Guidelines for Authors
REQUIREMENTS AND RULES FOR PREPARING SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES
(Appendix No. 2 to the Order of the Chairman of the Higher Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan dated December 27, 2024, No. 493 “Instructions on the Preparation of Dissertations, Dissertation Abstracts and Other Scientific Materials”)
A scientific article is a logically completed work devoted to a specific issue within the range of problems investigated by a degree applicant in his or her dissertation. A scientific article presents the most significant research results obtained by the applicant, which require broader explanation and substantiation. As a rule, a scientific article is submitted to the editorial board of a peer-reviewed scientific journal for publication in one of the following forms:
- Theoretical scientific article;
- Empirical scientific article.
A theoretical scientific article intended for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals should have the following structure:
Introduction, which includes the following elements:
Opening section. This part emphasizes the importance of studying the selected topic. Depending on the complexity of the research problem, its length may range from one or two paragraphs to one or two pages. It should provide a brief review of previous studies and justify the need for further research. Scientific works addressing various aspects of the problem should be identified. This section may also be described as the theoretical foundation of the study. It should mention the methodology, concepts, and theories upon which the author relies.
Research Objective. Along with formulating the objective, this section may also present the research hypothesis. In some cases, research questions may be formulated for better structuring of the article. The necessity of studying the topic is justified when a research gap is identified in existing scientific literature.
Research Methods. General scientific methods should not be merely listed in this section. Instead, the author may describe and characterize a specific method developed or applied in the research (recommended element).
Main Body (may contain subheadings depending on the components of the topic).
The main body of a theoretical article should include:
– analysis and description of scientific literature;
– logical and chronological presentation of literature and aspects of the problem;
– criteria for selecting sources and key authors;
– in-depth theoretical analysis with identification, comparison, and critical evaluation of existing approaches.
Discussion. This section should analyze and interpret the research findings. It should clearly indicate whether the research objective has been achieved and whether the hypothesis has been confirmed or rejected.
Research Limitations (recommended element). This section outlines the difficulties and limitations encountered during the research process.
Conclusion. The conclusion should be one to two pages long. It briefly summarizes the main findings and highlights their significance for scientific development. The author may also identify directions for future research. The reader should clearly understand whether the research objective has been achieved and whether the hypothesis has been confirmed.
References.
An empirical scientific article intended for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal should have the following structure:
Introduction
The introduction to an empirical scientific article should include the following elements:
Opening section – a general description of the importance of the topic and the relevance of its study. Depending on the complexity of the topic, this section may range from two or three paragraphs to two or three pages. It should justify the necessity of studying the topic and provide a review of the scientific literature (mandatory element). The general state of research on the problem should be described, including references to scholars who have previously investigated the topic. Theoretical concepts, approaches, and methods proposed by other researchers should also be discussed (mandatory element).
Research Objective
The research objective should be directly related to the relevance of the topic and should address a gap in scientific knowledge. A research hypothesis may also be presented in this section. Research questions may be formulated following the objective statement (mandatory element).
Methods and Methodology
This section should contain the following elements:
Methods. General scientific methods should not merely be listed. The use of specific scientific methods is permitted. In most cases, however, the author’s own methodology is described, including research methods, stages, criteria, and procedures necessary for understanding the study (mandatory element).
Materials
The presence of this section depends on the research method used. If specific materials were employed in the study, they should be listed and described. The structure of the materials and the criteria for their selection should be specified, such as questionnaires, documentary sources, and other research materials.
Participants
The presence of this section also depends on the research method. For example, if surveys or questionnaires were conducted, the participants should be described. Characteristics such as age, gender, social status, and other relevant variables may be provided.
Research Procedure
This section explains how the study was conducted using the specified methods and materials. The procedure should be described in sufficient detail to allow other researchers to replicate the study (mandatory element).
Research Results
The main findings of the study should be presented without additional interpretation or explanation. All interpretations should be reserved for the “Discussion” section. Tables and graphs may also be included. The results may be divided into subsections according to specific themes (mandatory element).
Discussion of Research Results
This section should include:
Discussion of research results – interpretation and explanation of the findings. Through analysis of the results, the author should demonstrate whether the research objective has been achieved, whether the hypothesis has been confirmed, and how the findings compare with those of other scholars (mandatory element).
Research Limitations
This section identifies the challenges and limitations encountered during the research process, such as insufficient materials, limited time, or other constraints (recommended element).
Author’s Contribution to the Study
This section explains how the author’s contribution or research has advanced scientific knowledge. It may range from one or two sentences to one or two paragraphs. The findings should be summarized as the author’s contribution to the study of the problem. This section may also highlight the scientific novelty of the research (mandatory element).
Conclusion
The conclusion should be one to two pages in length. It briefly summarizes the main findings and emphasizes their significance for scientific development. The author may also suggest directions for future research. The conclusion should clearly indicate whether the research objective was achieved and whether the hypothesis was confirmed (mandatory element).
References
For both theoretical and empirical scientific articles, in addition to the main text in three languages (Tajik, Russian, and English), the following information must also be prepared:
– article title;
– author affiliation information;
– abstract;
– keywords.
The abstract should not exceed 150 words and must include the research objective, methods used, results obtained, scientific novelty, and recommendations for practical application.
Keywords should consist of up to 15 words, written in lowercase letters, separated by commas, and arranged alphabetically.
The article must be prepared in MS Word using Times New Roman font, size 14, with 1.5 line spacing, and formatted on A4 paper.
All tables, figures, diagrams, and charts must be clear, numbered in the text, and charts should additionally be provided in Microsoft Excel format.