Jurnal Edukasi dan Pembelajaran Anak Usia Dini implements a rigorous reference policy to ensure that all published articles are supported by reliable, relevant, and high-quality scholarly sources. Authors are expected to use references that reflect current developments in the field and comply with international academic standards.

1. Reference Style

The journal adopts the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition citation and referencing style. All sources cited within the text must appear in the reference list, and all references listed must be cited in the manuscript. Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and consistency of all citations and references.

2. Acceptable Sources

Primary Sources

The journal strongly encourages the use of primary scholarly sources, including:

• Peer-reviewed journal articles
• Academic books and book chapters
• Conference proceedings
• Official research reports
• Theses and dissertations from accredited institutions

Secondary Sources

The following sources may be used in a limited capacity when relevant:

• Government publications and reports
• International organization reports
• Official statistical databases
• Reputable institutional websites

References from journals indexed in Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), or SINTA 1–3 are highly recommended to enhance the academic quality of the manuscript.

The use of Wikipedia, personal blogs, social media posts, non-scholarly websites, and other unverified sources is not permitted.

3. Reference Quantity and Proportion

• Each manuscript must include a minimum of 15 references.
• At least 80% of the references must be derived from peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Authors are strongly encouraged to use references published within the last 10 years, with preference given to sources from the last 5 years to ensure the relevance and currency of the research.
• The use of English-language references and international scholarly literature is highly encouraged.
• References should be directly relevant to the research topic and contribute meaningfully to the development of the manuscript.

4. Reference Management and Language Quality Tools

Reference Management Software

Authors are required to use reference management software such as:

• Mendeley
• Zotero
• EndNote
• RefWorks

The use of reference management tools helps ensure citation consistency and reduces errors in formatting and referencing.

Grammar and Similarity Checking Tools

Authors are encouraged to use language-editing and proofreading tools, such as:

• Grammarly
• QuillBot Grammar Checker
• LanguageTool

Prior to submission, manuscripts should also be screened using plagiarism detection software, including:

• Turnitin
• iThenticate
• Similarity Check

to ensure compliance with the journal’s plagiarism policy.

5. APA 7th Edition Citation Examples

In-Text Citations

One Author

• (Rahman, 2021)
• Rahman (2021)

Two Authors

• (Sari & Putra, 2020)
• Sari and Putra (2020)

Three or More Authors

• (Lestari et al., 2019)

Reference List Examples

Journal Article

Lestari, A., Nugroho, B., & Wijaya, C. (2019). The role of early childhood education in cognitive development. Journal of Early Learning, 15(2), 123–135. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Book

Rahman, D. (2021). Early childhood education in a global perspective. Pustaka Ilmu.

Conference Proceeding

Sari, M., & Putra, H. (2020). Digital storytelling in early childhood education. Proceedings of the International Conference on Education, 3(1), 45–56.

Online Source

Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. (2022). Early childhood education policy. https://www.kemdikbud.go.id/xxxxx

6. Reference Quality Standards

The editorial board reserves the right to request authors to update, replace, or improve references that are outdated, irrelevant, incomplete, or derived from non-scholarly sources. Manuscripts that fail to meet the journal’s reference requirements may be returned for revision prior to peer review.

Through this reference policy, Jurnal Edukasi dan Pembelajaran Anak Usia Dini seeks to ensure that every published article is grounded in credible scientific evidence, contributes meaningfully to academic discourse, and meets international standards of scholarly publishing.