General Guidelines

1. Title and Author Name
The article title must not exceed 14 words. It should be written in Arial font, size 14, and in bold. The author’s name and study program affiliation are written below the journal title. The author’s name should not include academic titles. If the article is derived from an Undergraduate Thesis, Master’s Thesis, or Dissertation, the student’s name (as the author) should be listed first, followed by the name(s) of the academic supervisor(s).

2. Abstract and Keywords
The abstract must briefly describe the content of the journal article. It should concisely include the objectives, methods, results, and conclusions. The abstract must not exceed 250 words and should be written in one paragraph (without indentation). Keywords consist of terms that are essential for understanding the journal article. Keywords are placed after the abstract and consist of 3–5 words. The abstract is written in one column, with single spacing, Arial font, size 10.

3. Introduction
The introduction contains the background of the problem or the rationale for selecting the research title, followed by an explanation of the research justification. At the next stage, the author must state the research questions or problems, limited to no more than three (3) items. The discussion then continues by presenting relevant theories and previous studies that align with the objectives of the article. From the introduction to the conclusion, the text is written with 1.15 line spacing, Arial font, size 12.

4. Research Method
Under the research method section, if the study is quantitative, the author must include the research design, research location and duration, population and sampling, data collection techniques, and data analysis. If the research is qualitative, the research methods must be clearly explained. The same applies to literature-based studies. For example, in Classroom Action Research, the author must explain the steps or cycles conducted in the study.

5. Research Results
The researcher presents the findings in the form of narrative text, tables, or figures. Each table or figure must be accompanied by an explanation. For classroom action research, the author must explain the conditions before and after the research was conducted.

6. Discussion
The discussion contains the research results linked to supporting theories and, if applicable, to relevant previous studies. The discussion must cover all research findings, both positive and negative.

7. Conclusion
The conclusion contains answers to the research questions or problems stated in the introduction.

8. References
The references must correspond to the footnotes and include all sources cited in the research, with a minimum of 20 references. Of these, 80% must consist of scientific journal articles published within the last 10 years, while 20% may consist of books and other sources. The line spacing for each reference entry is 1.15. Only sources used in the theoretical framework and discussion are included in the references.

The Way: Jurnal Teologi dan Kependidikan is committed to maintaining transparency, fairness, accountability, and academic integrity in the attribution of authorship for all published scholarly works. The journal recognizes that authorship represents both intellectual contribution and responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of research.

This policy establishes the criteria for authorship eligibility, author responsibilities, authorship order, contributorship disclosure, and the management of authorship disputes.

The journal adopts authorship principles informed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT).

1. Criteria for Authorship

To qualify as an author of a manuscript submitted to The Way: Jurnal Teologi dan Kependidikan, an individual must meet all four of the following criteria:

1. Substantial Intellectual Contribution: Making substantial contributions to the conception or design of the research, or to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of research data.

2. Manuscript Preparation and Critical Review: Participating in drafting the manuscript or critically reviewing it for important intellectual content.

3. Final Approval: Reviewing and approving the final version of the manuscript before submission and publication.

4. Accountability: Agreeing to take responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the research and ensuring that any questions concerning its content are appropriately investigated and resolved.

All individuals who meet these four criteria must be recognized as authors, and every listed author must satisfy all four requirements.

Authorship must be determined by genuine scholarly contributions rather than academic rank, institutional position, seniority, or personal relationships.

2. Contributions That Do Not Qualify for Authorship

Individuals whose contributions do not fulfill all four authorship criteria should not be listed as authors. Such contributions may be recognized in the Acknowledgments section, with the contributor's permission.

Activities that do not independently justify authorship include:

• Providing research funding or financial support.

• Offering general administrative or institutional assistance.

• Supervising a research project without substantial intellectual involvement.

• Providing language editing, proofreading, or manuscript formatting services.

• Providing technical assistance without meaningful intellectual contribution.

• Granting access to research facilities, documents, or other resources.

Individuals providing these forms of assistance may qualify for authorship if they also fulfill all four authorship criteria.

3. Authorship Order

The order of authors must be determined collectively by the authors before manuscript submission, based on their scholarly contributions and mutual agreement.

The following principles apply:

1. The first author should ordinarily be the individual who has made a substantial contribution to the research and manuscript development.

2. Co-authors must be listed according to an order agreed upon by all authors.

3. The corresponding author must be clearly identified.

4. All authors must approve the authorship order before submission.

5. Academic titles, institutional authority, or administrative positions must not be used to justify authorship or determine authorship order without substantive scholarly contributions.

The editorial team does not determine authorship order or resolve competing claims regarding the relative contributions of authors.

