FAQ PAGE
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
CALL FOR PAPERS FOR SPECIAL ISSUE ON SOCIAL IMPACT RESEARCH
What topics and types of submissions are relevant?
The Call for Papers requests proposals describing research on work- and employment-related issues with great social impact, well beyond the organizations in which employees work. All submissions must have clear and well-developed implications for directly improving the human condition through (but not limited to) organizational practices, informal and formal policies, and state, national, regional, and/or country-level policies, with broad benefits for society at large. Intervention research and policy evaluation studies are particularly welcomed. Please see the list of example submission topics in the Call for Papers [https://www.thejournaleditorscorner.com/social-impact-special-issue.html] for more information.
I have a research project or idea and am not sure if it is a good fit for the Special Issue. Can I contact one of the Guest Editors or Editorial Office to find out if my research is a good fit?
No. In keeping with journal policy, we do not comment on the appropriateness of proposals or ideas for this Call for Papers. Please review the call for papers carefully and also this FAQ page for more information.
What counts toward the 1,000 word limit for the proposal?
Only the body of the proposal counts toward the 1,000 word limit. The title, author list, references, tables, figures and supplementary material do NOT count toward the 1,000 word limit. Remember that this is a proposal and you are not expected to report full results; tables and supplementary material cannot be used to present information that should appear in the proposal. Please also note that tables and supplementary materials will NOT be reviewed carefully and the proposal must "stand alone" in terms of communicating relevance to the Special Issue and expected/obtained findings.
What types of research studies are appropriate?
Only proposals for quantitative and/or qualitative empirical research that is conceptually or theoretically grounded and uses rigorous inductive and/or deductive methods will be considered. No theoretical, conceptual, or case study approaches are included for this Call for Papers.
Is preregistration or other Open Science Practices (e.g., data sharing, code sharing) required?
The Journal encourages open science practices and requires disclosure of TOP guidelines when submitting full articles to the journal. Please see the Journal of Applied Psychology submission guidelines regarding transparency and openness. Authors must also follow all other guidelines as noted on the website.
Are international and cross-national research studies appropriate?
Yes. International perspectives and cross-national projects are welcome.
Is there a page limit for full papers?
If invited to submit a full paper, there are no specific page limits. Initial full submissions should be submitted as Feature Articles and manuscript length should be commensurate with contribution. Authors may be asked to reduce their manuscript to a Research Report during the review process.
Is there a word limit on proposal submissions?
Yes. Proposals must be prepared according to APA style (double spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-point font) and not exceed 1,000 words (exclusive of title, references, and figures). Proposals should include (1) rationale and research question, (2) overview of the methodology (including sample, methods, analytical approach), (3) summary of key findings, (4) conceptual contribution, (5) implications for practice and/or policy, and (6) relevance to the special issue theme. Not following these guidelines are grounds for a desk reject decision to ensure equity and fairness in the decision making process.
If my proposal moves on to the full manuscript submission stage can the study aims/hypotheses included in the proposal be changed?
Major changes to the study aims and hypotheses are not allowed. However, minor changes that may arise during data analysis are allowable if these changes are clearly and completely noted in the full submission.
Can my co-authors and I each submit a proposal for research from the same dataset?
Yes. However, each paper would need to answer a unique question based on unique data. For more details, please refer to the Data and Transparency and Openness section of the Journal’s website.
How will the review process be different?
Proposals will be reviewed by two Guest Editors for overall quality and fit with the Special Issue. Due to the high anticipated volume of proposals, detailed feedback on rejected or accepted proposals will not be provided. Proposals invited to move forward with development and submission of a full manuscript will go through the regular peer review process. One of the Guest Editors will be assigned to manage the submission, and the manuscript will be blind reviewed by two reviewers.
What are the primary reasons why proposals will not be invited to move forward with development and submission of a full manuscript?
Proposal topics that are not relevant to the Call for Papers and/or Journal’s focus on work and employment-related phenomena will not move forward. In addition, submissions that do not have clear and well-developed implications for directly improving the human condition through (but not limited to) organizational practices, informal and formal policies, and state, national, regional, and/or country-level policies, with broad benefits for society at large will be rejected at the proposal stage. Other reasons for not inviting proposals to move forward may include not following proposal submission guidelines outlined in the Call for Papers [https://www.thejournaleditorscorner.com/social-impact-special-issue.html], underdeveloped ideas, weak or absent theoretical or conceptual rationale for the choice of study variables and/or study predictions, and/or lack of methodological rigor (e.g., measures with unknown or weak psychometric properties, small and/or convenience samples, lack of ecological validity). Authors that are unfamiliar with the Journal are strongly encouraged to examine recently published articles to understand the quality of research expected at the Journal.
If my proposal is rejected, can I revise and resubmit as a new proposal for the Special Issue?
No. Rejected proposals cannot be revised and submitted as new proposals.
If my proposal is rejected, can I submit a manuscript based on the proposal idea to the Journal as a regular submission?
If a proposal is not invited to move forward with development and submission of a full manuscript, a full submission may be developed and submitted as a regular submission to the journal. Please be advised that, as with all new submissions to the Journal the article will first be reviewed for quality and fit to inform the initial editorial decision of reject without external review or send out for review.
When does the Call for Papers end?
The Call for Papers for the Special Issue on Social Impact Research will end April 1, 2024 (5:00pm Eastern Standard Time). No proposal submissions will be accepted after this date and time.
