The term manuscript in the context of these guidelines refers to the article, chapter, or book reporting on a love study that researchers conducted. It is applicable to the writing in any academic discipline or practice dealing with love and relationships.
The Structure of a Manuscript and Its Content
The typical structure of a manuscript reporting a love study includes the following sections:
Appendices (optional)
The Main Sections of Body Text
Title
It is a concise and informative descriptive name of the manuscript that accurately summarizes the essence of the study and its focus. A title should be short, preferably in one line, and typically no more than 12 words. Authors can use colons for additional specifications in titles, separating a main title from a subtitle. Generally, authors sparingly use parentheses for clarifications.
The title must be typed in a bold font and centered on the page. Authors must capitalize the title appropriately. Major words, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and all words of four letters or more, are capitalized. Most minor words, such as short conjunctions (three letters or fewer), short prepositions, and all articles, are lowercase.
The title should effectively convey the main idea and include specific terms and phrases that highlight the core content. The title should make a good first impression by being catchy and precise. It should grab the reader’s attention, entice their interest, and make them want to learn more and read the manuscript further.
It is recommended to avoid abbreviations, professional jargon, and overly complex language that could confuse readers. It should engage the reader without sacrificing clarity. To make the title less redundant in wording, it is recommended to omit phrases like “A Study of” or “An Analysis of” unless they are really necessary.
A well-written title explicitly, clearly, and accurately conveys the manuscript’s subject matter, allowing readers to quickly understand what the study is about. It includes the keywords that are relevant to the content of the manuscript, making it easier for readers to identify the suitability of the study for their scholarly pursuits.
Abstract
The abstract is a concise summary of the study. It is a condensed version of the entire manuscript. This summary includes the purpose (or aims or goals), methods, key findings, and conclusions (usually under 250 words).
We encourage you to use plain scholarly language that researchers from different disciplines can understand. Please avoid using specific disciplinary lexicon and abbreviations that may be unclear for scholars not versed in your area of study. Please explicitly define the key terms and concepts in the submitted proposal. You may include parenthetical in-text citations (like author’s name and year), if they are suitable, but no full descriptions of references.
Keywords
In scholarly writing, authors include keywords as specific terms or phrases that represent the main concepts and themes presented in a publication. Keywords facilitate the categorization and indexing of publications in academic databases. They help search engines and readers quickly identify the content of the publication and assess its relevance to their interests. Therefore, authors should pay attention to accurately describing the focus of the publication in the keywords.
To select the right keywords, you should identify the main concepts of your topic, brainstorm synonyms, and spell out abbreviations. You can look at some publications on the themes of your study and see how they write their keywords.
How should you write keywords in a manuscript? According to APA style, the phrase Keywords is to be in italics with a colon, followed by the keywords or phrases separated by commas. Do not use punctuation after the last keyword
The Main Text of a Manuscript
The main text of a manuscript is organized into such parts as Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. This sequence aims to present a logical structure of the text, reflecting the way researchers report on their study. See more details in the following sections.
References
The References section is a list of all the sources used in the manuscript, including books, articles, websites, and other materials. Some writing styles refer to this section as “bibliography” or “works cited.” It is located at the end of the manuscript and provides readers with the information needed to locate and access the works you cite in the text. See more details in the following sections.
Appendices (optional)
See more details in the following sections.
The Main Sections of Body Text
The main text of the manuscript includes the following sections, ensuring a clear and logical flow of information and text from one section to another: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions, as headings.
The Headings and Subheadings in Manuscript
The text of a manuscript is structured around headings and subheadings of different levels.
Level 1: Headings, often formatted as H1 in word processors, designated for Chapter Titles. These headings are centered, bold, title case.
Level 2: Subheadings, often formatted as H2 in word processors, are the main sections of the chapter, such as “Introduction,” “Methods,” “Results,” “Discussion”, “Conclusions”). These subheadings are flush left, bold, title case
Level 3: Sub-subheadings, often formatted as H3 in word processors, are meaningful subdivisions of the subheadings, “Introduction,” “Methods,” “Results,” “Discussion, Conclusions.” These sub-subheadings are flush left, bold, italicized, and written in title case. All headings and subheadings are typed in bold font, written in title case, capitalizing the first word and all major words (see detailed explanations above about the title of a chapter).
