Manuscript Preparation

This page provides instructions for preparing and formatting manuscripts submitted to Counseling Milenial (CM), a scholarly journal of guidance and counseling published by Universitas Muhammadiyah Metro, Indonesia.

Authors must prepare their manuscripts using the official journal template and follow the requirements outlined below. Manuscripts should demonstrate scientific originality, methodological rigor, ethical integrity, and a meaningful contribution to guidance and counseling, educational psychology, or related educational disciplines.

Official Manuscript Template

Authors must use the official manuscript template provided by Counseling Milenial (CM).

DOWNLOAD MANUSCRIPT TEMPLATE

The template's page size, margins, font specifications, line spacing, heading styles, and table and figure formatting must be maintained. Authors should not substitute formatting requirements from other journals.

1. GENERAL FORMAT

Component Requirements
File Format Editable Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx).
Language Academic Indonesian or English, written clearly and consistently.
Manuscript Length Normally 4,000–7,000 words, including references, tables, and figures.
Abstract Recommended length of 150–250 words.
Keywords 3–5 specific keywords or phrases.
Citation Style American Psychological Association (APA), 7th edition.
Page Layout Follow the official Counseling Milenial manuscript template.
Originality Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not simultaneously submitted to another journal.

Manuscripts must be written in clear, coherent, and academically appropriate language. Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their research findings, references, and reported information.

2. TITLE, AUTHOR INFORMATION, ABSTRACT, AND KEYWORDS

2.1. Title

The manuscript title must be concise, informative, and accurately represent the research objectives, principal variables, population, or counseling intervention being investigated.

Authors should avoid unnecessary abbreviations, overly general expressions, and claims that are not supported by the research.

2.2. Author Information

The manuscript must include the following information:

  • Full names of all authors without academic titles.

  • Institutional affiliations, including institution and country.

  • Email address of the corresponding author.

  • ORCID identifiers, where available.

The order of authors should reflect their scholarly contributions and be agreed upon before submission.

2.3. Abstract

The abstract must provide a clear and self-contained summary of the study. It should normally contain:

  1. Background: A brief explanation of the research problem or context.

  2. Objective: The primary purpose of the study.

  3. Method: Research design, participants, instruments, interventions where applicable, and data analysis.

  4. Results: The principal findings supported by the research data.

  5. Conclusion: The main conclusion and its implications for guidance and counseling practice or educational psychology.

The abstract should not include citations, unexplained abbreviations, unsupported conclusions, or information absent from the main manuscript.

2.4. Keywords

Authors must provide 3–5 keywords representing the central concepts of the study.

Keywords should reflect the research topic, counseling approach, psychological construct, target population, or educational context.

Examples include school counseling, career maturity, academic resilience, group counseling, and self-regulation.

3. ORGANIZATION OF THE MAIN TEXT

3.1. Introduction

The Introduction should establish the scientific and practical relevance of the research within guidance and counseling, psychology, or educational psychology.

This section should include:

  • Background and context of the research problem.

  • Theoretical and empirical evidence from relevant scholarly literature.

  • Critical discussion of previous studies.

  • Identification of the research gap.

  • Scientific novelty and expected contribution.

  • Research objectives, questions, or hypotheses.

Authors should explain why the research is necessary and how it contributes to the development of counseling theories, professional practices, educational interventions, or understanding of psychological and educational phenomena.

The Introduction should not merely summarize previous studies but critically synthesize the literature to establish a clear rationale for the research.

3.2. Research Method

The Research Method section must describe the procedures used to conduct the study in sufficient detail to allow readers to assess its methodological quality.

Authors should explain the following elements, as applicable:

Research Design

Specify the research approach and design, such as quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational, case study, phenomenological, or research and development.

Participants and Research Setting

Describe the research population, sample size, participant characteristics, research setting, sampling procedures, and inclusion or exclusion criteria where relevant.

Research Instruments

Identify the instruments used to collect data, including psychological scales, questionnaires, interviews, observation sheets, counseling assessment instruments, or other relevant measures.

For quantitative studies, provide appropriate evidence of instrument validity and reliability.

