Al-Bahath (البحث) — Journal Governance & Operational Manual

1. About the Journal

Al-Bahath (English: The Research) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly journal dedicated to the advancement and rapid dissemination of high-impact research across interdisciplinary fields. The journal serves as a vital bridge between regional academic output and the global research community.

Metric / Parameter Journal Specification
Publication Frequency Biannual (2 Issues per Volume per Year)
Access Model Gold Open Access (Immediate free global access)
Publishing License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Languages Arabic and English
Digital Identifiers Crossref DOIs assigned to every published article
Review Standard Double-Blind External Peer Review

2. Aims & Scope

Mission Statement

Al-Bahath aims to foster scientific rigor, scholarly innovation, and evidence-based problem solving by publishing original theoretical, empirical, and applied research that addresses critical contemporary challenges.

Core Disciplines Covered

  • Humanities & Cultural Studies: Arabic linguistics, comparative literature, history, philosophy, and Islamic studies.

  • Social & Behavioral Sciences: Educational development, sociology, applied psychology, media, and digital communication.

  • Economics, Management & Law: Sustainable economics, institutional governance, public policy, corporate management, and international law.

  • Interdisciplinary Applied Sciences: Information systems, data ethics in research, environmental management, and digital transformation.

Acceptable Article Types

  1. Original Research Articles: Full empirical or theoretical studies presenting novel methodology and verifiable findings (6,000–9,000 words).

  2. Systematic Review Articles: Critical evaluations of literature synthesizing current knowledge and identifying research gaps (7,000–10,000 words).

  3. Short Communications & Policy Briefs: Urgent or preliminary original findings of high immediate significance (3,000–5,000 words).

3. Summary of Key Policy Documents

Al-Bahath operates under strict international ethical frameworks compliant with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). 

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      AL-BAHATH POLICY FRAMEWORK                        │
├───────────────────┬───────────────────┬────────────────────────────────┤
│    ARCHIVING      │    PEER REVIEW    │      ACADEMIC INTEGRITY        │
│   ISO 16363 /     │   Double-Blind    │  Turnitin / iThenticate <15%   │
│ LOCKSS / CLOCKSS  │   2+ Reviewers    │   COPE Misconduct Guidelines   │
└───────────────────┴───────────────────┴────────────────────────────────┘

Policy Summary Table

Policy Area Core Principle Standard / Execution
Digital Archiving Permanent preservation following the OAIS model. Archived via CLOCKSS / LOCKSS, PKP Preservation Network, and national libraries.
Peer Review Unbiased, rigorous double-blind evaluation. Minimum of 2 independent external reviewers; average turnaround 4–6 weeks.
Plagiarism & AI Zero tolerance for uncredited copying, text recycling, or fake data. Automated similarity screening via Turnitin/iThenticate; similarity threshold <15%. AI cannot be listed as an author.
Withdrawals & Retractions Preserve the integrity of the published record. Pre-proof withdrawals require formal approval. Post-publication issues resolved via Corrigendum or Retraction Notice with watermarked PDFs.
Physical Print Copies High-quality archival physical runs. Printed on ISO 9706 acid-free paper for institutional subscribers and legal deposit.

4. Publication Fees & Funding Model

Article Processing Charges (APCs)

To support open science and remove barriers for researchers, Al-Bahath maintains a transparent fee structure:

  • Submission Fee: $0.00 USD (Free)

  • Standard Article Processing Charge (APC): $0.00 USD (Fully subsidized during launch phase) or a fixed rate (e.g., $300 USD) charged only upon formal acceptance.

  • Waiver & Hardship Policy: Authors from World Bank Low-Income countries (Research4Life Group A) automatically receive a 100% APC waiver.

Sources of Funding & Financial Independence

To ensure total editorial independence and prevent commercial bias:

  1. Institutional Grants & Subsidies: Core operating expenses, hosting platforms, and permanent archiving costs are funded by the university/publishing body.

  2. Author Processing Charges: Cover administrative costs, DOI registration, professional layout editing, and cross-platform indexing.

  3. No Commercial Interference: Al-Bahath does not accept commercial advertising or sponsored content that could compromise editorial objectivity.

5. Step-by-Step Submission Process

Authors must prepare their manuscripts according to journal guidelines before initiating a submission.

 

1.Pre-Submission Preparation:Step 1.

Format the manuscript using the official Al-Bahath Word/LaTeX template. Prepare a Title Page (author details, ORCIDs, funding), Anonymized Manuscript (no author names for double-blind review), Cover Letter, and Author Declarations.

2.Online System Submission:Step 2.

Register an account on the Al-Bahath OJS / Editorial portal. Upload files into designated slots, enter metadata (Abstract, Keywords, References), and submit.

3.Desk Review & Similarity Check:Step 3.

The Managing Editor conducts preliminary formatting, scope fit, and automated plagiarism checks (Turnitin). Non-compliant manuscripts are returned for corrections within 3–5 days.

4.Double-Blind Peer Review:Step 4.

The manuscript is evaluated by at least two external domain experts. Authors receive one of four decisions: Accept, Minor Revisions, Major Revisions, or Reject.

5.Revisions & Final Acceptance:Step 5.

Authors resubmit revised files alongside a point-by-point response to reviewer comments. Upon editorial approval, a formal Acceptance Letter is issued.

6.Production & DOI Publication:Step 6.

Typeset gallery proofs are sent to the author for final sign-off. The Version of Record is published online under CC BY 4.0, assigned a DOI, and deposited into preservation archives.