Guidelines for Author

Types Of Manuscripts Accepted

JOAHM accepts the following categories of scholarly contributions:

 

Manuscript Type

Word Count (Excluding References)

Description

Original Research Article

4,000 – 8,000 words

Full empirical or experimental study with original data collection and analysis.

Review Article

5,000 – 10,000 words

Comprehensive synthesis of existing literature on a clearly defined topic.

Short Communication

1,500 – 3,000 words

Brief report of significant preliminary findings or methodological innovations.

Case Study

2,500 – 5,000 words

In-depth analysis of a specific case, project, enterprise, or community.

Technical Note

1,000 – 2,500 words

Description of new techniques, methods, equipment, or software of scientific relevance.

Book Review

800 – 1,500 words

Critical evaluation of recently published books relevant to JOAHM scope.

Submission Guidelines

General Requirements

All manuscripts submitted to JOAHM must satisfy the following conditions before editorial consideration:

  • The manuscript must be entirely original and must not have been previously published, in whole or in part, in any journal, book, conference proceedings, or other publication outlet.
  • The manuscript must not be under simultaneous consideration by any other journal or publication.
  • All authors must have made a substantive intellectual contribution to the research and manuscript preparation.
  • Authors must obtain proper ethical clearance where research involves human subjects, animals, or sensitive data.
  • Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest at the time of submission.
  • Submission of a manuscript implies that all named authors have read, approved, and consented to its submission to JOAHM.

Language of Submission

All manuscripts must be written in clear, grammatically correct English (British or American English, consistently applied throughout). Authors whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to have their manuscript professionally proofread prior to submission. Manuscripts with poor language quality may be returned to authors before peer review.

Submission Process

Manuscripts should be submitted electronically via email to the Editorial Office at:

 

Primary Email:  [email protected]

Alternate Email:  [email protected]

Subject Line:  Manuscript Submission – [Your Surname] – [Thematic Area]

Authors must submit the following files:

  1. Title Page (with author details) – as a separate file
  2. Anonymous Manuscript (with all author information removed) – as a separate file
  3. Cover Letter – a brief letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief

Manuscript Preparation

File Format

  • Submit manuscripts in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx only).
  • Do not submit in PDF or any other non-editable format.
  • File names should follow the format: SurnameYear_JOAHM (e.g., Adeyemi2025_JOAHM.docx).

Page Setup and Formatting

Parameter

Specification

Paper Size

A4 (210 mm × 297 mm)

Margins

2.5 cm on all sides (Top, Bottom, Left, Right)

Font

Times New Roman throughout the manuscript

Main Body Font Size

12 pt

Title Font Size

14 pt, Bold, Centred

Section Headings

12 pt, Bold, Uppercase

Sub-headings

12 pt, Bold, Title Case

Sub-sub-headings

12 pt, Italic, Sentence case

Line Spacing

Double-spacing for the main body; single-spacing for abstract

Paragraph Indent

No indent; one blank line between paragraphs

Text Alignment

Justified for all body text

Page Numbers

Bottom centre, starting from the first page of text

Columns

Single-column format

Manuscript Structure

All original research articles must follow the IMRAD structure (Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion). Other manuscript types may adapt structure as appropriate. The complete manuscript should include the following components in the order listed:

Title Page (Submitted as a Separate File)

The Title Page must contain:

  • Full title of the manuscript (not exceeding 20 words; clear, specific, and informative)
  • Running head or short title (maximum 50 characters including spaces)
  • Full name(s) of all author(s) – First Name, Middle Initial, Surname
  • Institutional affiliation(s) of each author: Department, Faculty/College, Institution, City, Country
  • Corresponding author designation with full postal address, telephone number, and email address
  • ORCID iD for all authors (strongly recommended)
  • Acknowledgements (funding bodies, data sources, research assistants, etc.)
  • Conflict of interest declaration
  • Word count (total, and abstract word count separately)
  • Number of tables and figures

Anonymous Manuscript (Submitted as a Separate File)

The anonymous manuscript must contain the full content of the article but with all author-identifying information removed, including any references that could reveal the authors' identity. The following components must appear in order:

Title

The full title of the manuscript should appear at the top of the first page in 14 pt bold, centred. Do not include author names or affiliations on this page.

Abstract

A structured abstract is required for all Original Research Articles and must not exceed 250 words. The abstract should be organised into the following five clearly labelled sections:

  • Background: Contextual overview and research gap
  • Objectives: Specific aims or research questions of the study
  • Methodology: Brief description of design, population/sample, data collection, and analytical approach
  • Results: Key quantitative or qualitative findings
  • Conclusion: Principal conclusion and its implications

For Review Articles and Case Studies, an unstructured abstract of 150–250 words is acceptable. For Short Communications and Technical Notes, an unstructured abstract of not more than 150 words is required. Abstracts should not contain citations or undefined abbreviations.

