Keywords

Gone are the days of printing and sending copies of a manuscript to a publisher via mail. Nearly all journals now rely exclusively on digital editorial management systems (Paltridge, 2020). The advent of online manuscript submission has arguably improved the process. Authors surveyed by Ware (2005) indicated experiencing digital submission as faster and more accessible than paper submission. Post-submission, authors can log into the editorial management system to check the status of submitted manuscripts, make revisions, and communicate with editorial staff. Other authors level criticisms against online submission systems, noting the time required to review submission instructions and to input material into fields as specified (Oh, 2020). This part of the process is presumably made more arduous by significant variations in manuscript requirements across journals, even among those of the same discipline (Jiang et al., 2019). Failure to attend to details for a given journal could mean immediate rejection of a manuscript (Welch, 2007), presumably necessitating resubmission (Oh, 2020). Fortunately, common errors in the submission process are easily avoidable with pre-planning, organization, and attention to detail.

In this chapter, we guide the reader step-by-step through preparing and submitting an academic manuscript for publication. We alert readers to common formatting and submission pitfalls that could result in manuscript rejection before review, illustrated with examples from leading social sciences journals.Footnote 1 We propose strategies to facilitate error-free manuscript submission. We support recommendations with journal editor commentaries, peer-reviewed publications, and references to relevant sections of the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual (7th ed.).Footnote 2

Preparing for the Submission Process

Journal submission processes share many commonalities. Perhaps due in part to the commonalities, authors often miss the subtle differences in requirements between journals. Attending to specific requirements when submitting to a journal is crucial. Kapp and Albertyn (2008) surveyed 73 editors for major journals in South Africa regarding errors authors make when submitting to a journal. Nearly all responding editors (94%) noted frequent failure to follow submission rules, despite 74% of the associated journals providing author guidance on their journal page.

Orienting to the Process

Take time to become familiar with the journal’s instructions for authors. Then, orient to the manuscript submission system. Note any information you will need to gather and forms you must prepare. Determine which formatting requirements apply to your paper and how manuscript components will be organized for submission. Some journals (e.g., Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science) offer a submission checklist to assist authors with the submission process. If a checklist is not provided, we strongly recommend creating your own. As you review the author instructions and submission portal, align your checklist with journal criteria.

Author Instructions Pages

Access instructions for submitting a manuscript through the journal’s homepage. Look for an area on the page labeled as author instructions, guidelines for submission, or something similar. Alternatively, this information might be found via a tab or a menu. For the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA), author guidelines for submission are a drop-down menu option under the tab “contribute”. Consider printing out author instructions for easy reference during the submission process. The Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science provides author instructions in .pdf format.

Journals offer various tools to assist authors through the submission process. The journal may provide a FAQ for authors. Video tutorials may be available (Johnson & Green, 2009). When reviewing instructions, follow any relevant links to additional information. For example, author instructions for American Psychologist include links to information specific to journal reporting standards and ethical standards and to forms that must accompany submissions. The scope and detail of the instructions for authors vary widely across journals. Note any aspects of the instructions that are unclear or ambiguous. Hartley and Cabanac (2017) caution attention to words like “appropriate” that might not sufficiently describe what is expected or allowed. When in doubt, contact the journal editorial staff for clarification.

Submission Portal

Access the journal submission portal via a clickable “Submit” link on the journal’s homepage. The link will take you to a manuscript submission and publication system. Upon accessing the submission portal, you will be prompted through creating an account. Check your email for a registration verification link. Follow the email instructions to confirm registration. Save your username and password in a safe location. You will use this information when logging into the system to check manuscript status, manage revisions, and communicate with editorial staff. To facilitate interface and communication, add the editorial program site to your pop-up blocker exceptions and set permissions to allow emails from the system.

Two major online manuscript submission systems are ScholarOne (clarivate.com) and Editorial Manager (www.ariessys.com). ScholarOne hosts prestigious journals, including Psychological Science, Behavior Modification, JABA, and Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB). Editorial Manager services all journals published by the American Psychological Association (APA) (e.g., American Psychologist, Behavioral and Brain Sciences). In addition, several flagship behavior analytic journals use Editorial Manager (e.g., Analysis of Verbal Behavior, Perspectives on Behavioral Science, Behavior Analysis in Practice, The Psychological Record). You may encounter other systems as well. For instance, American Journal of Psychology and Journal for Advancing Sport Psychology in Research use the Scholastica platform (https://scholasticahq.com).

Navigate through the submission portal to become familiar with the system format and workflow. Printable user’s guides are available for ScholarOne (https://clarivate.com/webofsciencegroup/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/dlm_uploads/2019/10/ScholarOne-Manuscripts-Author-Guide.pdf) and for Editorial Manager (https://www.ariessys.com/wp-content/uploads/EM-Author-English.pdf). A web-based user’s guide is available for Scholastica (https://help.scholasticahq.com/article/72-author-guide). ScholarOne and Editorial Manager are largely similar in their author-related features (Kim et al., 2018). Procedures and requirements for submission do vary between the editorial management systems and within the systems across journals.

As you orient yourself to the journal home page and the manuscript submission system, continue to update your submission checklist. List all components of the submission in the order they will be included in the submission. Note whether each component will be uploaded as a document or entered into a field within the submission form. Highlight page limits and formatting requirements as they pertain to sections of your manuscript. Also, list any steps you intend to take before beginning the submission process (e.g., exploring data sharing options, running error checks). It is helpful, for instance, to identify what information will be needed and to collect these data before initiating the submission process.

