Author Guidelines - Buletin Pengabdian

1. General information 

• Manuscripts must be original, have not been published previously in any scientific journal, that manuscripts are not being submitted for publication elsewhere, and will not be submitted to any media during the review process, unless the authors have officially withdrawn the manuscripts from Buletin Pengabdian. The journal uses a similarity check program to prevent any suspected plagiarism in the manuscripts.
• Manuscripts encompass a broad range of research topics in community engagement: community service activities ("PENGMAS"), the student study service (Kuliah Kerja Nyata or KKN), technical guidance, models or concepts, agriculture extension, rural development and agriculture economics studies, and or other implementations to increase community participation in development and community empowerment.

2. Manuscript file

• Manuscripts are written in English and used stan­dard scientific usage. Authors whose first language is not English should consult the manuscript with English editing service before submit it to Buletin Pengabdian.
• The manuscript should preferably be prepared in MS Word using Times New Roman 12 with 2 line spaces, except the title, abstract, table titles, image titles, and bibliography should be typed in 1 line space. The indent for the first line is 0.5 cm.
• The manuscript should be written in A4 (210 x 297 mm) size paper with a 1″ (2.54 cm) margin on each side.
• All pages must be numbered in the upper right corner and line-numbered continuously.
• Manuscripts should be prepared in English language. It must be clear and concise. 
• All the manuscripts must comply with the journal instructions. Failure to do so will result in the return of the manuscript and a delay in the publication process.
• Please use the template we already prepared for the Author(s) for consistency and convenience.  
• The manuscript should be sent through the official website (Submissions | Buletin Pengabdian Bulletin of Community Services), or if there are any problems, please send the manuscript to the journal email (buletin.pengabdian@usk.ac.id) for quick review and publication process.

3. Content of manuscript 

• Title

  • The title must be concise, specific, and informative, clearly reflecting the content, scope, and main contribution of the manuscript.
  • The title should not exceed 20 words and should avoid abbreviations where possible.

   

  Authors’ Names and Affiliations

  Buletin Pengabdian applies a double-blind peer review process.

  • DO NOT include author names, affiliations, or acknowledgements in the manuscript file (Word document).
  • Author names, affiliations (Division/Departement, Faculty, University, City, State), ORCID IDs, and correspondence details must be entered only during the online submission process.

  Manuscripts that contain identifying author information will be returned for correction prior to review.

   

  Abstract

  • Abstract must be written in English, in single paragraph and no more than 250 words.
  • The abstract should briefly and clearly present:
    • Background (1–2 sentences),
    • Objectives,
    • Methods,
    • Results, and
    •  

  Keywords: first keyword; second keyword; third keyword (Three to five keywords arranged alphabetically) following SDGs standards https://sdgs.un.org/goals

   

  Introduction

  Authors must follow the format and style guidelines of Buletin Pengabdian. Manuscript templates and detailed instructions are available at: https://publications.usk.ac.id/index.php/bulletin-of-community-services/author-guidelines.

  • The manuscript must be written in standard scientific English and prepared using Microsoft Word.
  • Graphs should be created using Microsoft Excel.
  • Images must be in JPEG, PNG, or TIFF format.
  • Manuscript must type using Times New Roman font at 11 pt with 1 spacing.
  • Manuscript made in A4 paper, margins on all four his side is 1″ (2.54 cm), and the number of page script maximum 16 pages (not including reference).
  • The introduction must include the following elements:1) background and context, 2) problem identification, 3) research gap, novelty, and contribution, 4). objectives, 5) expected benefits and societal impact

   

  Citation Style

  In-text citations must follow the author year system:

  • More than two authors: (Hafizuddin et al., 2020)
  • Narrative citation: According to Jacob et al. (2011), …
  • Multiple citations (ordered by alphabeth): (Hafizuddin et al., 2020; Mosallanejad et al., 2011; Siregar et al., 2016)
  • Single author: (Georgi, 1980) or Georgi (1980)

  Electronic sources may be used if published by reputable institutions (government agencies, or recognized organizations)

   

  Method

  The Methods section should clearly describe:

  • The procedures used to implement the community service activities, and
  • The methods used to measure and evaluate the impacts (e.g., before–after evaluation).

   

  For PKM/KKN programs, procedures should be presented concisely in sequential stages, with sufficient detail to allow replication of the activities.

   

  Subheadings

  • Main subheadings: Capitalize the first letter of each word and use bold formatting.
  • Sub-subheadings: Only the first word is capitalized, written in bold, placed at the beginning of a paragraph, and followed by a period.

   

  Results and Discussion

  Results and discussion must be presented scientifically and coherently.

  Results may be presented in narrative form, tables, figures, or other illustrations. All tables and figures must be numbered and cited in the text (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1).

  The discussion should:

  • Interpret the results,
  • Analyze the impacts of the activities, and
  • Compare findings with relevant previous studies. (minimal five references or citations)

  References should primarily come from peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings. Avoid repeating content already presented in the Introduction or Methods.