Keywords

Provide 4 to 6 keywords or phrases that accurately reflect the content of the manuscript. Keywords should be listed in alphabetical order, separated by semicolons, and placed immediately after the abstract. Avoid using words already in the title. Use terms from controlled vocabularies such as AGROVOC, MeSH, or CAB Thesaurus where possible.

Introduction

The introduction should succinctly establish the context and significance of the research problem, provide a concise review of the most relevant literature, identify the specific knowledge gap or research problem being addressed, and state the objectives or hypotheses of the study. The introduction must lead logically into the methodology section and should not be a comprehensive literature review.

Materials and Methods

This section must provide sufficient detail to enable replication of the study by other researchers. It should include:

  • Study area and/or study period (with geographic coordinates or map where applicable)
  • Research design (experimental, survey, quasi-experimental, qualitative, mixed-method, etc.)
  • Population, sampling framework, and sample size determination
  • Sampling technique (with justification)
  • Data collection instruments (questionnaire, observation checklist, interview guide, laboratory equipment, etc.) with reliability and validity evidence
  • Data collection procedure and ethical considerations
  • Laboratory procedures, chemical analyses, or experimental protocols (with standard references)
  • Statistical or analytical methods used, with software packages and version numbers specified

 

NOTE ON ETHICS:

Authors must include a statement on ethical approval if human subjects, animal subjects, or sensitive personal data were involved in the study. The name of the approving ethics committee, approval number, and date must be stated.

Results

Present findings clearly and logically, in the same sequence as the research objectives. Use tables, figures, and photographs as appropriate to support the text. Do not repeat in the text what is already shown in tables or figures; instead, highlight key trends or patterns. All statistical comparisons must include the appropriate test statistic, degrees of freedom, and p-value. Avoid excessive use of decimal places (generally two decimal places are sufficient).

Discussion

The Discussion should interpret and contextualise the findings rather than merely restating results. It should:

  • Explain how results address the stated objectives or hypotheses
  • Compare findings with relevant prior studies, pointing out agreements and contradictions
  • Discuss practical, policy, and theoretical implications
  • Acknowledge limitations of the study honestly
  • Avoid overgeneralisation beyond the scope of the data

The Results and Discussion may be presented as a combined section where appropriate, particularly in qualitative studies.

Conclusion

The conclusion should be concise and forward-looking. It must directly address the research objectives, summarise the principal findings, state the contribution of the study to knowledge and practice, and make specific recommendations for future research, policy, or practice. Do not introduce new data or references in this section.

Declarations

All manuscripts must include the following declaration statements before the reference list:

  • Funding Statement: Identify all sources of funding for the research. If no funding was received, state: 'This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.'
  • Authors' Contributions: Briefly describe each author's contribution using CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) categories (e.g., conceptualisation, methodology, data curation, writing, etc.).
  • Data Availability Statement: Indicate whether and how research data are available.
  • Conflict of Interest Statement: Declare any potential conflicts of interest or state that none exist.
  • Acknowledgements: Acknowledge technical assistance, field support, and any other contributions not qualifying for authorship.

Tables, Figures, And Illustrations

Tables

  • Tables must be created using the Microsoft Word table tool, not pasted as images.
  • Each table must have a concise, descriptive title placed above the table (e.g., Table 1: Distribution of respondents by sex and age group).
  • Tables are numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals (Table 1, Table 2, etc.).
  • All tables must be cited in the text in numerical order before their appearance.
  • Use horizontal lines only; avoid vertical lines within the table body.
  • All abbreviations within tables must be defined in a note below the table.
  • Statistical significance must be denoted using standard notations (*, **, ***, NS) with a key provided below the table.
  • Tables should not exceed one printed page. Landscape orientation may be used for very wide tables.

Figures

  • Figures include graphs, charts, maps, photographs, and diagrams.
  • Each figure must have a descriptive caption placed below the figure (e.g., Figure 1: Monthly rainfall distribution at the study site, 2022–2023).
  • Figures are numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals.
  • Figures must be submitted at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi for photographs and 600 dpi for line drawings.
  • Acceptable file formats: JPEG, TIFF, PNG, or EPS. Do not embed low-resolution screenshots.
  • All figures must also be embedded in the manuscript at the appropriate location.
  • Graphs should be clearly labelled with axis titles, units, and a legend if applicable.
  • Do not use 3D effects in bar charts or pie charts unless data demands it.
  • Maps must include a scale bar, north arrow, and source information.

