Author Guidelines

About the Journal

The Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research (HRRI) is an international scientific journal that publishes original research articles, review papers, preliminary reports, professional papers, and other contributions. The journal is intended for researchers, professionals, and practitioners involved in education, rehabilitation, speech and language pathology, social pedagogy, public health, and related interdisciplinary fields. Topics include:

Development and Functional Difficulties

  • Cognitive, motor, and socio-emotional aspects of development and related difficulties
  • Communication, language, and speech–voice development and associated difficulties

Assessment, Support, Education, and Rehabilitation

  • Speech and language pathology, special education and rehabilitation, and social pedagogy assessment/diagnostics
  • Inclusive and supportive approaches to education and rehabilitation
  • Support, therapy, and intervention

Prevention and Social Inclusion

  • Prevention of behavioural problems and promotion of mental health
  • Criminological and other approaches to social integration/inclusion

Interdisciplinary and Public Health Perspectives

  • Related topics in biomedicine and health, social sciences, humanities, technical sciences, and interdisciplinary areas (science, art)
  • Research focused on quality of life and well-being of vulnerable groups and relevant stakeholders

The journal is published twice a year. In addition to regular issues, thematic issues are occasionally published.

Types of Contributions

The journal publishes the following types of papers:

  1. Original Scientific Paper
    • Original quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research with transparent methodology and verifiable or replicable results.
    • Maximum length: 8,000 words (including abstract, tables, figures, and references).
  2. Preliminary Communication
    • A brief presentation of a part of a broader or ongoing study containing important but preliminary findings.
    • Maximum length: 4,000 words (including abstract, tables, figures, and references).
  3. Review Article
    • A systematic, critical review of the literature on a given topic, including author contributions such as new classifications, syntheses, or theoretical frameworks.
    • Maximum length: 9,000 words (including abstract, tables, figures, and references).
  4. Professional or Practical Paper
    • Application of existing research knowledge or methodological approaches relevant to the journal’s scope. The focus is on benefits for the profession, education, or practitioners, without requiring originality.
    • Maximum length: 6,000 words (including abstract, tables, figures, and references).
  5. Book Review / Scholarly Commentary
    • Critical analysis and evaluation of a book, handbook, or professional publication relevant to rehabilitation research, outlining the context, contribution, strengths, and limitations.
    • Maximum length: 2,000 words (including references).
  6. Commentaries / Perspectives
    • Short texts providing critical reflections on published papers, theoretical or methodological discussions, or professional reflections on current topics in education and rehabilitation research.
    • Maximum length: 3,000 words (including references).

Language of Manuscripts

  • Manuscripts must be submitted in English (British English).
  • A Croatian version may be attached, but the manuscript cannot be submitted solely in Croatian.
  • Authors are responsible for the quality and linguistic accuracy of the translation.

Submission of Manuscripts

  • Manuscripts must be submitted exclusively online via the journal’s website:
    https://hrri.erf.unizg.hr/
  • Manuscripts submitted by e-mail will not be considered.
  • A key requirement is that the manuscript has not been previously published and is not under review elsewhere.

Cover Letter

Authors must upload a Cover Letter in the COMET system, stating:

  • title of the submitted manuscript;
  • full list of authors (order agreed upon);
  • statement of compliance with ethical standards;
  • confirmation that the manuscript is not under review or consideration by another journal.

Manuscript Structure

  • Authors upload two documents: 1. Manuscript containing: a. Title page, b. English version of the paper (Croatian optional), and 2. Cover Letter.
  • All metadata must be removed from the Word document (Properties).
  • Title Page: title of the paper, abstract (200–300 words), keywords
  • The abstract must include: research problem and aim, participant sample, instruments and methods, main results, and implications.
  • Mandatory statements (to be included on the title page or in a separate section before the references): Conflict of Interest Statement (“The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest,” or a description of any existing conflict); Funding Statement (specify the source of financial support or state that no funding was received); Ethics Approval Statement; Data Availability Statement (publicly available or available upon request).
  • Structure of Empirical Papers: Introduction – Aim / Research questions / Hypotheses – Methods – Results and Discussion – Conclusion – Acknowledgements – References.
  • If the Acknowledgements contain identifying information, they must be uploaded separately.

Technical Formatting

  • Format: MS Word (.docx)
  • Font: Calibri, 11 pt
  • Spacing: 1.5
  • Margins: 2.5 cm
  • Pages: numbered
  • Footnotes: used sparingly
  • No headers

Tables and Figures (APA 7)

  • Insert tables and figures in the text at the point of first mention.
  • Tables: number in bold (e.g., Table 1), title on the following line in italics, only horizontal lines are visible – no vertical lines
  • Figures (charts, drawings, diagrams): number in bold (e.g., Figure 1), title below the figure, in italics
  • Tables and figures must be understandable in black-and-white print

Referencing (APA 7)

  • The journal uses the APA 7th edition referencing style (see http://www.apastyle.org/)
  • In-text citations must correspond exactly to the reference list.
  • In-text citation examples:
    • Author (year): Jandrić Nišević (2010)…
    • (Author, year): (Jandrić Nišević, 2010).
    • 1–2 authors: list both surnames throughout
    • 3+ authors: first author + “et al.”
  • Reference List: alphabetical order by first author’s surname. Chronological order for multiple works by same author; use a/b for same-year publications
  • DOI must be included when available.

Examples

  • Bašić, J., Ferić, M., & Kranželić, V. (2001). Od primarne prevencije do ranih intervencija. Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet.
  • Adani, S., & Cepanec, M. (2019). Sex differences in early communication development: behavioural and neurobiological indicators of more vulnerable communication system development in boys. Croatian Medical Journal, 60(2), 141–149. https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2019.60.141
  • Arapović, D. (2003). Djeca s govorno-jezičnim teškoćama u osnovnoj školi. In D. Pavličević-Franić & M. Kovačević (Eds.), Komunikacijska kompetencija u višejezičnoj sredini II (pp. 87–93). Naklada Slap.
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