   

  Example Table and Figure:

  Table 1. Short and effective table title

  Xxxxxxxxxxxxx	Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx		Xxxxxx		Xxxxxx
  	Xxxxxx	Xxxxxx	Xxxxxx	Xxxxxx	Xxxxxx	Xxxxxx
  Xxxxxx xxxxxx
  Xxxxxx xxxxxx
  Xxxxxx xxxxxx

  Description: Xxxxxx

  

  Figure 1. Short and effective figure title

   

  Conclusion

  The conclusion should present the main findings and impacts of the activities in a concise and standalone manner briefly. Avoid repeating statements from the Results section.

   

  Acknowledgements

  We follow double blind peer review process. SO, PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE THIS SECTION AT SUBMISSION BUT INCLUDE DETAILS OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ALONG WITH FUND IN AUTHOR DECLARATION CERTIFICATE. HOWEVER, WE ASK TO INCLUDE THIS SECTION IN REVISION OF THE MANUSCRIPT.

   

  Competing Interests

  Please declare the competing interests if any otherwise declare that authors have no competing interests.

   

  References

  All references must follow APA Style (7th edition). Authors are encouraged to use reference management software such as EndNote, Mendeley, or Zotero. References should be arranged alphabetically by the first author’s surname. For multiple works by the same author published in the same year, use a, b, c, and so on after the year. References may include journal articles, conference proceedings, books, book chapters, official documents, theses or dissertations, online news, and official websites. The manuscript must include at least 15 references, with more than 80% published within the last 10 years, and over 80% of the references must come from peer-reviewed journals, proceedings, theses, or dissertations.

   

  Journal

  Hafizuddin, H., Karja, N. W. K., Praharani, L., & Setiadi, M. A. (2020). Adiponectin and testosterone levels and their correlation with fertility in Anglo-Nubian × Etawah grade crossbred bucks. Tropical Animal Science Journal, 43(2), 110–116. doi:https://doi.org/10.5398/tasj.2020.43.2.110

  Book

  Siregar, T. N. (2006). Fisiologi reproduksi hewan betina [Physiology reproduction of female animals]. USK Press. Banda Aceh.

   

  Book Chapter

  Garner, D., & Hafez, E. (2000). Spermatozoa and seminal plasma. In E. S. E. Hafez & B. Hafez (Eds.), Reproduction in farm animals (7th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia.

   

  Proceedings

  Abidin, T. F., Misbullah, A., Ferdhiana, R., Aksana, M. Z., & Farsiah, L. (2020). Deep neural network for automatic speech recognition from Indonesian audio using several lexicon types. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Electrical Engineering and Informatics. doi:https://doi.org/10.1109/ICELTICs50595.2020.9315538 

   

  Thesis/ Dissertation

  Hafizuddin, H. (2020). Kajian hubungan adiponektin dan fertilitas pada kambing jantan persilangan Anglo Nubian dengan Peranakan Etawah [Study of the relationship of adiponectin and fertility in buck of Anglo Nubian Crossing with Etawah Grade] (Disertasi). IPB University. Bogor.

   

  Web

  BPS (Badan Pusat Statistik). (2021). Peternakan. https://www.bps.go.id/subject/24/peternakan.html

   

  *Note: Authors are strongly encouraged to consult recently published articles in Buletin Pengabdian to ensure full compliance with the journal’s writing standards.Two authors: (Ball & Peters, 2004) or Ball and Peters (2004)

4. Guidelines for Manuscript Preparation: Input & Output Variables

1. Minimum Data Requirements

All manuscripts must systematically analyze at least two core variables:

• Input Variable (Baseline Data)
• Output Variable (Impact Data)

These variables should be derived from empirical evidence collected before and after community empowerment programs.

2. Input Variables (Baseline Data)

Definition: Quantitative/qualitative data describing pre-intervention conditions of target communities.

Required Categories (Select ≥2):

Category	Key Indicators	Measurement Tools
Economic	Per capita income, poverty rate, employment access, asset ownership	Surveys, government reports (e.g., BPS data)
Social	Education level, health status, social participation, information access	Questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs)
Environmental	Living conditions, clean water/sanitation access	Field observations, environmental indices
Institutional	Community organizations, trust levels, public service access	Institutional mapping, interviews

Example:
"Baseline data revealed 62% of households lacked access to clean water (pre-intervention), measured via WHO water quality tests."

3. Output Variables (Impact Data)

Definition: Measurable changes attributable to the empowerment program.

Required Categories (Select ≥2):

Category	Key Indicators	Measurement Methods
Economic Impact	Income change, poverty reduction, new livelihoods	Comparative statistical analysis (t-tests)
Social Impact	School enrollment rates, health indicators, civic engagement	Pre-post surveys, case studies
Capacity Building	Leadership skills, community organizing, self-efficacy scales	Participatory rural appraisal (PRA)
Environmental Impact	Water/sanitation improvements, waste management	Environmental audits

Example:
"Post-intervention, average income increased by 35% (p<0.05), validated through household income surveys."

4. Reporting Standards

• Quantitative Data: Report means ± SD, p-values, and effect sizes (Cohen’s d).
• Qualitative Data: Use thematic analysis with representative quotes.
• Visualization: Include comparative tables/figures (e.g., bar charts showing pre-post differences).

Template for Data Presentation:

Table 1. Comparison of Input-Output Variables

Indicator	Pre-Intervention	Post-Intervention	Change (%)	p-value
Poverty rate	45%	32%	↓13%	0.02*
School attendance	68%	85%	↑17%	0.01*

5. Ethical Considerations

• Data Collection: Obtain informed consent and ethical approval (specify review board).
• Limitations: Address confounding factors (e.g., external economic changes).

Recommended Frameworks:

• OECD DAC Criteria for impact evaluation
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) alignment (e.g., SDG 1, 3, 6)

Example Manuscript Section:
"Using a mixed-methods approach, input variables (education access, sanitation) were assessed via village censuses, while output variables (literacy rates, water quality) were evaluated through randomized sampling. Results demonstrated a 40% improvement in sanitation access (SD=2.1, p<0.05), directly correlating with hygiene training sessions (r=0.72)."

 

5. 5. Submission

The author should fill the form as detailed as possible where the star-marked form must be entered. After all form of textbox was filled, the Author clicked on the “Register” button to proceed with the registration. Therefore, the Author is brought to the online author submission interface where the Author should click on “New Submission”. In the Start of a New Submission section, click on  'Click Here’: to go to step one of the five-step submission process”. The following are five steps in the online submission process:

1. Step 1 - Starting the Submission: please tick the box "The authors agree to the terms of this Copyright Notice, which will apply to this submission if and when it is published by this journal (comments to the editor can be added below)". 
2. Step 2 – Uploading the Submission: To upload a manuscript to this journal, click Browse on the Upload submission file item and choose the manuscript document file (.doc/.docx) to be submitted, then click the "Upload" button until the file has been uploaded.
3. Step 3 – Entering Submission’s Metadata: In this step, detailed author metadata should be entered including marking the corresponding author. After that, the manuscript title and abstract must be uploaded by copying the text and paste in the textbox including keywords.
4. Step 4 – Uploading Supplementary Files: Supplementary files should be uploaded including Covering/Submission Letter, and Signed Copyright Transfer Agreement Form. Therefore, click on the Browse button, choose the files, and then click on the Upload button.
5. Step 5 – Confirmation: The author should final check the uploaded manuscript documents in this step. To submit the manuscript to Buletin Pengabdian: Bulletin of Community Services (Bull. Community. Serv.), click the Finish Submission button after the document is true. The corresponding author or the principal contact will receive an acknowledgment by email. It will be able to view the submission’s progress through the editorial process by logging into the journal web address site.

After this submission, Authors who submit the manuscript will get a confirmation email about the submission. Therefore, Authors can track their submission status at any time by logging in to the online submission interface. The submission tracking includes the status of the manuscript review and editorial process.

 

6. Review Process

Buletin Pengabdian implements a double-blind peer-review process to ensure the quality, validity, and relevance of research published in this journal. This policy outlines the procedures and criteria involved in peer review, ensuring transparency and fairness for authors and readers.

After a manuscript is submitted, it will undergo an initial screening by the editorial team to assess its adherence to journal guidelines and relevance to the journal's scope.

Authors are encouraged to suggest at least five potential reviewers, including their names and email addresses. However, the final decision regarding reviewer selection rests with the editor-in-chief, who will consider the reviewers' expertise and availability.

Typically, each manuscript is reviewed by two independent reviewers. This double-blind review system helps ensure a balanced evaluation of manuscripts. Manuscript Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers are asked to evaluate manuscripts based on the following criteria: 1) originality and significance of the research, 2) clarity and coherence of the writing, 3) methodological rigor and appropriateness of the research design, 4) adequate analysis and interpretation of the results, 5) contribution to the field of community service and related disciplines, and 6) adherence to ethical standards.

Review times are typically 2 to 4 weeks. However, this time may vary depending on reviewer availability and the complexity of the manuscript.

Reviewers are recruited based on their expertise in relevant fields, publication track record, and previous contributions to the scientific community. The editorial team strives to maintain a diverse review team to ensure a broad perspective in the evaluation process.

Once the review is complete, the editorial team will make a decision regarding the manuscript (accept, revise, or reject) based on the reviewer feedback. Authors will receive the reviewer's comments and the editorial decision.

Approved manuscripts will be reviewed online as soon as possible after being received from the authors and will be revised by the editor-in-chief.

The peer review process at Buletin Pengabdian is designed to uphold the integrity and quality of published research. We are committed to transparency, fairness, and continuous improvement in our review process to better serve our authors and readers.