The generous use of these headings and subheadings serve several purposes,
- Presenting the reader an overview of the forthcoming content.
- Structuring the reader’s attention.
- Breaking up the structure of text for easier reading.
- Making the text and sections scannable.
Allowing the reader to locate a specific section with ease.
Do not put numbers or letter labels in front of headings and subheadings.
Double-space the text throughout the manuscript, including headings and subheadings.
Use the same font style for body text with properties: Normal, Paragraph, and with formatting: Times New Roman, 12 font size as a widely used font style in academic manuscripts, known for its classic appearance and readability.
Use the headings of corresponding levels (see above) for their consistency.
Do not add extra lines above or below headings.
Use throughout the text of a manuscript at least two headings and subheadings of particular level.
Introduction
An introductory part of a manuscript presents the research background of the study, describing the scholarly context and outlining existing research-based knowledge of the study topic of a love study. This introductory part provides a foundation to understand the study’s rationale and importance and sets the stage for adequate understanding of the research report presented in the manuscript.
This section presents a literature review summarizing the existing scholarly knowledge on the topic. It highlights the lack of certain knowledge about concepts and their relations or explains the scholarly problems, existing gaps, and inconsistencies in evidence or their interpretations.
The final part of the Introduction explicitly and clearly outlines the purpose, aims, goals, research questions, predictions, or hypotheses of the study and declares the primary reasons for conducting the study. It clearly states the research question or problem being addressed in the study. It outlines the general direction of the research and what it intended to achieve. It also explains how the current research was going to contribute to existing knowledge of love.
Methods
This section implies research methods as the specific ways of conducting research. Writing about methods, researchers explain a set of postulates, rules, and methods they use in their study of love.
For instance:
In literary research, “methodology” refers to the theoretical and practical framework scholars use to analyze literary texts, including the specific approaches, tools, and critical lenses which they use to answer research questions and build arguments about love, often drawing from various literary theories.
In linguistics, methodology refers to the process of identifying and analyzing information about language associated with love phenomena using a variety of techniques and procedures.
In philosophy, methodology refers to procedures for conducting research, creating new theories, and selecting between competing theories of love. Philosophical methodology also compares and evaluates them.
In biology, psychology, communication studies, methodology refers to the systematic approach and strategies researchers use to study love, including the specific procedures and techniques employed to collect, analyze, and interpret data.
In the section Methods, authors
- Report the way the data were collected (e.g., observations, interviews, experiments) and the way the samples of literary pieces, historical records, corpus linguistics were selected, etc.
- Define characteristics of the units and samples collected in a study: participants, informants, and situations that researchers observed and recorded, or literary pieces, texts, corpora, the samples of historical records, etc.
- Specify the tools, instruments, materials, and resources researchers used in the study (the terms can be discipline-specific).
- Describe the procedures and step-by-step of how the study was conducted.
- Explain how the data were analyzed and interpreted.
Results
This section provides in appropriate detail the main results that researchers have obtained to fulfill the purpose, to achieve the aims or goals, to answer the research questions, to verify predictions, or to support hypotheses of the study.
Authors present data and findings in an organized, clear, and visible manner. They use tables, figures, graphs, and any other visual representations of results, whatever is appropriate in their academic disciplines. The authors report the results of the statistical analysis and any statistical tests they conducted, if suitable.
Authors of a manuscript highlight the main results, presenting them in a logical sequence. They briefly interpret the key findings, however, avoiding over-interpretation.
Discussion
This section is intended to interpret results. Authors discuss the new knowledge that the study’s results and findings brought to better understanding the concepts under study. They also discuss the implications of the findings in relation to the objectives of the study, research questions, prior expectations, hypotheses, and existing literature.
Authors also discuss and acknowledge any limitations of the study and its results and suggest directions for future research.
Conclusions
The conclusion can be a separate section of the manuscript or under a subheading of the Discussion section, whatever is more suitable. Here, authors briefly summarize the key findings and the significance of results within the broader context of love research for the comprehensive understanding of the topic under study. In other words, the conclusion presents the key takeaways derived from the study and discusses its theoretical and practical implications.
References
This section presents a comprehensive list of all sources cited in the manuscript. Authors do not include in the References section the sources that they do not cite in the text. The formatting of the Reference section varies in citation styles. The publications of the Institute of Love Studies and Springer Publishing use the APA style of citation and references.