If you have other questions, please contact the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Lillian Eby ([email protected]).
The Call for Papers requests proposals describing research on work- and employment-related issues with great social impact, well beyond the organizations in which employees work. All submissions must have clear and well-developed implications for directly improving the human condition through (but not limited to) organizational practices, informal and formal policies, and state, national, regional, and/or country-level policies, with broad benefits for society at large. Intervention research and policy evaluation studies are particularly welcomed. Please see the list of example submission topics in the Call for Papers [https://www.thejournaleditorscorner.com/social-impact-special-issue.html] for more information.
I have a research project or idea and am not sure if it is a good fit for the Special Issue. Can I contact one of the Guest Editors or Editorial Office to find out if my research is a good fit?
No. In keeping with journal policy, we do not comment on the appropriateness of proposals or ideas for this Call for Papers. Please review the call for papers carefully and also this FAQ page for more information.
What counts toward the 1,000 word limit for the proposal?
Only the body of the proposal counts toward the 1,000 word limit. The title, author list, references, tables, figures and supplementary material do NOT count toward the 1,000 word limit. Remember that this is a proposal and you are not expected to report full results; tables and supplementary material cannot be used to present information that should appear in the proposal. Please also note that tables and supplementary materials will NOT be reviewed carefully and the proposal must "stand alone" in terms of communicating relevance to the Special Issue and expected/obtained findings.
What types of research studies are appropriate?
Only proposals for quantitative and/or qualitative empirical research that is conceptually or theoretically grounded and uses rigorous inductive and/or deductive methods will be considered. No theoretical, conceptual, or case study approaches are included for this Call for Papers.
Is preregistration or other Open Science Practices (e.g., data sharing, code sharing) required?
The Journal encourages open science practices and requires disclosure of TOP guidelines when submitting full articles to the journal. Please see the Journal of Applied Psychology submission guidelines regarding transparency and openness. Authors must also follow all other guidelines as noted on the website.
Are international and cross-national research studies appropriate?
Yes. International perspectives and cross-national projects are welcome.
Is there a page limit for full papers?
If invited to submit a full paper, there are no specific page limits. Initial full submissions should be submitted as Feature Articles and manuscript length should be commensurate with contribution. Authors may be asked to reduce their manuscript to a Research Report during the review process.
Is there a word limit on proposal submissions?
Yes. Proposals must be prepared according to APA style (double spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-point font) and not exceed 1,000 words (exclusive of title, references, and figures). Proposals should include (1) rationale and research question, (2) overview of the methodology (including sample, methods, analytical approach), (3) summary of key findings, (4) conceptual contribution, (5) implications for practice and/or policy, and (6) relevance to the special issue theme. Not following these guidelines are grounds for a desk reject decision to ensure equity and fairness in the decision making process.
If my proposal moves on to the full manuscript submission stage can the study aims/hypotheses included in the proposal be changed?
Major changes to the study aims and hypotheses are not allowed. However, minor changes that may arise during data analysis are allowable if these changes are clearly and completely noted in the full submission.
Can my co-authors and I each submit a proposal for research from the same dataset?
Yes. However, each paper would need to answer a unique question based on unique data. For more details, please refer to the Data and Transparency and Openness section of the Journal’s website.
How will the review process be different?
Proposals will be reviewed by two Guest Editors for overall quality and fit with the Special Issue. Due to the high anticipated volume of proposals, detailed feedback on rejected or accepted proposals will not be provided. Proposals invited to move forward with development and submission of a full manuscript will go through the regular peer review process. One of the Guest Editors will be assigned to manage the submission, and the manuscript will be blind reviewed by two reviewers.
What are the primary reasons why proposals will not be invited to move forward with development and submission of a full manuscript?
Proposal topics that are not relevant to the Call for Papers and/or Journal’s focus on work and employment-related phenomena will not move forward. In addition, submissions that do not have clear and well-developed implications for directly improving the human condition through (but not limited to) organizational practices, informal and formal policies, and state, national, regional, and/or country-level policies, with broad benefits for society at large will be rejected at the proposal stage. Other reasons for not inviting proposals to move forward may include not following proposal submission guidelines outlined in the Call for Papers [https://www.thejournaleditorscorner.com/social-impact-special-issue.html], underdeveloped ideas, weak or absent theoretical or conceptual rationale for the choice of study variables and/or study predictions, and/or lack of methodological rigor (e.g., measures with unknown or weak psychometric properties, small and/or convenience samples, lack of ecological validity). Authors that are unfamiliar with the Journal are strongly encouraged to examine recently published articles to understand the quality of research expected at the Journal.
If my proposal is rejected, can I revise and resubmit as a new proposal for the Special Issue?
No. Rejected proposals cannot be revised and submitted as new proposals.
If my proposal is rejected, can I submit a manuscript based on the proposal idea to the Journal as a regular submission?
If a proposal is not invited to move forward with development and submission of a full manuscript, a full submission may be developed and submitted as a regular submission to the journal. Please be advised that, as with all new submissions to the Journal the article will first be reviewed for quality and fit to inform the initial editorial decision of reject without external review or send out for review.
When does the Call for Papers end?
The Call for Papers for the Special Issue on Social Impact Research will end April 1, 2024 (5:00pm Eastern Standard Time). No proposal submissions will be accepted after this date and time.
If you have other questions, please contact the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Lillian Eby ([email protected]).