4. Responsibilities of the Corresponding Author

The corresponding author serves as the principal contact between the authors and the editorial team throughout the submission, peer-review, publication, and post-publication processes.

The corresponding author is responsible for:

1. Ensuring that all listed authors meet the journal's authorship criteria.

2. Obtaining approval of the submitted manuscript from all co-authors.

3. Ensuring that author names, affiliations, and contact information are accurate.

4. Submitting required declarations concerning conflicts of interest, funding, research ethics, and the use of artificial intelligence.

5. Communicating editorial decisions, reviewer comments, and revision requests to all co-authors.

6. Coordinating manuscript revisions and securing approval of the final version.

7. Responding to questions concerning the published article and cooperating with any post-publication investigations.

The corresponding author is responsible for coordinating these requirements but does not replace the individual accountability of other authors.

5. Author Contributions Statement

To promote transparency and accountability, The Way: Jurnal Teologi dan Kependidikan requires authors of multi-authored manuscripts to provide an Author Contributions Statement.

The journal recommends using the Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT), which identifies 14 categories of scholarly contributions:

1. Conceptualization

2. Methodology

3. Software

4. Validation

5. Formal Analysis

6. Investigation

7. Resources

8. Data Curation

9. Writing – Original Draft

10. Writing – Review & Editing

11. Visualization

12. Supervision

13. Project Administration

14. Funding Acquisition

Each author may perform more than one role, and a particular role may be shared by multiple authors.

The assignment of CRediT roles does not automatically establish authorship eligibility. All listed authors must independently satisfy the journal's four authorship criteria.

Example of an Author Contributions Statement:

"Author A: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing – Original Draft. Author B: Formal Analysis, Validation, Writing – Review & Editing. Author C: Supervision, Resources, Writing – Review & Editing. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript and agree to be accountable for their contributions."

For single-authored manuscripts, the author assumes full responsibility for all aspects of the work.

6. Changes in Authorship

Any request to add, remove, or rearrange authors after manuscript submission must be communicated to the editorial team.

Such requests must include:

1. A written explanation of the proposed authorship change.

2. A justification based on the scholarly contributions of the individuals concerned.

3. Written agreement from all listed authors and any author proposed for addition or removal.

4. A revised Author Contributions Statement, where applicable.

The editorial team will evaluate the request before approving any authorship modification.

Changes in authorship after publication will be considered only when adequately justified and may require a formal publication correction.

7. Unethical Authorship Practices

The Way: Jurnal Teologi dan Kependidikan strictly prohibits unethical authorship practices, including:

Gift Authorship: Listing an individual as an author as a favor or gesture of appreciation despite the absence of qualifying scholarly contributions.

Guest Authorship: Including a prominent or influential individual to increase the perceived credibility or publication prospects of a manuscript without sufficient intellectual contribution.

Ghost Authorship: Omitting an individual who has made qualifying intellectual contributions and should be recognized as an author.

Coercive Authorship: Pressuring researchers, students, or collaborators to include an individual as an author based on authority, institutional hierarchy, or personal influence.

Unauthorized Authorship: Including an individual's name without their knowledge or consent.

Any suspected unethical authorship practice may be investigated according to the journal's publication ethics procedures.

8. Artificial Intelligence and Authorship

Artificial intelligence systems, including generative AI tools and large language models, cannot be designated as authors or co-authors.

AI systems do not satisfy the journal's authorship requirements because they cannot provide informed approval, accept ethical responsibility, or be held accountable for published research.

Authors remain responsible for verifying the accuracy, originality, and scholarly integrity of any AI-assisted content included in their manuscripts.

The use of generative AI must be disclosed in accordance with the journal's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy.

9. Authorship Disputes and Misconduct

Disputes concerning authorship eligibility, contribution recognition, authorship order, or unauthorized inclusion or exclusion of authors should initially be addressed by the authors and their respective institutions.

When a dispute cannot be resolved internally, the editorial team may request clarification, supporting documentation, or institutional investigation.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may suspend manuscript processing until the matter has been satisfactorily resolved.

Where authorship misconduct is identified after publication, the journal may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction when appropriate and in accordance with publication ethics standards.

All concerns will be handled fairly and confidentially, with opportunities for the relevant parties to provide explanations.

10. Policy References

This Authorship Criteria policy is informed by the following internationally recognized guidelines:

1. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors. https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html

2. Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Authorship and Contributorship Resources. https://publicationethics.org/

3. Contributor Roles Taxonomy (CRediT). CRediT Contributor Roles Taxonomy. https://credit.niso.org/

The Way: Jurnal Teologi dan Kependidikan reserves the right to periodically review and update this policy to maintain consistency with internationally recognized standards of research integrity and scholarly publishing.