Creative: The Research Journal of Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology welcomes original, scholarly, and intellectually rigorous manuscripts from academics, researchers, professionals, and emerging scholars.
Authors are requested to read these guidelines carefully before submitting a manuscript. Submission of a manuscript indicates that the authors have read and agreed to comply with the journal’s editorial, ethical, and publication requirements.
1. Scope of the Journal
Creative is a multidisciplinary research journal that encourages scholarly contributions across a broad range of academic and professional disciplines, including but not limited to:
- Business, Management and Economics
- Social Sciences and Humanities
- Law and Legal Studies
- English, Language and Literature
- Education
- Computer Science, Information and Communication Technology
- Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
- Architecture and the Built Environment
- Environmental and Sustainability Studies
- Fine Arts, Design and Creative Studies
- Culture, Heritage and Aesthetics
- Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research
Manuscripts should make a clear scholarly contribution and demonstrate relevance to the journal’s aims and objectives.
2. Types of Manuscripts
The journal welcomes the following categories of scholarly work:
Original Research Article - Empirical or analytical research presenting original findings.
Review Article - Critical and systematic synthesis of existing scholarly literature.
Conceptual or Theoretical Article - Development, extension, integration, or critical examination of concepts, theories, or frameworks.
Case Study/Case-based Research - Scholarly investigation of a particular case, institution, community, phenomenon, or context.
Critical or Scholarly Analysis - Rigorous analytical contributions relevant to the journal’s disciplinary and interdisciplinary scope.
Other forms of scholarly contribution may be considered where they are consistent with the journal’s objectives.
3. Language
Manuscripts may be submitted in English or Bangla, subject to the scope and editorial requirements of the journal.
The language should be academically appropriate, clear, grammatically accurate, and consistent throughout the manuscript.
Authors submitting manuscripts in English should consistently use either British or American English and should avoid mixing the two conventions.
4. Recommended Manuscript Length
The following word ranges are recommended:
| Manuscript Type | Recommended Length |
|---|---|
| Original Research Article | 4,000–7,000 words |
| Review Article | 5,000–7,000 words |
| Conceptual/Theoretical Article | 4,000–7,000 words |
| Case Study/Case-based Research | 3,000–6,000 words |
| Critical/Scholarly Analysis | 3,000–7,000 words |
The word count normally includes the main text but may exclude the abstract, references, tables, figures, and supplementary materials.
These limits may be relaxed where the nature of the research reasonably requires additional length and the Editor considers it appropriate.
5. Manuscript Format
Manuscripts should preferably be submitted in an editable Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format.
For a consistent submission format, authors are recommended to use:
Page size: A4
Font: Times New Roman
Main text: 12 point
Line spacing: 1.5
Alignment: Justified
Margins: Approximately 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
Page numbering: Continuous
Authors should use a clear hierarchy of headings and subheadings and avoid unnecessary formatting.
6. Title Page
The title page should contain:
- Full title of the manuscript
- Full name of each author
- Institutional affiliation of each author
- Department/Faculty, where applicable
- City and country
- Email address
- ORCID iD, where available
- Clear identification of the corresponding author
The title should be concise, informative, and accurately reflect the content of the manuscript.
7. Abstract
Each research manuscript should include a concise and informative abstract, preferably 150–250 words.
For empirical research, the abstract should normally communicate:
Background/Purpose → Methodology → Principal Findings → Conclusion/Implications
The abstract should be understandable independently of the main text and should normally avoid citations unless absolutely necessary.
8. Keywords
Authors should provide approximately 4-6 keywords immediately following the abstract.
Keywords should accurately represent the principal concepts, methods, contexts, or subject areas of the manuscript and should facilitate indexing and discoverability.
9. Structure of an Original Research Article
Although disciplinary differences are recognized, an empirical research article will normally contain:
Title
Abstract
Keywords
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review and/or Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
3. Methodology
4. Results/Findings
5. Discussion
6. Conclusion and Implications
Acknowledgements, where applicable
Funding Statement
Conflict of Interest Declaration
Ethical Approval/Informed Consent, where applicable
Data Availability Statement, where applicable
Author Contributions, where applicable
References
Authors may adapt this structure where disciplinary conventions or the nature of the research require a different organization.
