope, originality, theoretical contribution, methodological soundness, ethical integrity, clarity of presentation, quality of analysis, and significance of findings.

Reviewers provide recommendations, while the final publication decision rests with the responsible editor.

Reference: Review Guidelines

15. What are the possible editorial decisions?

Editorial decisions may include rejection, revision, resubmission for further review, or acceptance, depending on the manuscript's scholarly merit and the outcome of the review process.

A request for revision does not guarantee acceptance. Revised manuscripts may undergo additional evaluation before a final decision is made.

Reference: Peer Review Process

16. Can authors appeal an editorial decision?

Authors who believe that an editorial decision involved a significant procedural error, factual misunderstanding, or potential conflict of interest may submit a reasoned request for reconsideration to the editorial office.

Such requests should identify the manuscript and provide specific supporting evidence. Appeals should be assessed fairly and, where a conflict exists, by an editor not involved in the contested decision.

Reference: COPE — Complaints and Appeals

D. Publication Ethics and Research Integrity

17. What publication ethics standards does FENOMENA follow?

FENOMENA's publication ethics policy defines the responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. It addresses originality, plagiarism, responsible authorship, confidentiality, objectivity, conflicts of interest, ethical research practices, and the correction of published literature.

The journal refers to the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in developing its publication ethics standards.

References: FENOMENA Publication Ethics | COPE Principles of Transparency

18. Does FENOMENA screen manuscripts for plagiarism?

Yes. FENOMENA uses similarity-detection tools, including iThenticate or Turnitin, as described in its publication ethics policy. The published policy specifies a maximum similarity index of 20%.

However, similarity scores do not independently establish whether plagiarism has occurred. Editors must consider the nature, extent, context, and attribution of matching text when evaluating research integrity.

Reference: Publication Ethics — Screening Plagiarism

19. What are the requirements for authorship?

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions to the research. All listed authors must approve the final manuscript and agree to its submission.

Individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be appropriately acknowledged.

Reference: Publication Ethics — Authorship of the Paper

20. Must authors declare conflicts of interest and funding?

Yes. Authors must disclose financial, personal, professional, or institutional relationships that could reasonably influence their research or its interpretation.

Funding sources and the role of sponsors in the study should also be disclosed. Where there are no competing interests or no external funding, an appropriate declaration should be provided.

Reference: Publication Ethics — Declaration of Competing Interests

21. What ethical requirements apply to research involving human participants?

Research involving human participants should comply with applicable legal, institutional, and research ethics requirements. Authors should provide relevant information regarding ethical approval, informed consent, confidentiality, and the protection of participants' identities.

Where ethical approval is not required under applicable regulations, authors should explain the relevant exemption or justification when requested by the editorial team.

Reference: Publication Ethics — Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects

22. Are authors required to provide research data?

Authors should retain appropriate research records and be prepared to provide supporting data for editorial examination when reasonably requested.

Data sharing must respect confidentiality, participant consent, legal restrictions, and ethical obligations. Sensitive personal information should not be publicly disclosed merely to satisfy a data request.

Reference: Publication Ethics — Data Access and Retention

23. Can generative AI tools be used in manuscript preparation?

The use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies must not undermine originality, accuracy, confidentiality, or research integrity. Authors remain fully responsible for their manuscripts, including the accuracy of information, references, research analysis, and any AI-assisted content.

AI systems should not be identified as authors. Material use of AI-assisted technologies should be transparently disclosed in accordance with the journal's applicable Generative AI Policy.

References: Scopus Content Policy — Generative AI | FENOMENA Publication Ethics

E. Publication Fees, Copyright, and Accessibility

24. Does FENOMENA charge a submission fee or publication fee?

FENOMENA does not charge a manuscript submission fee.

According to the journal's published Publication Fee policy, manuscripts accepted for publication are subject to a publication charge of IDR 750,000 for authors.

The journal also allows authors to request a fee waiver by providing reasonable justification.

Authors should consult the official Publication Fee page for the most current applicable charges and payment instructions.

Reference: Publication Fee

25. Does payment guarantee manuscript acceptance?

No. Manuscript acceptance is determined by editorial assessment and scholarly peer review, not by the payment of publication fees. Any applicable publication charge is handled according to the journal's disclosed fee policy and must not influence the academic assessment of the manuscript.

References: Publication Ethics | Publication Fee

26. Who owns the copyright of published articles?

Authors retain the copyright to their work and grant FENOMENA the right of first publication.

Published articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, subject to the journal's copyright and licensing conditions.

Reference: Copyright and License

27. Can readers download, share, or reuse published articles?

Yes. Readers may access, download, and share articles in accordance with the CC BY-NC 4.0 license. Adaptation and redistribution are permitted for noncommercial purposes, provided that appropriate attribution is given, the license is identified, and changes are indicated where applicable.

References: FENOMENA Copyright and License | Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0

28. Does FENOMENA assign Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)?

FENOMENA assigns DOIs to published scholarly articles according to its DOI registration practices. Its published FAQ identifies the DOI prefix as 10.35719.

A DOI provides a persistent identifier that supports citation, discovery, and linking. A DOI alone does not guarantee long-term digital preservation; preservation depends on appropriate archiving arrangements.

References: About the Journal | Crossref

F. Post-Publication Responsibilities

29. What happens if an error is discovered after publication?

Authors should promptly notify the editorial office if they identify a significant error in a published article. The editorial team will assess whether the issue requires a correction, further investigation, or another appropriate action.

Reference: Article Retraction and Correction Policy

30. Under what circumstances may an article be retracted?

An article may be considered for retraction when serious problems undermine the reliability or integrity of the published work. These may include substantial plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, redundant publication, or significant ethical violations.

Retraction decisions are evaluated through the journal's editorial and ethical procedures, with reference to applicable COPE guidance.

Reference: Article Retraction and Correction Policy

31. How does FENOMENA address allegations of research misconduct?

Concerns regarding plagiarism, data manipulation, inappropriate authorship, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or other forms of research misconduct may be reported to the editorial office.

Allegations should be supported by relevant evidence. The journal's editorial and ethics procedures provide the basis for investigation and appropriate corrective action.

Reference: Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

G. Technical Assistance and Contact

32. How can I check the status of my manuscript?

Authors can log in to their OJS accounts to monitor the editorial status of submitted manuscripts. Corresponding authors should also check their registered email addresses for relevant notifications.

Reference: FENOMENA Online Journal

33. What should I do if I forget my OJS password?

On the journal login page, select the password recovery option and follow the instructions sent to your registered email address.

If you no longer have access to your registered email account, contact the editorial office for assistance.

Reference: FENOMENA Login

34. How can I contact the editorial office?

Authors, reviewers, and readers may contact the FENOMENA editorial office regarding manuscript submissions, publication policies, technical problems, or questions concerning published articles.

Official editorial contact:

Reference: Contact

Editorial Information

FENOMENA: Journal of the Social Sciences is published by the Centre for Research and Community Service (LP2M), Universitas Islam Negeri Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq Jember, Indonesia.

The FAQ provides general guidance. In matters involving manuscript preparation, publication fees, licensing, editorial decisions, and research ethics, authors should consult the corresponding official journal policy pages.

Policy references: