Peer Review:
LJH has a double blind review process: Each paper goes through an editorial review as well as a second and/or third review by an anonymous reviewer. The review process takes from six to twelve weeks. The final decision on publishing an article is taken by the editorial board.
Open Access Policy:
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
1. CREATIVE COMMON LICENSE Attribution-Noncommercial- Noderivates 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
2. ACCESS AND ATTRIBUTION Published papers (new and archived) of the Legon Journal of the Humanities (LJH) can be freely downloaded from its website in compliance with its gratis open access policy. Citation of a paper from LJH should include name of quoted author, journal title, volume, number, title of paper, page, year of publication, and Digital Object Identifier (DOI)/Uniform Resource Locator(URL).
3. COPYRIGHT The copyright of all papers published in Legon Journal of the Humanities is vested in the College of Humanities, University of Ghana. By agreeing to publish the accepted version of the paper in LJH, potential authors automatically cede copyright of the manuscript to the College of Humanities, University of Ghana. This notwithstanding, authors may use parts of their published articles for non-commercial purposes, e.g., course material, conferences, and online academic profile.
Publication Scheduling:
Two issues per year.
General:
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Indexation
Focus and Scope
Founded in 1974, Legon Journal of the Humanities (LJH) is a peer-reviewed periodical published by the College of Humanities, University of Ghana. LJH welcomes the following types of contributions in the humanities from scholars in all countries:
- research articles
- reviews of new and particularly noteworthy books and films
- interviews with distinguished writers, filmmakers, and scholars
The journal is devoted to the study of the humanities, operationally conceptualized to cover not just the arts and languages but also social science disciplines, such as cultural studies, human geography, international affairs, management studies, political science, psychology, and sociology. The journal occasionally publishes theme-based issues, coordinated by guest editors. For such editions, a call for papers (CFP) is announced in a preceding issue of the journal and/or through listserv/mail shots.
For all its issues, LJH only publishes original contributions (i.e., papers that have not been published elsewhere) and therefore, disapproves of duplicate publication and multiple submissions of the same paper to different publication outlets. In consonance with best academic practices, it equally takes a very dim view of the illegitimate direct replication of material in the form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism. The Editorial Board will not only ban authors of plagiarized material from any subsequent association with the journal, but also bring any breach of intellectual property rights to the attention of the contributor’s institution.
The language of publication is English. As of Vol. 26, LJH will be published online twice a year as a gratis open access journal.
Peer Review Process
LJH has a double blind review process: Each paper goes through an editorial review as well as a second and/or third review by an anonymous reviewer. The review process takes from six to twelve weeks. The final decision on publishing an article is taken by the editorial board.
Publication Frequency
Two issues per year.
Indexation
Legon Journal of the Humanities is indexed in Modern Language Association.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Will the quality of LJH not deteriorate on account of the online migration?
No. Papers published in the online editions of the journal will be subjected to the same rigorous quality control process as the traditionally printed issues. In other words, LJH remains a refereed journal that subjects all manuscripts to ethical scrutiny and the double-blind peer review process. - Will the list of reviewers be published at the end of each volume?
No, as the journal’s application of the double-blind peer review principle precludes the divulgence, however minimal, of the identity of reviewers. - Will reviews (books/films) and interviews also be subjected to the double-blind procedure?
No. However, they will all be critically evaluated by specialists to determine their suitability for publication. - Can I make simultaneous submissions to Legon Journal of the Humanities (LJH)?
Yes, but should all such papers receive favorable verdicts from reviewers, it is only one that can be published in an issue. Besides, the journal does not publish articles by the same author in back-to-back issues. For these reasons, a contributor’s multiple accepted papers can only be published in interspersed issues of the journal. - Can my article and film review be published in the same issue of LJH?
No, the two can only be published separately in different issues of the journal. - I have just interviewed an outstanding academic. Can this interview and my paper, already accepted for publication, be published in the same issue of LJH?
No. They can only be published in different issues. - How many articles will be published in an online issue of LJH?
Between seven (7) and fifteen (15), depending on the number of accepted refereed papers. - What are the submission and processing fees charged by LJH?
LJH does not charge any fees, whatsoever, for submission and processing. - Are there deadlines for the submission of papers to LJH?
There is normally no deadline as submissions are always welcome by the journal. However, the editor gives contributors deadlines for the return of revised manuscripts prior to the issuance of letters of acceptance. Further, guest editors of theme-based issues, in the Call for Papers (CFP), set timelines for the submission of abstracts, proposals, contributions, and corrected manuscripts as well as other tasks. - How long does the review process take?
The review process may take between 2 to 6 months. The amount of time it takes to provide feedback on submissions is normally determined by reviewers’ availability and/or the need to seek another opinion in case of divergent reports from preceding evaluators. - Can I electronically monitor the progress of my paper under review?
Not at the moment. However, by the end of 2018, the journal expects to provide a tracking platform on its website for authors to generate status reports on their contributions.
- Does LJH publish papers that incorporate both the humanities and pure science?
Yes. As a matter of fact, sub-branches of many disciplines in the humanities (archaeology, geography, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, etc.) either have an exact science component or use the scientific method. - Does LJH accept co-authored papers?
Yes, since the journal does not discriminate between single-authored and multiple-authored papers. - When will LJH be indexed?
LJH is already indexed in Modern Languages Association database. LJH has also started the process of getting the abstracts and descriptors of its articles to be indexed and cited in electronic databases, such as Scopus, Open Journal Systems (OPS), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), ASAOnline (Leiden), CLOCKSS, and CAB Abstracts. By mid-2018, it is anticipated that abstracts and descriptors of LJH articles will be indexed in some of these databases. - Is it truly possible for reviewers to consider a manuscript publishable in its current form?
Yes. Although most reviewers submit reports recommending minor or substantial modifications to manuscripts as a condition for publication, it is still possible for even three reviewers to agree on the impeccability of a submission. In other words, though a very rare occurrence, the “perfect” manuscript is still writable. - Does LJH accept conference proceedings for publication?
Yes, but only as a theme-based, guest-edited, and refereed issue. - Does LJH accept conference papers for publication?
Yes, once a paper has not been submitted and will not be submitted for potential publication in conference proceedings, it can be sent to the journal for review.
- How many interviews are publishable in an issue of LJH?
Maximum of three (3) - How many book and film reviews can LJH publish in one issue?
Maximum of ten (10) - Can I use weblogs, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media platforms as sources in a “serious” academic paper submitted to LJH?
Yes. It bears noting that social media provide a credible platform and an increasingly inevitable site for the generation, dissemination, and sharing of knowledge in our Information/Digital Age. - What is the role of the LJH Advisory Board?
Members of the Advisory Board:
help the Editorial Board in the formulation of policy and also offer contributions towards the journal's sustainability, positive transformation, and compliance with international best practices
assist the editorial board in shaping the intellectual direction of the journal - Where can I find the journal’s guide for contributors?
On the journal’s webpage: www.coh.ug.edu/ljh/guideforcontributors
- Whom shall I contact if I do not find my question on the FAQ list?
The journal’s editor: editorljh@ug.edu.gh
Sources of Support
- Institutional Funds; Sale of hard copies
Legon Journal of the Humanities is indexed in Modern Language Association.
- Will the quality of LJH not deteriorate on account of the online migration?
No. Papers published in the online editions of the journal will be subjected to the same rigorous quality control process as the traditionally printed issues. In other words, LJH remains a refereed journal that subjects all manuscripts to ethical scrutiny and the double-blind peer review process. - Will the list of reviewers be published at the end of each volume?
No, as the journal’s application of the double-blind peer review principle precludes the divulgence, however minimal, of the identity of reviewers. - Will reviews (books/films) and interviews also be subjected to the double-blind procedure?
No. However, they will all be critically evaluated by specialists to determine their suitability for publication. - Can I make simultaneous submissions to Legon Journal of the Humanities (LJH)?
Yes, but should all such papers receive favorable verdicts from reviewers, it is only one that can be published in an issue. Besides, the journal does not publish articles by the same author in back-to-back issues. For these reasons, a contributor’s multiple accepted papers can only be published in interspersed issues of the journal. - Can my article and film review be published in the same issue of LJH?
No, the two can only be published separately in different issues of the journal. - I have just interviewed an outstanding academic. Can this interview and my paper, already accepted for publication, be published in the same issue of LJH?
No. They can only be published in different issues. - How many articles will be published in an online issue of LJH?
Between seven (7) and fifteen (15), depending on the number of accepted refereed papers. - What are the submission and processing fees charged by LJH?
LJH does not charge any fees, whatsoever, for submission and processing. - Are there deadlines for the submission of papers to LJH?
There is normally no deadline as submissions are always welcome by the journal. However, the editor gives contributors deadlines for the return of revised manuscripts prior to the issuance of letters of acceptance. Further, guest editors of theme-based issues, in the Call for Papers (CFP), set timelines for the submission of abstracts, proposals, contributions, and corrected manuscripts as well as other tasks. - How long does the review process take?
The review process may take between 2 to 6 months. The amount of time it takes to provide feedback on submissions is normally determined by reviewers’ availability and/or the need to seek another opinion in case of divergent reports from preceding evaluators. - Can I electronically monitor the progress of my paper under review?
Not at the moment. However, by the end of 2018, the journal expects to provide a tracking platform on its website for authors to generate status reports on their contributions.
- Does LJH publish papers that incorporate both the humanities and pure science?
Yes. As a matter of fact, sub-branches of many disciplines in the humanities (archaeology, geography, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, etc.) either have an exact science component or use the scientific method. - Does LJH accept co-authored papers?
Yes, since the journal does not discriminate between single-authored and multiple-authored papers. - When will LJH be indexed?
LJH is already indexed in Modern Languages Association database. LJH has also started the process of getting the abstracts and descriptors of its articles to be indexed and cited in electronic databases, such as Scopus, Open Journal Systems (OPS), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), ASAOnline (Leiden), CLOCKSS, and CAB Abstracts. By mid-2018, it is anticipated that abstracts and descriptors of LJH articles will be indexed in some of these databases. - Is it truly possible for reviewers to consider a manuscript publishable in its current form?
Yes. Although most reviewers submit reports recommending minor or substantial modifications to manuscripts as a condition for publication, it is still possible for even three reviewers to agree on the impeccability of a submission. In other words, though a very rare occurrence, the “perfect” manuscript is still writable. - Does LJH accept conference proceedings for publication?
Yes, but only as a theme-based, guest-edited, and refereed issue. - Does LJH accept conference papers for publication?
Yes, once a paper has not been submitted and will not be submitted for potential publication in conference proceedings, it can be sent to the journal for review.
- How many interviews are publishable in an issue of LJH?
Maximum of three (3) - How many book and film reviews can LJH publish in one issue?
Maximum of ten (10) - Can I use weblogs, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media platforms as sources in a “serious” academic paper submitted to LJH?
Yes. It bears noting that social media provide a credible platform and an increasingly inevitable site for the generation, dissemination, and sharing of knowledge in our Information/Digital Age. - What is the role of the LJH Advisory Board?
Members of the Advisory Board:
help the Editorial Board in the formulation of policy and also offer contributions towards the journal's sustainability, positive transformation, and compliance with international best practices
assist the editorial board in shaping the intellectual direction of the journal - Where can I find the journal’s guide for contributors?
On the journal’s webpage: www.coh.ug.edu/ljh/guideforcontributors
- Whom shall I contact if I do not find my question on the FAQ list?
The journal’s editor: editorljh@ug.edu.gh
Journal Identifiers
eISSN: 2458-746X
print ISSN: 0855-1502
