Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines

Modern Public Administration Science Journal (MPAS)

Submission Process

1. Manuscript Preparation

Before submitting a manuscript for publication, authors should carefully review and follow these guidelines:

1.1 Content Appropriateness

  • Manuscripts must be within the journal's scope (directly related to public administration, public policy, or public affairs management only)
  • Manuscripts must be original work that has not been published elsewhere
  • Manuscripts must not be under consideration for publication in any other journal
  • Manuscripts must be of academic quality and practically applicable

1.2 Article Type Selection

The journal accepts 2 types of manuscripts:

  • Research Articles - Articles presenting original research with clear and quality research processes
  • Academic Articles - Articles presenting new concepts, theories, or frameworks with in-depth analysis and synthesis

2. Registration and Submission

2.1 System Registration

  • Access the journal website: https://so17.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jppi/index
  • Click "Register" if not yet registered
  • Complete all required information: Name-Surname, Institution, Email address, Phone number (in both Thai and English)
  • Select role as "Author," "Co-author," or "Corresponding Author"

2.2 Login and Submit Manuscript

  • Login with registered Username and Password
  • Click "New Submission"
  • Follow all 5 steps in the system:
    • Step 1: Start submission
    • Step 2: Upload manuscript file
    • Step 3: Enter manuscript details (title, abstract, keywords)
    • Step 4: Enter information for all authors
    • Step 5: Confirm submission

2.3 Required Upload Documents

  • Complete manuscript file (without author names and institutions) in Microsoft Word format (.docx)
  • Title Page (separate file) including: Article title, all author names, affiliations, contact address, email, phone number

3. Manuscript Format

3.1 General Format

Paper and Margins

  • Paper size: A4 (8.27 x 11.69 inches or 21.0 x 29.7 cm)
  • Margins: Top 1.5 inches, Bottom 1.0 inch, Left 1.0 inch, Right 1.0 inch
  • Layout: Single column

Font and Spacing

  • Thai manuscripts: TH Sarabun New font, 16 pt
  • English manuscripts: Times New Roman font, 12 pt
  • Line spacing: 1.5 lines
  • Text alignment: Justified

Manuscript Length

  • Research Articles: 15-25 pages (including abstract, references, tables, figures)
  • Academic Articles: 12-20 pages (including abstract, references, tables, figures)

3.2 Research Article Structure

Research articles must not exceed 15 pages of A4 paper and include the following main components:

1. Title

  • Thai: TH Sarabun PSK font, 18 pt, bold, centered
  • English: Times New Roman font, 14 pt, bold, centered
  • Should be concise, not exceeding 20 words (Thai) or 15 words (English)
  • Should reflect content and research objectives

2. Author Names and Affiliations

  • Note: Include author names and affiliations in the manuscript file (both Thai and English)
  • Place an asterisk (*) after the name and email of the corresponding author

3. Abstract

  • Thai: 250-300 words
  • English: 200-250 words
  • Should cover: Background and objectives, methodology, results, and conclusions
  • Written as continuous text without subheadings

4. Keywords

  • Thai: 3-5 words
  • English: 3-5 words
  • Select words that reflect the main content of the article
  • Arranged by importance, separated by commas (,)

5. Introduction

  • Background and significance of the problem
  • Research gap

6. Research Objectives

  • Written clearly in numbered points
  • Begin with measurable verbs such as study, analyze, compare, develop
  • Consistent with title and research problem
  • Comprehensive coverage of study focus
  • Must be answerable through the research

7. Literature Review

  • Main theories used as foundation
  • Definitions of variables or important concepts
  • Related frameworks or models
  • Research in Thailand and abroad
  • Important and consistent research findings
  • Summary

8. Conceptual Framework

  • Show relationships between variables (if any)
  • Explain the developed framework
  • Link theory with current research

9. Methodology

  • Research Design
  • Population and Sample
  • Research Instruments
  • Data Collection
  • Data Analysis
  • Research Ethics (e.g., approval from research ethics committee with approval number, permission from organizations/informants)

10. Results/Findings

  • Present data analysis results according to research objectives
  • Use tables, charts, or graphs as appropriate
  • Explain analysis results clearly and systematically
  • Avoid interpretation in this section (save for discussion section)

11. Discussion

  • Discuss important research findings
  • Compare with theories, concepts, and related research
  • Explain findings that differ from or align with previous research
  • Point out theoretical and practical implications

12. Body of Knowledge

  • Clearly identify new knowledge generated from this research
  • May present as models, concepts, or new frameworks
  • Show how it enhances knowledge

Example:

 
 
This research has created new knowledge about governance development in local 
government organizations. The findings show that...

