Guidelines for authors

Gumilyov Journal of Sociology accepts for consideration scientific materials in the fields of sociology and related social sciences that have not been previously published and are not under consideration by other journals.

Manuscripts are accepted in Kazakh, Russian, and English. Authors bear personal responsibility for the accuracy of the data presented, the originality of the text, the correctness of citations, and compliance with academic integrity and publication ethics.

  1. Documents for Submission

To submit a manuscript, the author must upload 4 separate documents to the system:

  • Article with Author Details — A Word file containing the full names (names and surnames) of the authors, affiliations, ORCID iDs, e-mail addresses, and biographical information.
  • Anonymized Article — A blind (anonymized) Word file for reviewers. This file must not contain author names, affiliations, e-mail addresses, ORCID iDs, acknowledgments, funding information, or any other data that would allow the identification of authorship.
  • Cover Letter — A file prepared according to the established template. The template is available via the following link: [Cover Letter].
  • Proof of Payment — A document confirming payment in accordance with the journal's terms.

Prior to submission, authors must familiarize themselves with the Public Offer Agreement and the information regarding payment details and procedures. An incomplete package of documents may be grounds for returning the material to the author without proceeding to peer review.

  1. Manuscript Length and Formatting

Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word (.doc / .docx) format.

Basic Formatting Requirements:

  • Page size — A4;
  • Margins — 20 mm on all sides;
  • Font — Times New Roman;
  • Font size — 14;
  • Line spacing — 1;
  • Alignment — Justified;
  • Paragraph indent — 1.0 cm.
  • The length of an original research article (excluding the title, author details, abstract, keywords, and bibliography) should be between 3,000 and 7,000 words.
  1. Article Structure

Original research articles must be structured according to the IMRAD format.

A detailed article template is available via the following link: Word Formatting Guide.

  1. Author Details and ORCID

The article with author details must include: full names of the author(s); affiliation(s); city and country; e-mail; ORCID iD for each author; and the corresponding author, marked with an asterisk (*).

An ORCID iD is mandatory for every author. It should be indicated next to the author's name as an active hyperlink.

How to insert the ORCID icon and link:

  1. Download the official ORCID icon or use the one provided in the article template.
  2. Insert the icon next to the author’s name.
  3. Select the ORCID icon.
  4. Press Ctrl + K or select in Word: Insert → Link / Hyperlink.
  5. Insert the link to the author's profile in the format: https://orcid.org/0000-0000-0000-0000
  6. Verify that clicking the icon opens the author’s personal ORCID page. Manuscripts lacking ORCID iDs for all authors will not be accepted for review.
  7. Abstract and Keywords

An abstract must be provided in Kazakh, Russian, and English.

The length should be between 150 and 300 words for each language.

The abstract must not include:

  • Citations to literature;
  • Tables, figures, diagrams, or formulas;
  • Web links or e-mail addresses;
  • Undefined abbreviations;
  • Information unrelated to the article's content;
  • Verbatim repetition of fragments from the main text.

Keywords must be provided in all three languages. A maximum of 7 words or phrases is recommended. Keywords should be separated by commas.

  1. Tables, Figures, and Illustrations

Tables, figures, charts, and diagrams must be placed directly in the text following their first mention.

Each table and figure must have a number, a title, and, if necessary, a footnote indicating the source.

The author is responsible for the correct use of illustrative materials, data, photographs, and other objects protected by copyright.

  1. In-text Citations

In-text citations must comply with the Harvard style of referencing. Examples:

  • Paraphrasing: (Akhmetzhanova, 2016);
  • Direct quotation: (Akhmetzhanova, 2016, p. 15);
  • If the author is mentioned in the text: As Akhmetzhanova (2016) notes, ...;
  • Multiple authors: (Tsinidou, Gerogiannis & Fitsilis, 2010).

All sources cited in the text must be included in the bibliography. All sources listed in the bibliography must have corresponding in-text citations.

  1. Bibliography

The bibliography must be formatted according to the Harvard style of referencing.

Key requirements:

  • Sources are arranged in alphabetical order;
  • Bibliographic descriptions must be complete and accurate;
  • DOI must be indicated if available;
  • For online sources, include the link and the date of access;
  • Formatting of in-text citations and the bibliography must be consistent.
  1. Transliteration of Sources

If the bibliography contains sources in Cyrillic, a "References" section must be provided after the main bibliography.

In the "References" section, Cyrillic sources must be romanized. After the transliterated source, indicate the language of the original: [in Russian], [in Kazakh].

It is recommended to use Translit.ru for Russian-language sources and Qazlatyn.kz for Kazakh-language sources. After automatic transliteration, the author must verify the accuracy of names, titles, terms, geographical names, DOIs, and URLs.

The order of sources in the "References" section must correspond to the main bibliography. In-text citations, the bibliography, and the "References" section must be formatted consistently.

  1. Author Contributions, Funding, and Conflicts of Interest

The article must specify the contribution of each author to the research and the manuscript preparation.

Contributions may include conceptualization, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results, writing the text, editing, and final approval.

If the research was financially supported, indicate the funding source, project name, and number. If there was no funding, the author may state: "This research received no external funding."

Authors are also required to declare any conflicts of interest. If there are none, it is recommended to use the statement: "The authors declare no conflicts of interest."

  1. Ethical Requirements

If the research involved human participants (including interviews, focus groups, surveys, observations, or the processing of personal data), authors must state how ethical requirements were met. The article must reflect:

  • Obtainment of informed consent from participants;
  • Ensuring anonymity and confidentiality;
  • Adherence to ethical standards during data collection, storage, and analysis;
  • Information regarding ethics committee approval, if applicable.
  1. Originality Check

Before submission, authors must ensure the text meets academic integrity standards. Materials with an originality score of at least 75% are accepted for consideration.

The detailed procedure for originality verification, as well as the grounds for returning or rejecting a manuscript, are described in the "Procedure for the consideration of articles" section.

Important Information Before Submission

Before uploading materials to the system, the author must ensure that:

  • The article corresponds to the journal’s thematic profile;
  • The manuscript has not been published previously and is not under consideration by another journal;
  • Two files have been prepared: one with author details and one anonymized;
  • A cover letter has been uploaded;
  • Proof of payment has been uploaded;
  • The author has read the Public Offer Agreement;
  • The article is formatted according to the journal’s template;
  • ORCID iDs for all authors are provided;
  • The abstract and keywords are provided in three languages;
  • The bibliography is formatted according to the Harvard style;
  • A "References" section has been prepared if Cyrillic sources were used;
  • Tables and figures are numbered and titled;
  • All citations in the text match the entries in the bibliography.

Materials that do not meet the journal’s requirements may be returned to the author for revision without being sent for peer review.