Expectations on Academic Writing

The IJCCR is dedicated to publishing interdisciplinary research for the benefit of both academics and practitioners in the field of community currencies. Since research in this field sometimes struggles to be published due to not being aligned with a single scientific discipline, our topical journal strives to be inclusive and open to early-career researchers and those not affiliated with a university.
However, to be a valuable source for authors and researchers alike to refer to, we require all submissions to follow the standards for scientific writing set out in this document. This complements the formal requirements as described in our Submission Guidelines and Editorial Policy pages.

Articles in all categories should use a language that ensures their work is accessible to a broad audience. The writing should be logical and coherent, presenting ideas clearly and effectively and with comprehensive reference to already published or generally established ideas, theories and research findings. Following the general structure of scientific research articles (introduction, literature review, methods, results, and discussion) helps the readers to navigate the text. Such structure is not mandatory, but deviations that do not improve general readability will be flagged up for revision by reviewers or editors. Reviewers and editors will follow similar guidance when evaluating articles.

Academic Contribution

Your research should address relevant questions within the field of community currency research and practice, as laid out in the existing literature. This might be specific to a certain body of knowledge or of general interest, but every article to be published must demonstrate a clear advancement in knowledge to a clearly described audience or discipline.
Here are key aspects to consider:

  • Thesis and Argument Development: Clearly articulate your research question or thesis statement. Develop a well-structured argument to answer that question, supported by evidence. Your work should demonstrate a logical progression of ideas, leading to well-founded conclusions.
  • Engagement with Existing Literature: Conduct a thorough review of existing literature to position your work within the broader academic context. Identify gaps or areas for further exploration and explain how your research addresses these.
  • Methodological Analysis: Support your arguments with robust analysis. using qualitative or quantitative methods as appropriate to your discipline or claim. Ensure that your analysis is rigorous, transparent, and replicable.
  • Critical Analysis and Reflection: Engage critically with your findings, considering their implications and limitations. Reflect on how your research contributes to ongoing debates.

Citations and References

To connect an academic contribution to the existing body of knowledge and situate it within the broader academic discourse requires proper citations. Every statement that is not clearly positioned as personal opinion or novel finding needs to be supported by concise references to the existing literature.
The referencing format used by the IJCCR is APA7, see our Submission Guidelines for other formal requirements.