This post offers concise information for those planning to submit a paper to Psychological Science.
Aims and scope | Psychological Science publishes research that covers the ‘entire spectrum of the science of psychology’ and reports on the latest findings from cognitive, social, developmental, and health psychology to behavioural neuroscience and biopsychology. |
Publisher | Association for Psychological Science |
Frequency of publication | Monthly (the twelve issues for a year make up one volume) |
Editorial information | Dr D Stephen Lindsay, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Canada, is the interim editor-in-chief. His principal interest is human memory, particularly the determinants of the subjective experience of remembering. The 2015 editorial team comprises five senior editors, seventeen associate editors, a managing editor, three copy editors, a peer-review manager and a peer-review coordinator, and a very large editorial board (about a hundred members). More information here: ww.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/ |
CRITERIA FOR PUBLICATION
Psychological Science welcomes papers reporting original research, theory, or applications on mind, brain, or behaviour. Papers that make new and notable contributions are preferred, and so are those of general theoretical significance or of broad interest written in an accessible style. Five categories of submissions are considered, which are listed below:
- General articles are limited to 5000 words and (a) offer perspectives on the role of psychology in government, sustainability, public affairs, and other areas of broad social significance; (b) review developments in one field but of interest to those in other fields; or (c) present a tutorial or critical review of literature on a research problem or research method.
- Research articles are limited to 2000 words (excluding the methods section) and present new theories, new data, new methods, or any combination of these.
- Research reports are similar to research articles in terms of scope but limited to 1000 words.
- Short reports present concise but complete accounts of new research findings of broad interest and are limited to 1000 words.
- Commentaries may discuss problems of general interest to researchers in psychology or may criticize or supplement papers published in Psychological Science in the past three years.
EDITORIAL POLICIES AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
All manuscripts must be submitted at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/psci.
MANUSCRIPT REVIEW PROCESS
All manuscripts are initially evaluated by two members of the editorial team: one member possesses the required speciality knowledge whereas the other considers the manuscript from a generalist’s viewpoint. If either or both consider that the manuscript stands a fair chance of being accepted, it is sent to two or more outside experts for a more detailed review. Authors may expect an initial decision within two weeks and, if applicable, a final decision within two months.
More information on peer review here: www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/journals/psychological_science/ps-submissions#MRP
GOOD PUBLISHING PRACTICES
The journal’s instructions related to figures are particularly detailed and clear, down to specifying the font for labelling: ‘Labels and numbers in figures should be in Helvetica Neue 57 Condensed’. Many journals fail to specify how multi-panel figures should be labelled, whereas Psychological Science is clear on this point: ‘Panel labels (a, b, c, etc.) should be in 18-point font, lowercase, positioned to the upper left of the corresponding panels. They should not be followed by periods or surrounded by parentheses.’
More information here: www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/journals/
aps-figure-format-style-guidelines
INDEXING & METRICS
The current impact factor is 4.43 and the 5-year impact factor is 6.16.
USEFUL LINKS
Journal homepage: www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/journals/
psychological_science
For submissions: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/psci
Instructions to authors: www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/
journals/psychological_science/ps-submissions
Preparation of graphics: www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/
journals/aps-figure-format-style-guidelines