Authors Guidelines

ETERNAL - English, Teaching, Learning and Research

Researching the Transformation of English Language Education

GENERAL GUIDELINES

1. Manuscripts submitted to ETERNAL must be original, have not been published previously, and must not be under consideration by another journal. Authors should disclose if the manuscript has previously been presented at a conference, seminar, workshop, or other academic event.
2. Manuscripts must be written in English using clear and appropriate academic language. Authors are responsible for the accuracy, clarity, and readability of their manuscript.
3. Manuscripts should be prepared using Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) and the latest ETERNAL manuscript template. Authors should follow the formatting requirements provided in the template.
4. Manuscripts should normally contain 5,000-8,000 words, including references, unless a different length is appropriate for the article type. Authors should avoid unnecessary repetition and excessive background information.
5. ETERNAL uses a double-blind peer-review process. The main manuscript should therefore not contain author names, affiliations, acknowledgements, or other information that identifies the authors. A separate title page should be submitted with the author information.
6. Manuscripts may be rejected before peer review if they are outside the scope of ETERNAL, do not meet basic scholarly standards, are poorly prepared, or do not demonstrate sufficient significance or contribution.
7. Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality and integrity of their work. Plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, fabricated references, and other forms of research misconduct are not acceptable.
8. All authors must approve the final manuscript and agree to its submission to ETERNAL.

MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION

1. Title Page

A separate title page should include:

• Article title
• Full names of all authors
• Institutional affiliations
• Country of each affiliation
• ORCID iDs
• Corresponding author’s name
• Corresponding author’s email address

Academic titles should not be included with author names.

The title page must be submitted separately from the anonymized manuscript.

2. ORCID iD

All authors are encouraged to provide an ORCID iD, and ETERNAL may require ORCID information at submission. ORCID provides a unique and persistent identifier that distinguishes researchers from others with similar names.

Authors without an ORCID iD are encouraged to register for one before submission.

3. Manuscript Formatting

Unless otherwise specified in the current ETERNAL template, manuscripts should use:

• A4 page size
• Cambria, 11-point font
• Single line spacing
• One-column format
• 3 cm top and bottom margins
• 2.5 cm left and right margins

Tables, figures, charts, and other visual materials should be placed appropriately in the manuscript and referred to in the text.

Authors should always follow the latest ETERNAL template when formatting their manuscript.

MANUSCRIPT STRUCTURE

An original research article should normally include:

1. Title
2. Abstract
3. Keywords
4. Introduction
5. Literature Review and/or Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
6. Methodology
7. Results/Findings
8. Discussion
9. Conclusion
10. Implications, Limitations, or Future Directions, where appropriate
11. Acknowledgements
12. Funding Statement
13. Competing Interests
14. Data Availability Statement
15. Ethics Statement, where applicable
16. Author Contributions
17. References
18. Appendices, where applicable

The exact structure may be adapted to suit the nature and methodology of the study.

1. TITLE

The title should be concise, informative, and specific, generally no more than 15-20 words.

The title should clearly communicate the main issue, phenomenon, population, context, or analytical focus of the study.

Authors should avoid titles that are too broad, vague, or merely descriptive.

Weak:
The Use of ChatGPT in English Learning

Better:
ChatGPT-Assisted English Writing among University Students

Stronger:
Negotiating Learner Agency in AI-Mediated English Writing

A strong ETERNAL title should help readers understand what is being investigated and what makes the study significant.

2. ABSTRACT

The abstract should normally contain 200-300 words and should provide a concise and factual summary of the study.

The abstract should normally include:

• the research problem or background;
• the purpose or research questions;
• the methodology;
• the main findings; and
• the principal contribution or implications.

The abstract should report the actual findings of the study rather than simply describing what the researchers intended to investigate.

Authors should avoid citations, lengthy quotations, and unexplained abbreviations in the abstract.

3. KEYWORDS

Authors should provide a maximum of five keywords.

Keywords should be specific and directly related to the main concepts, issues, participants, context, or methods of the study. They are used to facilitate article retrieval and indexing.

Authors should avoid overly general terms and unnecessary abbreviations.

4. INTRODUCTION

The Introduction should establish the importance of the research problem and explain why the study is needed.

A strong Introduction should:

• establish the broader issue;
• introduce relevant previous research;
• identify what is already known;
• identify what remains unclear or under-researched;
• explain why the gap matters;
• present the research purpose and/or questions; and
• explain the study’s contribution.

A geographical gap alone is generally not sufficient. For example, stating that few studies have been conducted in Indonesia does not by itself establish a strong research gap.

Authors should explain what the study contributes to broader understanding of English language education.

5. LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL/CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The literature review should provide a critical synthesis of relevant scholarship rather than simply summarize previous studies.

Authors should identify:

• major findings and developments;
• similarities and differences among studies;
• important debates or contradictions;
• methodological developments;
• theoretical perspectives; and
• unresolved issues that lead to the present study.

Where a theoretical or conceptual framework is used, authors should explain how it informs the research questions, methodology, analysis, or interpretation.

A theory should have an analytical function, rather than being included only as background information.