In APA style, authors format references using the author-date system, with (1) in-text citations including the author’s last name and year of publication (see details of In-Text Citations here), and (2) a full reference list at the end of the paper providing complete details for each source (see details of References Examples here).
The reference list is placed after the main text at the end of the paper.
Reference entries are placed in alphabetical order by the first author’s last name.
Each reference should have a hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented).
See the details on the Reference List Setup of APA style guide.
Each reference includes the following information, in order:
Author’s Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year). Title of Work. Source Information: (e.g., journal name, book publisher, URL).
See the Reference Examples here.
Appendices
This section is optional and can provide additional information that supports the main text. Such supplemental materials are not essential or not crucial for understanding the main text of the manuscript, yet they enhance understanding or provide context. They are still important for supporting the arguments, results, or findings.
Examples of materials that might be included in appendices are
- Instructions to participants, questionnaires, test materials, such as lists of stimulus materials, schedules of interviews as a structured list of questions,
- Supplementary tables or figures containing detailed statistical data, raw data, and full transcripts of interviews that might be distracting for readers in the main text,
- Additional results or analyses that don’t directly relate to the main research questions.
- Other ancillary materials.
The Style of Writing
A manuscript should be written in plain scholarly language, accessible to researchers and practitioners across disciplines. We suggest using the following principles in writing the report on a study:
One manuscript on one topic, be focused
The pitch for a study and manuscript
A cohesive and logical structure of the text
Grammatically and stylistically plain scholarly language
One manuscript on one topic, be focused
The title and contents of the manuscript should focus on one topic rather than two or more separate ones. For example, the title “Love, politics, and culture, and…” is not a good one because it is vague, excessively general, and it focuses at least on three topics: “love”, “politics”, and “culture.” And all topics are too broad to cover in one manuscript.
So, please be more specific and focused in what you are writing about.
The manuscript should capture the reader’s interest with a title that is concise (usually no more than 12 words), straightforward, and easily comprehensible due to its basic grammatical and stylistic structure. This title could also pique the readers’ interest by posing intriguing questions. See more about writing the title in previous sections.
The pitch for a study and manuscript
The title, abstract, and the beginning of the introductory section should include wording like a pitch. The pitch for a manuscript is a concise, persuasive summary of the study designed to convey the main idea, why it matters, and highlight the key benefits and importance of your study.
The pitch can be spread across the title, abstract, and the first paragraph of the Introduction, which should start with a strong opening statement. Clearly articulate the problem your study addresses and the potential benefits of your research findings. Write a compelling opening, like a thought-provoking question or a surprising fact.
Be focused and brief in this writing to grab the reader’s attention and interest. Write the key points and catchy ideas of your study and summarize them in a short paragraph of roughly 160 characters to describe what your manuscript is about.
A cohesive and logical structure of the text
Arrange the text of the manuscript in a cohesive and logical structure about the main topic of your article. The sequence of sections, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions, in your manuscript already presents a logical structure of your study. Continue doing the same within each of these sections.
The Introduction is probably the most challenging section to write. You should cover the following main points:
The research background of your study: what is known on your topic. This text describes the stage of your research and informs the readers of what is known about the topic. It is important to compose it in a logical sequence: (1) highlighting the importance of the research topic, (2) describing the research background of the topic, and (3) logically presenting a literature review of existing research on the topic.
The reasons you had for carrying out this study: what was lacking. This reasoning justifies the need or interest in conducting this research, such as investigating a new concept, developing a new method, gaining new facts, or building upon previous research.
The objectives of your study: what you aimed to do. This part briefly states the purpose, aims, goals, or research questions and the expected contributions of your study. Research questions and detailed expectations or hypotheses are also included in this section.
Here you (1) state the purpose of your study, (2) define the key characteristics of your study, (3) summarize important results, (4) emphasize the novelty of the study, and (5) present a brief overview of the structure of the manuscript.
Grammatically and stylistically plain scholarly language
Paragraphs are good ways of structuring the text and guiding readers’ attention. Long paragraphs are difficult to read because they take much of readers’ attention span. Give readers breaks in their reading and thinking. Split text in paragraphs generously yet not excessively.
Long paragraphs are difficult to read and understand. Start a new paragraph when a new piece of information or idea begins.