10. Introduction
The Introduction should clearly establish the background and context of the study and, where appropriate, identify:
- The research problem
- Research gap
- Rationale and significance
- Research objectives
- Research questions and/or hypotheses
- Contribution of the study
Authors should avoid unnecessarily extensive background discussion that does not directly support the research problem.
11. Literature Review and Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
The literature review should critically engage with relevant and sufficiently current scholarly literature rather than merely summarize previous studies.
Where applicable, authors should identify an appropriate theoretical or conceptual foundation and explain how it informs the research questions, variables, propositions, analysis, or interpretation.
12. Methodology
The methodology should provide sufficient information to understand and, where appropriate, replicate or evaluate the research.
Depending on the nature of the study, this may include:
- Research design
- Study setting/context
- Population and sample
- Sampling procedure
- Sample-size determination
- Data sources
- Data-collection instruments
- Variables or measures
- Reliability and validity
- Analytical methods
- Statistical techniques/software
- Ethical considerations
For qualitative, mixed-methods, computational, legal, humanities, design-based, or other forms of research, authors should report methodological procedures appropriate to their disciplines.
13. Results and Discussion
Results should be presented accurately, logically, and without unnecessary duplication between text, tables, and figures.
The Discussion should interpret the findings rather than simply repeat them. Authors should relate their results to relevant previous research, theoretical expectations, and the wider scholarly context.
Where appropriate, authors should explain the study’s theoretical, methodological, practical, managerial, social, legal, cultural, technological, or policy implications.
14. Conclusion
The conclusion should synthesize the principal findings and contribution of the research.
Where appropriate, it should also address:
- Implications of the findings
- Limitations of the study
- Recommendations
- Directions for future research
Claims should remain proportionate to the evidence generated by the study.
15. Tables and Figures
All tables and figures should:
- Be numbered consecutively;
- Have clear and informative titles or captions;
- Be referred to in the main text;
- Include the source where necessary;
- Be readable and of sufficient quality for publication.
Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted tables, figures, photographs, illustrations, or other third-party materials.
16. Referencing and Citation Style
For consistency across the journal’s multidisciplinary content, APA Style, 7th Edition is recommended as the principal referencing system.
In-text citations and the reference list should correspond accurately. Authors should verify names, publication years, titles, journal information, volume/issue numbers, page ranges, URLs, and DOIs before submission.
Where a DOI is available, authors are strongly encouraged to include it in the reference.
For disciplines in which another recognized citation system is academically necessary—particularly certain areas of legal scholarship-the Editor may permit an appropriate disciplinary referencing convention, provided it is applied consistently.
17. Research Ethics
Authors must conduct and report research in accordance with accepted ethical principles.
For research involving human participants, personal or sensitive data, or other matters requiring ethical oversight, authors should provide details of appropriate ethical approval and informed consent where applicable.
Authors should not fabricate, falsify, manipulate, or selectively misrepresent data, evidence, images, citations, or research findings.
18. Authorship
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions to the work.
All listed authors should:
- Have contributed meaningfully to the research and/or manuscript;
- Approve the submitted version;
- Agree to be accountable for their contribution; and
- Consent to submission and publication.
Individuals who contributed to the work but do not qualify for authorship may be acknowledged appropriately.
19. Originality and Plagiarism
Submitted manuscripts must represent original scholarly work.
Authors must appropriately cite and acknowledge ideas, words, data, images, and other materials originating from other sources.
Plagiarism, duplicate publication, inappropriate text reuse, fabricated citations, data fabrication or falsification, and other forms of research misconduct are unacceptable.
The journal may use appropriate similarity-checking or other research-integrity tools as part of its editorial assessment.
20. Simultaneous and Duplicate Submission
A manuscript submitted to Creative should not be simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
Authors should disclose any closely related manuscript that has been published, submitted, or is under consideration elsewhere where such information may be relevant to the editorial assessment.