6. METHODOLOGY

The Methodology section should clearly explain how the study was conducted and why the selected procedures were appropriate.

Depending on the research design, authors should describe:

• research approach and design;
• research setting and context;
• participants or data sources;
• sampling or recruitment procedures;
• instruments, materials, or sources of data;
• data collection procedures;
• data analysis procedures;
• validity and reliability, where applicable;
• trustworthiness or credibility, where applicable;
• ethical procedures; and
• relevant methodological limitations.

Qualitative Studies

Qualitative studies should provide sufficient information about the research approach, context, participants, recruitment, data sources, data collection, researcher positioning where relevant, coding, analysis, interpretation, and strategies for establishing credibility or trustworthiness.

Quantitative Studies

Quantitative studies should clearly describe the research design, population and sample, variables, measures, procedures, statistical analyses, and relevant assumptions or tests.

Mixed-Methods Studies

Mixed-methods studies should explain the rationale for combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, the design and sequence of the components, and how the findings are integrated.

Review Studies

Review articles should explain the databases or sources searched, search terms or strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, screening process, quality assessment where applicable, data extraction, and synthesis procedures.

7. RESULTS OR FINDINGS

The Results or Findings section should present evidence that directly addresses the research questions or objectives.

Results should be presented clearly and logically. Tables, figures, and quotations may be used where appropriate to support the presentation of evidence.

Authors should distinguish between what the data show and the interpretation of those findings.

Relevant unexpected or contradictory findings should not be omitted simply because they do not support the initial expectations.

8. DISCUSSION

The Discussion should explain what the findings mean and why they matter.

Authors should:

• interpret the major findings;
• connect the findings with previous research;
• relate the findings to the theoretical or conceptual framework where appropriate;
• explain similarities and differences with previous studies;
• identify how the findings confirm, challenge, extend, or refine existing knowledge; and
• explain the broader significance of the findings.

Because ETERNAL focuses on the transformation of English language education, authors should explain, where relevant, how their findings illuminate change, adaptation, emerging practices, tensions, or developments in the field.

9. CONCLUSION

The Conclusion should clearly summarize the main findings and contribution of the study.

It should not simply repeat the Results or introduce new evidence.

Authors may also discuss:

• implications for teaching and learning;
• implications for teacher education;
• curriculum and assessment implications;
• institutional or policy implications;
• limitations of the study; and
• recommendations for future research.

Implications should be specific and supported by the findings.

10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Acknowledgements should appear in a separate section near the end of the manuscript and should not appear on the title page or in a footnote attached to the article title.

Authors may acknowledge individuals, institutions, research assistants, or other forms of support that do not qualify for authorship.

11. FUNDING STATEMENT

Authors must disclose any financial support received for the research or publication.

The funding agency should be written in full, together with the grant or project number where applicable.

If the study received funding:

Funding: This work was supported by [Funding Agency] under Grant [number].

If the study received funding from multiple agencies:

Funding: This work was supported by [Funding Agency 1] under Grant [number]; [Funding Agency 2] under Grant [number].

If the study received no specific funding:

Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

12. COMPETING INTERESTS

Authors must disclose any competing interests that could influence, or could reasonably be perceived to influence, the research or publication process.

Competing interests may be financial, professional, institutional, contractual, personal, or academic.

If no competing interests exist, authors should state:

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

13. DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Authors should provide a Data Availability Statement explaining where the data supporting the findings can be accessed, or why the data cannot be made publicly available.

The statement should indicate whether:

• the data are available in a public repository;
• the data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request;
• access to the data is restricted because of confidentiality, ethical, legal, or other requirements; or
• no new data were generated or analyzed.

Example 1: Publicly available data

Data Availability: The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available in [repository name], [DOI or link].

Example 2: Restricted data

Data Availability: The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to participant confidentiality but may be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request, subject to appropriate restrictions.

Example 3: No new data

Data Availability: No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

14. ETHICS STATEMENT

Research involving human participants or other ethically sensitive data must comply with relevant ethical standards.

Where applicable, authors should provide information about:

• ethical approval;
• the name of the ethics committee or institutional review board;
• approval number;
• informed consent;
• confidentiality and anonymity; and
• other relevant participant-protection procedures.

Example:

Ethics Statement: This study was approved by the [Name of Ethics Committee] (Approval No. [XXXX]). Informed consent was obtained from all participants before data collection.

If ethical approval was not required, authors should explain the reason where appropriate.

15. AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS

Authors must clearly indicate their individual contributions to the research and manuscript.

ETERNAL encourages the use of the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy).

Possible contribution roles include:

• Conceptualization
• Methodology
• Formal Analysis
• Investigation
• Resources
• Data Curation
• Writing - Original Draft
• Writing - Review & Editing
• Visualization
• Supervision
• Project Administration
• Funding Acquisition

Example:

Authors’ Contributions:
Author A: Conceptualization, methodology, investigation, writing - original draft.
Author B: Formal analysis, data curation, writing - review & editing.
Author C: Supervision, project administration, funding acquisition.