Prefer to use sentences with a straightforward grammatical and stylistic structure. The lengthy sentences are difficult to read and understand.
Prefer to cut down on some of the excess verbiage and make the opening phrase more direct, if suitable.
Prefer to use simple scholarly words and phrases well accessible for researchers and practitioners across disciplines. This practice of writing ensures the readers understand the information you report as quickly, easily, and completely as possible.
Prefer to avoid professional jargon, excessively specific technical terms, and overly complex (pseudo) academic expressions. Unclear sentences can be confusing and misinterpreted.
Keep your language of writing scholarly adequate, reflecting the traditions and academic lexicon of your field of study or practice without sacrificing the scientific accuracy of your research writing.
Prefer the sentences with active voice over passive voice whenever a subject of a sentence is evident. Passive voice can lead to vague, convoluted sentences that muddy your message. Therefore, some experts recommend using no more than 20% of sentences in passive voice.
Proper citation and quotation
Writing a literature review and describing the research background of a study always involve presenting the work of others in a systematic and well-organized manner and in a logical sequence.
Proper citation acknowledges the source of information, whether it is a direct quote, paraphrase, or summarizing idea. Acknowledging the work of others by proper citation in the text of the manuscript and providing corresponding references in the Reference section is a common practice in scholarly writing. Therefore, you must always cite the sources you use in their manuscript. And it is important to do it in a consistent citation style (in the case of the Institute of Love Studies and Springer Publishing, it is APA style).
Citation can be in the form of a quotation when you use someone else’s exact words, enclosed in quotation marks, or in the form of paraphrasing.
Direct quotations. In some cases, you can use direct quotations, enclosing quotes in quotation marks, and cite the source. In such direct quotations, you reproduce words from other sources or from their own previously published work verbatim.
In cases of direct quotations, you place enclosing quotes in quotation marks and cite the source at the end of the quote in parentheses. According to the APA style, the parenthesis includes the last name of the author, the year of publication, and the page where the quoted text is located (Smith, 2022, p. 356).
You can also introduce the quotation with a signal phrase that includes the author’s last name followed by the date of publication in parentheses. For example,
According to Smith (2008), “Love is an attitude that expresses…” (p. 199).
There are also other ways of incorporating the direct quotation in the text of authors. You can see more about proper quotation in APA style at https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/quotations
It is important to use quotes correctly and in appropriate cases.
You can use direct quotations:
- When you reproduce an exact definition or literal description of something,
- When you reproduce something memorable or succinct that someone said,
- When you want to comment on the exact wording of something that someone said.
We recommend using direct quotations sparingly. Editors and publishers sometimes establish limits on the use of direct quotations.
Some novice writers may use direct quotations excessively, without real need for direct quotes. In such cases, the text may resemble a simple and long sequence of quotes with multiple quotation marks and the sources of citation in parentheses. Such an arrangement of text is not the way experienced writers write.
Paraphrasing citation. A better practice of citation is to paraphrase sources rather than directly quoting them. Paraphrasing allows you to fit material into the context of your manuscript and writing style. It is important to paraphrase adequately and accurately.
When paraphrasing, make sure to rephrase the information, ideas, theories, and opinions of others, restating them in your own words. Put the author’s ideas into your own text. Change both the words and the sentence structure.
You still need to cite the original source in an appropriate way. See more about proper quotation in APA style at https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/quotations
Understanding Plagiarism
Ethical standards of scholarly writing consider cases of plagiarism an unacceptable breach of academic integrity. Practicing proper citations is important to prevent cases of plagiarism.
Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work, whether it’s their words, ideas, or entire pieces of writing, without proper attribution and giving them credit. Plagiarism may take different forms, such as:
Direct plagiarism, when authors copy and paste text from a source without proper citation.
Paraphrasing plagiarism, when authors re-word someone else’s ideas without giving credit.
Self-plagiarism, when authors submit their own previously published work as new work without proper acknowledgement.
The Process of Review and Acceptance of the Submitted Proposals for Publications
Among the general requirements are (a) the manuscript’s length of up to 4000 words, including references and appendices; (b) APA style of writing and references; and (c) following the specific structure of the report.
The submitted proposals are peer-reviewed and selected based on their quality.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact the Institute of Love Studies at [email protected].