Research Procedures

Explain the stages of data collection and research implementation.

For intervention-based counseling research, describe the counseling approach, techniques, session structure, duration, and implementation procedures.

Data Analysis

Explain the statistical or qualitative analysis methods used to address the research questions.

Quantitative studies should report appropriate statistical procedures, while qualitative studies should explain coding, categorization, theme development, or other analytical techniques.

Research Ethics

Studies involving human participants must address relevant ethical considerations, including informed consent, confidentiality, voluntary participation, protection of personal information, and institutional ethical approval where applicable.

Additional safeguards should be explained for research involving children, adolescents, counseling clients, or other vulnerable participants.

3.3. Results and Discussion

Results

The Results section must present the principal research findings systematically and objectively.

Results should be organized according to the research objectives, questions, or hypotheses.

Quantitative studies should report appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics, including sample sizes, relevant statistical values, significance levels, confidence intervals, and effect sizes where applicable.

Qualitative studies should present themes, categories, participant perspectives, or other relevant evidence supported by appropriate data excerpts.

For counseling intervention studies, authors should report findings related to intervention implementation and outcomes without overstating causal relationships.

Tables and figures should be used when they improve the clarity and interpretation of research findings.

Discussion

The Discussion section must critically interpret the research findings and explain their theoretical and practical significance.

Authors should:

  • Relate the findings to the research objectives and relevant theoretical frameworks.

  • Compare the findings with previous empirical studies.

  • Explain similarities, differences, or unexpected results.

  • Discuss implications for school counselors, professional counselors, educators, or educational institutions.

  • Identify methodological limitations and possible alternative interpretations.

  • Explain the contribution of the findings to guidance and counseling knowledge and practice.

The Discussion should go beyond repeating statistical results or summarizing findings. It should demonstrate how the research advances understanding of counseling-related problems, processes, or interventions.

3.4. Conclusion

The Conclusion must directly address the research objectives and summarize the principal contributions of the study.

It should emphasize the significance of the findings for guidance and counseling theory, counseling services, educational psychology, or relevant educational practices.

Recommendations for professional practice and future research may be included when supported by the findings.

Authors should avoid introducing new data, unsupported generalizations, or claims beyond the limitations of the research design.

4. TABLES, FIGURES, AND OTHER DISPLAY MATERIALS

Tables, figures, charts, and other visual materials must support the presentation and interpretation of research findings.

Authors must follow these requirements:

  • Number tables and figures consecutively according to their first appearance in the manuscript.

  • Provide informative titles and captions following the official journal template.

  • Refer to every table and figure in the main text.

  • Present tables in an editable format rather than as screenshots.

  • Ensure that figures, diagrams, and statistical charts remain clear and readable.

  • Explain abbreviations, measurement units, statistical symbols, and relevant notes.

  • Identify the sources of reproduced or adapted materials.

  • Avoid unnecessary duplication between tables, figures, and textual explanations.

For studies involving psychological assessments or counseling interventions, tables should clearly identify variables, indicators, assessment dimensions, or intervention outcomes.

5. RESEARCH REPORTING AND DISCIPLINARY REQUIREMENTS

Because Counseling Milenial (CM) focuses on guidance and counseling, psychology, and educational psychology, manuscripts should follow reporting practices appropriate to their research design.

Quantitative Research

Clearly report variables, operational definitions, sampling procedures, instruments, statistical assumptions, analytical techniques, and findings.

Qualitative Research

Describe participant selection, data collection, analytical procedures, researcher reflexivity where relevant, and strategies for establishing research trustworthiness.

Experimental and Counseling Intervention Research

Explain the intervention rationale, counseling techniques, treatment procedures, comparison conditions where applicable, outcome measurements, and limitations affecting the interpretation of intervention effectiveness.

Research and Development

Describe the development model, needs analysis, product design, validation procedures, revision stages, and product evaluation.

Literature Reviews and Conceptual Studies

Present clear review objectives, literature selection procedures where applicable, analytical approaches, critical synthesis, and theoretical or practical contributions.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses should follow relevant established reporting standards, such as PRISMA, where applicable.

