Author Guidelines

Metaverse Science, Society and Law welcomes high-quality submissions that contribute to the scholarly understanding of the Metaverse across scientific, technological, societal, legal, and ethical dimensions. The journal publishes original and interdisciplinary research free of charge under a Diamond Open Access model, with no submission or publication fees for authors.

1. Submission Categories

Authors may submit manuscripts under the following categories:

  • Original Articles – Empirical studies, theoretical advances, or interdisciplinary research (4,000–8,000 words)
  • Review Articles – Comprehensive overviews of key topics or trends (5,000–10,000 words)
  • Policy and Legal Analyses – Critical insights into regulations, governance, and legal developments (3,000–6,000 words)
  • Case Studies – In-depth examinations of practical applications or real-world scenarios (2,500–5,000 words)
  • Conceptual and Perspective Papers – Emerging ideas, position statements, or philosophical inquiries (2,000–4,000 words)
  • Short Communications – Brief reports or research notes (up to 2,500 words)

All word counts include references but exclude supplementary materials or appendices.

2. Manuscript Preparation

Formatting

  • Use a clear, readable font (e.g., Times New Roman 12 pt), double-spaced, A4 or letter-size page layout.
  • Submit manuscripts in .doc or .docx format.
  • Use continuous line numbering and page numbers.

Structure

The structure of a manuscript should be coherent, academically rigorous, and clearly organized. Depending on the type of submission (e.g., Original Article, Policy Analysis, Case Study), the structure may vary slightly, but most research papers should include the following sections:

Title

  • The title should be concise, informative, and accurately reflect the main focus or findings of the article.
  • Avoid overly technical language or abbreviations unless commonly understood in the field.
  • Titles should not exceed 20 words.

Example:
 Digital Identity and Legal Personhood in the Metaverse: A Cross-Jurisdictional Analysis

Abstract (150–250 words)

  • Summarize the objective, methodology, key findings, and conclusions of the paper.
  • Do not include references, citations, or undefined abbreviations.
  • Write in a clear and accessible style to engage a broad academic audience.

Structure of a good abstract:

  1. Background and purpose
  2. Methods or approach
  3. Key results or arguments
  4. Conclusion and significance

Keywords (4–6 words or phrases)

  • List relevant terms that will improve the discoverability of the article.
  • Use specific, standardized terms where possible (e.g., "extended reality", "digital rights", "token economy").

Introduction

  • Establish the context, background, and significance of the research.
  • Clearly state the research question(s) or problem(s).
  • Include objectives, scope, and expected contributions.
  • Conclude with a brief overview of the structure of the paper.

Literature Review / Theoretical Background (if applicable)

  • Summarize the relevant existing scholarship or legal doctrine.
  • Identify research gaps, limitations of current knowledge, or contested issues.
  • Demonstrate how your work is situated within and contributes to the academic conversation.

Methods / Methodology

  • Describe how the research was conducted, including:
    • Research design
    • Data sources or legal materials
    • Analytical methods or frameworks used (qualitative, quantitative, doctrinal, comparative, etc.)
    • Ethical approvals or consent procedures (where applicable)
  • Justify the choice of methods in relation to the research question.

Results / Findings

  • Present the results of your research in a clear and structured format.
  • Use tables, charts, or figures where appropriate.
  • Avoid interpretation in this section—focus on what was found, not what it means.

Discussion

  • Interpret and explain the meaning of the results.
  • Discuss how the findings relate to previous research or theory.
  • Highlight implications for policy, practice, technology, or law.
  • Identify limitations of your study and possible future directions.

Conclusion

  • Summarize the key contributions and findings of the paper.
  • Reaffirm the relevance of the study.
  • Optionally, provide policy recommendations or theoretical reflections.

References

  • Use APA 7th edition citation style throughout.
  • Ensure all cited works appear in the reference list and vice versa.
  • Prefer scholarly sources, recent studies, and peer-reviewed materials where applicable.

Appendices (if applicable)

  • Include supplementary materials that are too lengthy or detailed for the main body (e.g., datasets, legal documents, technical specifications).
  • Label each appendix clearly (e.g., Appendix A, Appendix B) and refer to them in the text.

3. Referencing Style

Use APA 7th Edition style for in-text citations and reference lists.

Example (journal article):
 Smith, J. A., & Lee, K. (2022). Ethics of AI avatars in immersive environments. Journal of Digital Ethics, 15(2), 134–148. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/abc123

All sources must be cited accurately. Use a reference manager (e.g., Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley) to avoid formatting errors.

4. Figures and Tables

  • Include high-resolution images (minimum 300 dpi).
  • Figures and tables should be numbered sequentially and include descriptive captions.
  • Submit figures as separate files in PNG, JPEG, or SVG format.
  • Indicate figure/table placement in the manuscript with [Insert Figure X here].

5. Language

All manuscripts must be written in clear and grammatically correct English. Authors may use either British or American spelling, but consistency is required throughout. Language editing prior to submission is encouraged if needed.

6. Ethical Compliance

Authors must confirm that:

  • The work is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
  • All authors meet the criteria for authorship and have approved the final version.
  • Any research involving human participants or personal data received appropriate ethical approval and informed consent.
  • All sources are properly cited, and plagiarism is strictly avoided.

Ethical breaches (e.g., duplicate submission, undisclosed conflicts of interest, manipulated data) may result in rejection or retraction.

7. Data Availability

We encourage authors to make data, code, or supplementary materials openly available in recognized repositories. Provide a Data Availability Statement at the end of the manuscript.

8. Conflicts of Interest

All authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest. If none exist, include the statement:
 “The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

9. Submission Process

Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online platform [Insert Submission Link]. You will be guided through the submission process, which includes uploading the manuscript, cover letter, and any supplementary files.

A typical submission should include:

  • Main manuscript file (blinded)
  • Title page with author details
  • Cover letter (optional)
  • Figures and tables (if separate)
  • Supplementary material (if applicable)

10. Peer Review and Publication

All submissions undergo double-blind peer review. Authors can expect an initial decision within 4–6 weeks. Articles accepted for publication are immediately published online under the journal’s Continuous Article Publishing (CAP) model.

11. Licensing and Copyright

All published content is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Authors retain copyright and grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish and archive the work.