Only individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions should be listed as authors.

16. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND AI-ASSISTED TOOLS

Authors may use AI-assisted tools appropriately during research and manuscript preparation. However, authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and final content of the manuscript.

AI tools must not be used to fabricate or manipulate data, findings, references, quotations, evidence, or research procedures.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

Substantive use of AI-assisted tools should be disclosed in accordance with ETERNAL’s AI policy.

Authors should carefully verify all AI-generated or AI-assisted content, particularly references, factual claims, quotations, interpretations, statistics, and methodological information.

Routine spelling or grammar assistance may not require the same level of disclosure, depending on ETERNAL’s current AI policy.

17. TABLES, FIGURES, AND CHARTS

Tables, figures, charts, diagrams, and other visual materials should be used only when they contribute meaningfully to the presentation of the research.

Each table or figure should:

• be numbered consecutively;
• have a clear title or caption;
• be referred to in the main text;
• be readable and of appropriate quality; and
• include a source or permission statement where necessary.

Tables and figures should not unnecessarily duplicate information already presented in the text.

18. REFERENCES AND CITATIONS

ETERNAL uses the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition referencing style.

Authors must ensure that:

• all sources cited in the text appear in the reference list;
• all reference-list entries are cited in the manuscript;
• author names and publication years are accurate;
• journal titles, volume, issue, and page information are correct;
• references are relevant to the manuscript; and
• DOI information is included where available.

Authors are encouraged to use reference-management software such as Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote.

Authors should avoid excessive self-citation, irrelevant citations, and citation manipulation.

DOI

Where a DOI is available, it should be presented in the full URL format:

https://doi.org/xxxxx

Authors should check DOI information carefully before submission.

19. RECENT AND RELEVANT LITERATURE

Authors should engage with relevant and sufficiently recent scholarship, particularly for rapidly developing areas such as artificial intelligence, digital learning, technology-enhanced assessment, and emerging pedagogies.

Older sources may be included when they represent important foundational theories, concepts, or studies.

The quality and relevance of references are more important than simply increasing the number of citations.

20. APPENDICES

Appendices may be included when they contain supplementary material that is useful for understanding or evaluating the study but would interrupt the flow of the main text.

Examples include:

• interview protocols;
• questionnaires;
• additional analytical materials;
• supplementary tables;
• coding frameworks; or
• other relevant research materials.

If there is more than one appendix, label them using capital letters:

Appendix A. Interview Protocol
Appendix B. Questionnaire Items

Each appendix should have a clear title and should be referred to in the main text where appropriate.

21. INTERNATIONAL RELEVANCE

ETERNAL welcomes research from different countries, educational systems, and cultural contexts.

A study does not need to be conducted across multiple countries to be considered internationally relevant. However, authors should explain how findings from a particular context contribute to broader theoretical, methodological, pedagogical, institutional, or policy discussions.

Simply claiming that a study is the first study conducted in a particular country or institution is generally not sufficient to establish international significance.

22. SUBMISSION AND PEER REVIEW

All manuscripts should be submitted through the official ETERNAL submission system.

The manuscript will undergo an initial editorial screening for:

• relevance to the journal’s scope;
• originality;
• research significance;
• clarity of the research problem and gap;
• methodological quality;
• ethical compliance;
• research integrity;
• overall presentation; and
• potential contribution to the field.

Manuscripts that meet the basic requirements will normally be sent to at least two reviewers under the double-blind peer-review system.

The Editorial Board may reject a manuscript without external review when it is clearly outside the journal’s scope, has serious quality problems, does not demonstrate sufficient contribution, or fails to meet basic submission requirements.

Reviewers are selected according to their expertise and the requirements of the manuscript.

A revised manuscript may be returned to the original reviewers.

The final decision is made by the Editor based on the reviewers’ comments and the overall quality and suitability of the manuscript.

23. RESEARCH NOTES

ETERNAL may publish Research Notes presenting concise and focused research contributions, such as emerging research, preliminary findings, methodological observations, or research-in-progress.

Research Notes should clearly communicate:

• the research issue or problem;
• the approach or evidence;
• the main insight or finding; and
• its relevance to English language education.

Research Notes should not simply be shortened versions of full research articles.

24. REVIEW ARTICLES

Review articles should provide a critical and systematic synthesis of existing research.

Authors should clearly explain, where applicable:

• the purpose or review questions;
• databases or sources searched;
• search strategy;
• inclusion and exclusion criteria;
• screening process;
• quality assessment;
• data extraction; and
• method of synthesis.

A review article should go beyond describing previous studies. It should identify patterns, contradictions, developments, methodological tendencies, theoretical gaps, and future research directions.

25. CONCEPTUAL, THEORETICAL, AND METHODOLOGICAL ARTICLES

ETERNAL also welcomes strong conceptual, theoretical, and methodological contributions.

Such articles should present a clear and meaningful scholarly argument. They may develop, critique, extend, integrate, or propose theoretical or methodological approaches relevant to English language education.

These articles should not simply summarize existing theories or methods. They should demonstrate a clear intellectual contribution to the field.