From the research, the researcher has developed the "Participatory Local 
Governance Model" consisting of 5 main components...

[Model diagram]

This model can be applied to develop local government organizations at both 
policy and practice levels, particularly in...

This research also reinforces theory... by expanding understanding of... and 
filling academic gaps in...

13. Recommendations

  • Policy Recommendations
  • Recommendations for practical application
  • Recommendations for future research

14. Acknowledgments (if any)

  • Thank funding sources supporting the research
  • Thank informants and research assistants
  • Should be brief and concise

15. References

  • Formatted according to APA 7th Edition
  • Arranged alphabetically (Thai: ก-ฮ, English: A-Z)
  • Thai references precede English references

3.3 Academic Article Structure

Academic articles are more flexible than research articles but should include:

1. Title (same format as research articles)

2. Abstract (same format as research articles)

3. Keywords (same format as research articles)

4. Introduction

  • Background and significance of the issue
  • Objectives of the article
  • Scope of presentation

5. Main Content

  • Divide into appropriate subsections
  • Present concepts, theories, or frameworks
  • Analyze and synthesize systematically
  • Use current and reliable references

6. Conclusion and Recommendations

  • Summary of key points
  • Theoretical and practical implications
  • Policy or development recommendations

7. References

  • Same format as research articles

4. Citation and Reference Format

References (14pt bold, centered)

(Reference list, 14pt regular font, alphabetically arranged. Number of references must match citations in the article text)

Write references (Reference List) according to APA 7th Edition (American Psychological Association, 7th Edition) format, which is a widely used standard format in research and academic articles.

General Principles for Arranging References in APA 7th Format

1. Arrange alphabetically by author's name

  • Thai: By first consonant of author's name (e.g., ก < ข < ค < ฆ < ง ... to ฮ)
  • English: By first letter of last name (e.g., Anderson < Brown < Carter < Davis ...)

2. Start with Thai references first In Thai APA citation context, it is customary to:

  • Place Thai references before English references
  • Follow with English (or other language) references For organization and consistency with Thai reading order

3. Multiple works by same author

  • Arrange by publication year (oldest → newest)
  • If same year, add a, b, c after year, e.g., (2023a), (2023b)

4. No author name Use title for alphabetical arrangement instead, based on first letter of title

Thai Alphabet Order Use same order as Thai dictionary or Royal Institute: ก ข ฃ ค ฅ ฆ ง จ ฉ ช ซ ฌ ญ ฎ ฏ ฐ ฑ ฒ ณ ด ต ถ ท ธ น บ ป ผ ฝ พ ฟ ภ ม ย ร ล ว ศ ษ ส ห ฬ อ ฮ

English Alphabet Order Use standard 26-letter English alphabet: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Example Citations:

Books:

Thai:

 
 
Author Name. (Year). Book Title. Publisher.

English:

 
 
Author, A. A. (Year). Book title. Publisher.

Journal Articles:

Thai:

 
 
Author Name. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), page range.

English:

 
 
Author, A. A. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, volume(issue), page range. 
https://doi.org/xxxx

Online Sources:

Thai:

 
 
Author Name. (Year). Title. Retrieved from URL

English:

 
 
Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Retrieved from URL

In-text Citations

One author:

  • Parenthetical: (Author, Year)
  • Narrative: Author (Year)

Two authors:

  • Thai: (Author 1 & Author 2, Year)
  • English: (Author 1 & Author 2, Year)

Three or more authors:

  • Thai: (Author et al., Year)
  • English: (Author et al., Year)

Organization as author:

  • First citation: (Full Organization Name [Abbreviation], Year)
  • Subsequent: (Abbreviation, Year)

5. Tables, Charts, and Figures

5.1 Tables

Format:

  • Use open table format (no vertical lines)
  • Table number: Use Arabic numerals (Table 1)
  • Table title: Above table, bold
  • Source: Below table (if applicable)

Example:

 
 
Table 1 Level of Public Satisfaction with Public Services

Item                              Mean        SD
Public health services           4.25        0.68
Education services               4.10        0.72
Public utility services          3.95        0.81

Note: Maximum score 5

5.2 Figures and Charts

Format:

  • Resolution not less than 300 dpi
  • Figure number: Use Arabic numerals (Figure 1)
  • Figure title: Below figure, bold
  • Source: Below title (if applicable)

Example:

 
 
[Figure/Chart]

Figure 1 Research Conceptual Framework
Source: Researcher, 2024

6. Publication Ethics

6.1 For Authors

Originality

  • Manuscript must be original work not previously published
  • Not under consideration for publication elsewhere
  • Do not submit same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously

Plagiarism

  • Forbidden to plagiarize others' work or self-plagiarism
  • Must cite sources when using data, ideas, or others' work
  • Journal will check plagiarism using Turnitin or equivalent (must not exceed 25% similarity)

Authorship

  • Listed authors must have significantly contributed to research or writing
  • Author order must reflect level of contribution
  • Must obtain consent from all co-authors before submission

Conflict of Interest

  • Must disclose conflicts of interest that may affect result interpretation
  • State research funding sources (if any)

Research Ethics

  • Human subject research must be approved by research ethics committee
  • Must state ethics approval number in manuscript (if applicable)

6.2 For Editorial Board

  • Maintain confidentiality of manuscripts and author information
  • Consider manuscripts fairly and without bias
  • Do not disclose manuscript information before publication

6.3 For Reviewers

  • Maintain confidentiality of assigned manuscripts
  • Evaluate manuscripts objectively and fairly
  • Declare conflicts of interest (if any)
  • Provide constructive feedback to improve manuscript quality

7. Review Process

7.1 Review Steps

Step 1: Initial Screening (1 week)

  • Editorial board checks document completeness
  • Checks appropriateness to journal scope
  • Plagiarism check
  • Notify authors of initial screening results

Step 2: Peer Review (4-6 weeks)

  • Send manuscript to 3 reviewers for double-blind review
  • Reviewers evaluate and provide feedback
  • Compile and analyze review results

Step 3: Decision and Revision (1-2 weeks)

  • Notify authors of review results
  • Authors revise according to feedback
  • Submit revised manuscript with response table

Step 4: Verification and Publication (2-3 weeks)

  • Check revised manuscript
  • Format and proofread
  • Pay publication fee
  • Publish article

7.2 Review Outcomes

Manuscripts may receive 5 types of decisions:

1. Accept - High-quality manuscript ready for immediate publication

2. Requested Revision - Minor revisions needed (formatting, typos, citations); no re-review required

3. Major Revision - Significant revisions needed (content, methodology, analysis); re-review required

4. Sent to Other Journal - Manuscript outside journal scope

5. Reject - Quality below standards or ethical issues

8. Fees and Copyright

8.1 Publication Fee

Rate: 3,000 Baht per article

Payment:

  • Pay only after manuscript accepted for publication
  • Bank transfer (contact journal staff for details)
  • Send payment proof to: jppissues@gmail.com

Note:

  • Fee covers: Review, formatting, online publication
  • Non-refundable even if manuscript withdrawn after payment

8.2 Copyright

Copyright Transfer:

  • Authors must sign copyright transfer form
  • Journal has rights to publish article in various formats

Article Use:

  • Authors may use published articles for educational and citation purposes
  • Must cite publication source
  • Republication requires editorial board permission

9. Communication

9.1 Inquiries

Before Submission:

After Submission:

  • Track status through online system
  • Check email regularly (including Spam/Junk)
  • Reply to editorial board emails within 7 days

9.2 Response Time

  • Initial screening notification: Within 7 days
  • Peer review results: Within 8-10 weeks
  • Revised manuscript results: Within 2-3 weeks

10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Must manuscripts be checked for plagiarism before submission? A: Recommended, but journal will check using Turnitin. Similarity must not exceed 25%.

Q2: Can I submit an article from my thesis/dissertation? A: Yes, but must revise to article format and acknowledge in manuscript.

Q3: Can I submit an article presented at a conference? A: Yes, if not published in proceedings or with organizer permission.

Q4: How long from submission to publication? A: Average 2-3 months, depending on manuscript quality and revision speed.

Q5: Can I withdraw after submission? A: Yes, before sending to reviewers. Cannot withdraw after review begins.

Q6: Must authors be journal members? A: No, but must register in system to submit.

Q7: Does the journal accept full English manuscripts? A: Yes, encouraged to increase international dissemination.

Q8: How are conflicting reviewer opinions resolved? A: Editorial board considers all 3 reviewers' opinions and may request additional input or decide by judgment.

11. Downloads

Download required documents from journal website:

✓ Article Template - Thai and English ✓ Submission Checklist ✓ Copyright Transfer Form ✓ APA 7th Edition Guide ✓ Published Article Examples

12. Contact Information

Editorial Office
Doctor of Philosophy Program in Public Administration
Faculty of Management Sciences, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University
680 Moo 11, Nitayo Road, That Choeng Chum Sub-district
Mueang Sakon Nakhon District, Sakon Nakhon Province 47000

Contact Channels:

Modern Public Administration Science Journal
"For Good, Modern, and Sustainable Public Administration"