6. CITATIONS AND REFERENCES

Manuscripts should use the American Psychological Association (APA), 7th edition, for in-text citations and reference lists.

6.1. In-Text Citations

Use the author–date citation system consistently.

Examples:

  • Narrative citation: Bandura (1997) explains that self-efficacy influences individual behavior.

  • Parenthetical citation: Self-efficacy plays an important role in individual behavior (Bandura, 1997).

All in-text citations must correspond to entries in the reference list.

6.2. Reference List

Authors should:

  • Prioritize relevant peer-reviewed scientific journal articles.

  • Use recent scholarly literature while retaining essential foundational theories.

  • Include primary sources related to counseling theories, psychological constructs, educational interventions, and research methodology.

  • Provide complete and accurate bibliographic information.

  • Include valid DOI links when available.

  • Ensure consistency between in-text citations and the reference list.

  • Use reference management software such as Mendeley, Zotero, or EndNote where possible.

References must be arranged alphabetically according to APA 7th edition.

Authors are responsible for verifying the accuracy and accessibility of all cited sources.

7. ETHICAL AND TRANSPARENCY DECLARATIONS

Authors should provide relevant declarations in accordance with the journal's editorial policies and the nature of their research.

7.1. Author Contributions

Describe the contributions of individual authors to research conceptualization, methodology, data collection, analysis, manuscript preparation, and revision where required.

7.2. Funding

Disclose financial support, research grants, or institutional funding associated with the study.

7.3. Conflicts of Interest

Declare any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the research or its interpretation.

7.4. Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

For research involving human participants, authors must explain the relevant ethical safeguards and provide ethical approval information where required.

Research involving counseling clients, students, children, or adolescents must protect participants' dignity, privacy, confidentiality, and welfare.

7.5. Data Availability

Authors should provide information about the availability of supporting research data where appropriate, subject to confidentiality, consent, institutional regulations, and applicable ethical restrictions.

7.6. Use of Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools

Authors must remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and scholarly validity of their manuscripts.

Any substantive use of generative artificial intelligence in manuscript preparation or research analysis should be disclosed in accordance with the journal's applicable AI policy.

AI tools must not be listed as authors.

7.7. Acknowledgments

Acknowledge individuals, institutions, or organizations that supported the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship.

8. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Authors may submit supplementary materials that support the transparency, interpretation, or reproducibility of their research.

Such materials may include:

  • Counseling intervention protocols or session plans.

  • Research instruments and assessment guidelines.

  • Interview guides or observation protocols.

  • Additional statistical analyses.

  • Validation documentation.

  • Supporting tables, figures, or methodological information.

Supplementary materials must be clearly identified and appropriately referenced in the manuscript.

Authors must not disclose confidential counseling records, identifiable participant information, or sensitive psychological assessment data without appropriate authorization and ethical safeguards.

9. FINAL MANUSCRIPT CHECKLIST

Before submission, authors should ensure that:

  1. The manuscript is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.

  2. The topic is relevant to the journal's focus and scope.

  3. The official Counseling Milenial manuscript template has been followed.

  4. The title, abstract, and keywords accurately reflect the study.

  5. The Introduction clearly identifies the research problem, gap, objectives, and contribution.

  6. The Research Method provides sufficient methodological information.

  7. The Results are accurately reported and supported by research evidence.

  8. The Discussion critically interprets findings in relation to relevant literature.

  9. The Conclusion is consistent with the research findings.

  10. Citations and references are complete and consistently formatted.

  11. Ethical considerations and relevant declarations have been addressed.

  12. All tables, figures, and supplementary materials are appropriately identified.

Related Instructions and Assistance

Authors should consult the journal's official Author Guidelines, manuscript template, and submission requirements before submitting their manuscripts.

Journal Website: https://scholar.ummetro.ac.id/index.php/konselor/index

Publisher: Universitas Muhammadiyah Metro, Indonesia.

Compliance with manuscript preparation requirements does not guarantee acceptance. All submissions remain subject to editorial assessment and the journal's peer-review procedures.