FAQs

Editorial Procedures & Peer Review

How are manuscripts evaluated by the journal?
All manuscripts are assessed based on intellectual merit, methodological rigour, originality, and contribution to the field.

Are editorial decisions influenced by an author’s nationality, gender, or political beliefs?
No, decisions are made exclusively on scholarly merit, following a strict fair play policy.

What type of peer review does the journal follow?
The journal uses a rigorous double-blind peer review process.

How many reviewers will assess my manuscript?
Typically, two independent experts review each manuscript; a third may be invited in case of conflicting evaluations.

Can reviewers use AI tools to review my manuscript?
No, reviewers are prohibited from uploading or sharing manuscripts with AI platforms.

Are reviewers accountable for their evaluations?
Yes, their feedback is regularly monitored for fairness, objectivity, and compliance with COPE guidelines.

How is editorial independence guaranteed?
Editorial decisions are made independently, without influence from Alanya University or financial considerations.

What if I suspect reviewer bias in my manuscript assessment?
You may submit an appeal with detailed evidence; the Editor-in-Chief will reassess the case.

Can editors submit their own manuscripts to the journal?
Yes, but such manuscripts are handled independently by unaffiliated editors to ensure transparency.

 

Submission, Acceptance & Scope

What types of submissions does the journal accept?
Original research, review articles, case studies, monographic studies, book reviews, and conceptual essays.

How should I prepare my manuscript before submission?
Authors must follow the Manuscript Preparation Guidelines on the journal’s website.

What are the key acceptance criteria?
Quality, originality, methodological rigour, relevance to scope, and contribution to urban studies.

Can I submit the same manuscript to another journal simultaneously?
No, multiple submissions are prohibited and will result in rejection.

What happens if my manuscript is outside the journal’s scope?
It will be desk-rejected with an explanation, though resubmission is allowed if revised.

Can I appeal a desk rejection?
Yes, you may file an appeal within 14 days for reassessment by another section editor.

What are the submission deadlines for scheduled issues?
30 March for the June issue, and 30 September for the December issue.

Can I withdraw my manuscript after submission?
Yes, but only through a formal written request. Withdrawal after review is discouraged.

Are there word count requirements for different submission types?
Yes, monographic studies must be 8,000+ words, while book reviews are shorter critiques.

 

Authorship & Contributor Policies

How is authorship determined?
Authorship requires substantial scholarly contribution, in line with the CRediT taxonomy.

Can we add or remove authors after submission?
Yes, but only with written confirmation from all authors and approval by the editorial office.

Can authorship be changed after acceptance?
Only in exceptional cases, requiring full justification and consent from all authors.

Can authorship be changed after publication?
No, except in proven cases of misconduct (e.g., ghost authorship).

What if authors disagree about order of names?
Such disputes must be resolved internally before submission; the journal does not arbitrate.

How should equal contributions be noted?
Equal contributions should be clearly indicated in the acknowledgements or CRediT section.

Do contributors who are not authors need acknowledgement?
Yes, those who provided technical, writing, or other support must be acknowledged with consent.

What if one author does not approve submission?
The manuscript cannot be submitted until all listed authors give approval.

How does the journal support authors from the Global South?
By prioritising fair peer review, language-editing assistance, and inclusive outreach programmes.

Does the journal promote gender equity in authorship?
Yes, it actively monitors gender balance and encourages submissions from underrepresented groups.

 

Ethical Standards & Misconduct

How does the journal check for plagiarism?
All submissions are screened using iThenticate (CrossCheck).

What is considered plagiarism in this journal?
Any uncredited use of others’ work, self-plagiarism, or duplicate publication.

What happens if plagiarism is detected?
The manuscript is rejected and reported to the author’s institution if necessary.

What is data fabrication or falsification?
Inventing or manipulating data, images, or results to misrepresent findings.

What are the consequences of data manipulation?
Rejection, retraction, reporting to institutions, and possible submission bans.

Does the journal accept retrospective ethics approval?
No, only prospective ethics approval is valid.

Do all studies require ethical approval?
Yes, unless they use fully anonymised public data or are exempt under regulations.

How must ethical approval be reported?
In the methods section, on the first/last page, and under “Institutional Review Board Statement.”

What is the journal’s policy on AI-generated content?
AI cannot be credited as an author; use must be acknowledged in the Acknowledgements.

Are AI-generated images permitted?
No, except in research where AI image generation itself is the subject of study.

 

Publication & Post-Publication Policies

Does the journal charge publication fees?
No, there are no article processing charges or hidden fees.

Will my article be assigned a DOI?
Yes, every accepted article receives a unique CrossRef DOI.

What is the journal’s copyright policy?
Authors retain copyright while granting the journal non-exclusive publishing rights.

Under what licence are articles published?
All articles are published under a CC BY 4.0 licence.

Can I self-archive my published article?
Yes, on personal websites, institutional repositories, and academic platforms.

How does the journal preserve digital content?
Through PKP Preservation Network, Internet Archive, and Keepers Registry.

Can errors be corrected after publication?
Yes, through errata, corrigenda, or retractions depending on severity.

What is a retraction notice?
A formal statement explaining why a published article has been withdrawn.

Can I appeal a retraction decision?
Yes, but only once, and the decision of the Editor-in-Chief is final.

Are published articles discussed post-publication?
Yes, through letters to the editor and external forums like PubPeer.

 

Conflicts of Interest, Funding & Citations

. Do I need to declare conflicts of interest?
Yes, all potential conflicts must be disclosed in a dedicated section.

What should I write if I have no conflicts of interest?
Include the statement: “The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.”

Do reviewers and editors declare conflicts too?
Yes, they must recuse themselves if conflicts exist.

Must I disclose funding sources?
Yes, in a separate “Funding” section before the acknowledgements.

What if I received no funding?
You must state: “This research received no external funding.”

What is the citation policy on self-citations?
Self-citations must not exceed 5% of the reference list unless fully justified.

How many times can I cite a single external author?
No more than twice or 5% of references, whichever is lower.

What happens if citation manipulation is detected?
The manuscript may be rejected or corrected post-publication.

Can I cite preprints or unpublished work?
Yes, if relevant and clearly labelled as preprint or working paper.

Are practitioner co-authored papers encouraged?
Yes, provided they demonstrate genuine collaboration and scholarly rigour.

 

Transparency, Privacy & Complaints

How can I file a complaint about editorial misconduct?
By emailing editor@ijcua.com with full details and supporting evidence.

Can complaints be filed anonymously?
Yes, through secure services like ProtonMail or TorGuard.

How does the journal protect my personal data?
All personal information is confidential and not shared with third parties.

Who funds the journal?
The Rectorate of Alanya University; no external or commercial funding is involved.

Do I need an ORCID ID to submit?
It is strongly recommended to include ORCID for all authors, especially the corresponding author.

When is the next Call for Papers?

Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Authors can submit their papers at any time.

Who holds the copyright of the published papers?

Authors retain the copyright of their published papers.

How much do I have to pay for the Article Processing Charges?

There are no fees for publishing in the Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs.

Where can I find Manuscript Preparation Guidelines?

The "Manuscript Preparation Guidelines" can be found here.

How to submit a paper?

Manuscripts can be submitted electronically via the Make a Submission link.