 

Citation And Referencing Style

In-Text Citations

JOAHM uses the Author-Date citation system (APA 7th Edition). The following conventions apply:

  • Single author: (Adeyemi, 2023)
  • Two authors: (Adeyemi & Okafor, 2022)
  • Three or more authors: (Adeyemi et al., 2021)
  • Direct quotation: (Adeyemi, 2023, p. 45)
  • Multiple citations in one parenthesis: list alphabetically, separated by semicolons: (Adeyemi, 2023; Bello & Osei, 2020; Chukwu et al., 2019)
  • Citing within the sentence: 'Adeyemi (2023) demonstrated that...'

Reference List

All references cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and every entry in the reference list must be cited in the text. The reference list must:

  • Be placed at the end of the manuscript, after the Declarations section
  • Be arranged in alphabetical order by first author's surname
  • Where an author has multiple works in the same year, use suffixes (2023a, 2023b)
  • Use single spacing within each reference and a blank line between references
  • Include DOI (Digital Object Identifier) for all journal articles where available, formatted as a hyperlink

Reference Examples

Journal Articles

Adeyemi, O. A., Bello, I. K., & Okafor, N. C. (2023). Impact of climate variability on smallholder cassava production in Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Hospitality Management, 2(1), 45–58. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/joahm.2023.0045

Books

Oluwafemi, B. T. (2020). Principles of hotel management in Nigeria (3rd ed.). Ibadan University Press.

Book Chapters

Ajayi, F. O. (2021). Ecotourism and conservation in West Africa. In G. R. Mensah (Ed.), Tourism and sustainable development in Africa (pp. 112–135). Accra Academic Press.

Conference Papers

Chukwu, A. N., & Eze, S. I. (2022). Agritourism potentials in Southeast Nigeria. In Proceedings of the 3rd African Conference on Tourism and Hospitality Research (pp. 78–89). Lagos, Nigeria.

Theses and Dissertations

Osei, K. A. (2019). Food safety compliance in budget hotels in Accra, Ghana [Unpublished master's thesis]. University of Ghana.

Websites and Online Sources

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2023). State of food and agriculture 2023. FAO. https://www.fao.org/publications/sofa/2023/en/

Government Reports

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. (2022). National agricultural development policy framework 2022–2027. Government of Nigeria.

Cover Letter Requirements

Each submission must be accompanied by a cover letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief. The cover letter should:

  • Confirm that the manuscript is original and has not been previously published or is currently under review elsewhere
  • State the type of manuscript being submitted (Original Research Article, Review, etc.)
  • Briefly (2–3 sentences) explain the significance of the research and its relevance to JOAHM's readership
  • Identify the corresponding author and provide their complete contact details
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest
  • Name any individuals who should not be considered as peer reviewers, with reasons
  • Confirm that ethical approval was obtained where required

Proofs and Post-Acceptance Procedures

Proofs

After copy-editing, the corresponding author will receive a PDF proof of the formatted article via email. Authors are expected to:

  • Review the proof carefully for typographical, formatting, or factual errors
  • Return the corrected proof within 48–72 hours of receipt
  • Note that substantive changes to content at proof stage are not permitted; only correction of typographical and factual errors is acceptable

Offprints

Upon publication, the corresponding author will receive a PDF offprint of the final published article via email, free of charge. Print copies of the journal issue may be requested at an additional cost.

Pre-Submission Checklist

Before submitting, please confirm that you have completed all of the following:

Manuscript Content

  • Manuscript falls within JOAHM's stated scope
  • Word count falls within specified limits for the manuscript type
  • Research objectives are clearly stated and addressed
  • Methodology is adequately described and replicable
  • Results are clearly presented and logically organised
  • Discussion is interpretive and contextualised in relevant literature
  • Conclusion directly addresses the research objectives

Formatting And Presentation

  • Times New Roman font, 12pt, double-spaced, A4 with 2.5 cm margins
  • Structured abstract (250 words max) with correct subsections and 4–6 keywords
  • All tables have descriptive titles above; all figures have captions below
  • Figures submitted at minimum 300 dpi resolution (300 dpi photos; 600 dpi line art)
  • All abbreviations defined on first use
  • SI units used throughout

 References And Citations

  • APA 7th Edition referencing style used throughout
  • All in-text citations appear in the reference list and vice versa
  • DOIs included for all journal articles where available
  • References listed in alphabetical order by first author surname

Submission Requirements

  • Title Page prepared as a separate file (with all author details)
  • Anonymous manuscript prepared (all identifying information removed)
  • Cover letter included and addressed to the Editor-in-Chief
  • Ethical clearance certificate attached where applicable
  • All Declarations sections completed (funding, contributions, conflicts, data availability)
  • Manuscript submitted as a .doc or .docx file