21. Conflict of Interest
Authors should disclose any financial, professional, institutional, personal, or other interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research or its interpretation.
Where no relevant conflict exists, authors may state:
“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”
22. Funding
All financial or material support for the research should be disclosed.
Where no external funding was received, authors may state:
“This research received no external funding.”
23. Data Availability
Where appropriate, authors should state whether and how the data underlying the research can be accessed.
Restrictions arising from confidentiality, privacy, ethical approval, legal requirements, or agreements with participants should be clearly indicated where relevant.
24. Use of Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Technologies
Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, citations, analysis, and conclusions of their manuscripts.
Generative AI and AI-assisted tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors, as such systems cannot assume responsibility or accountability for scholarly work.
Where generative AI has been used substantively in manuscript preparation, data analysis, coding, image generation, translation, or other research-related activities, authors should disclose such use transparently in accordance with the journal’s applicable AI policy.
Routine tools used solely for spelling, grammar, or basic language correction may be treated according to the journal’s specific AI disclosure policy.
Authors must verify AI-generated material carefully and remain responsible for any errors, fabricated references, inappropriate attribution, confidentiality breaches, or other problems arising from its use.
25. Copyright and Third-Party Material
Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscript does not unlawfully infringe the copyright or other rights of third parties.
Where copyrighted material is reproduced, adapted, or substantially derived from another source, authors should obtain the necessary permission where required and provide appropriate acknowledgement.
Specific copyright, licensing, and reuse terms should be governed by the journal’s Copyright and Licensing Policy.
26. Peer Review and Editorial Decision
Submission does not guarantee publication.
Manuscripts that satisfy the initial editorial requirements proceed according to the journal’s Editorial Process and applicable Peer Review Policy.
Editorial decisions are based on factors including originality, scholarly quality, methodological or analytical soundness, relevance, contribution to knowledge, ethical compliance, reviewers’ assessments, and suitability for the journal.
Possible decisions may include:
Accept; Minor Revision; Major Revision; Resubmit for Review; Reject
27. Revised Manuscripts
When revision is requested, authors should submit:
- A revised manuscript; and
- A point-by-point response to the Editor’s and reviewers’ comments.
Authors should clearly explain how each comment has been addressed. Where a recommendation has not been followed, a reasoned scholarly explanation should be provided.
28. Proofs
Following acceptance and production editing, the corresponding author may receive a proof for final checking.
Authors should carefully verify author names, affiliations, text, tables, figures, citations, and references.
Substantial changes to the scholarly content should normally not be introduced at the proof stage unless required to correct a significant error.
29. Corrections and Post-Publication Issues
Authors should promptly inform the journal if they identify a significant error in a submitted or published article.
Where appropriate, the journal may issue a correction, clarification, expression of concern, retraction, or other suitable post-publication notice in accordance with its publication ethics policies.
30. Manuscript Submission
Authors should submit manuscripts through the journal’s designated online submission facility when available.
For editorial and submission-related queries, authors may contact:
Editorial Office
Creative: The Research Journal of Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology
Plot 6, Avenue 6, Sector 17/H-1
Uttara Residential Model Town
Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh
Email: [email protected]
This contact information appears in the journal information supplied for the current publication.
Submission Checklist
Before submission, authors should confirm that:
☐ The manuscript is original and is not under consideration elsewhere.
☐ All authors have approved the manuscript and its submission.
☐ Author names, affiliations and contact information are accurate.
☐ ORCID iDs have been provided where available.
☐ The manuscript follows the journal’s formatting requirements.
☐ An abstract and appropriate keywords are included.
☐ Research objectives/questions are clearly stated where applicable.
☐ Tables and figures are correctly numbered and cited.
☐ All in-text citations correspond with the reference list.
☐ Available DOIs have been checked and included.
☐ Ethical approval and informed consent information is included where applicable.
☐ Funding and conflicts of interest have been disclosed.
☐ Permissions for third-party materials have been obtained where required.
☐ AI-assisted use has been disclosed where required.
☐ The manuscript has been carefully proofread before submission.