Gathering Collateral Information

You will provide specific collateral data during the submission process. Where the system requires data before advancing to the next step, having information handy expediates submission. Collecting information ahead of time also helps to mitigate the impact of any related delays. For instance, you may experience delays in accessing information from other sources (e.g., co-authors, institutions). In gathering information, you may identify additional pre-submission tasks that could increase the likelihood of your manuscript ultimately being accepted for publication (e.g., registering the study protocol or data set). Begin collecting information now. You can use any delays in accessing information to attend to manuscript formatting.

Authorship

Take time before initiating your submission to clarify authorship and to collect information relevant to authorship. As the submitting author, you will provide names and contact information for all contributing authors. You will also identify each author’s role in the study according to authorship conventions. Standards for establishing and validating author contributions vary across journals. Failure to adhere to authorship standards could result in submission rejection.

Named Authors

Each author named on your submission must be a significant contributor to the project. Named authors are those who have (1) contributed substantially to study design or acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the data; (2) drafted or critically revised the manuscript; (3) given final approval for publication; and (4) agreed to be responsible and accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the work (ICMJE, n.d.). The Contributor Roles Taxonomy, or CRediT (https://credit.niso.org), can be used to identify contributors meeting criteria for authorship and to describe each author’s contribution. Contributors who do not meet criteria for authorship should be acknowledged elsewhere. Be prepared to state and describe each named author’s role in the study. Some journals (e.g., Psychological Science) publish this information in the article.

Order of Authors

Determine the order in which author names should appear on the paper. Authors are generally listed on the title page in order of the magnitude of their contribution to the project, with the person who conducted the primary research listed first. For works with co-authors, Teixeira da Silva (2021) suggests adding the designation co- before each equally contributing author. Alternatively, distinguish co-authors from other authors with bold typeface.

Author Information

For each author, be prepared to provide their preferred full name and highest degree earned. Some journals (e.g., JABA, JEAB) invite authors to include their preferred pronouns. Each author should provide you with an email address at which they will receive correspondence related to the submission. Additionally, you will need the name of each author’s affiliation, the department they belong to, and the complete address of the institution. For authors in private practice, you will provide their geographic location.

Corresponding Author

Identify one author to serve as the corresponding author. The corresponding author will manage all communication between the journal and all authors of the manuscript.

ORCID ID

Collect each author’s ORCID ID. The Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier (ORCID) ID is a 16-digit alphanumeric code unique to each researcher (https://orcid.org). An ORCID ID connects authors with their prior research and other biographic information. Some journals (e.g., Behavior Modification and Behavioral and Brain Sciences) require an ORCID ID for each contributing author. Other journals encourage an ORCID ID but do not require it. Authors who do not have an ORCID ID might consider registering for one before the manuscript is submitted.

Author Biographies

Some journals request or require a biography for each named author. Biographies should highlight experience, credentials, and achievements related to the article topic. Attend to journal-specific word count limits, which may range from a maximum of 50 words to a maximum of 200 words per biography.

Study Registration

Gather information related to study pre-registration. Pre-registration is usually not mandatory, but it is encouraged. Pre-registration promotes rigor in experimental procedure and data analysis. Pre-registration also facilitates collaboration and replication (Johnson, 2005) and reduces the odds of duplication in research. If you pre-registered your study, confirm that you have included pre-registration information (site and registration number) in the methods section of your manuscript. Add this information to the author note on your title page (American Psychological Association, 2020, Section 3.9). You may also be asked to provide a pre-registration number within the submission form.

Registering your study prior to initiating research protocols is ideal. However, studies can be registered on clinicaltrials.gov at any time, even after the study has concluded (Clinicaltrials.gov). There are several sites on which to register a study. For example, Clinicaltrials.gov is a website that stores and allows access to information on various clinical studies. PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) is a site where an author can register a systematic review. If you did not pre-register your study or registered after the fact, indicate this in your cover letter.

Data Sharing

If your manuscript includes new data, confirm that the data sharing policy for your selected journal aligns with your project. Data sharing refers to providing other researchers with access to data resources. Data sharing policies promote transparency in research. Further, data sharing contributes to knowledge by facilitating replication and extension and empowering cross-disciplinary collaboration (Alter & Gonzalez, 2018). The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship (Wilkinson et al., 2016) call for research data to be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR). Journals adopt data sharing policies in accordance. Find details on the FAIR data principles at Go Fair (https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/).

Levels of Data Sharing

Most journals subscribe to a hierarchy of data sharing requirements. For example, journals published by Springer Nature (https://www.springernature.com/gp/authors/research-data-policy/research-data-policy-types) apply one of four levels of data sharing: Type 1 policy encourages data sharing and citation, Type 2 encourages data sharing and evidence of data sharing, Type 3 encourages data sharing and requires a statement of data availability, and Type 4 requires evidence of data sharing and peer review. Behavior Analysis in Practice, JABA, and The Psychological Record are examples of journals that apply a Type 3 research data policy. Journals published by Sage follow a three-tier data sharing policy (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/research-data-sharing-policies). At Tier 1, data sharing, citing, and linking are encouraged. Tier 2 mandates data sharing, citing, and linking. At Tier 3, peer-reviewed data verification is required. The stringency of data sharing policies ranges across journals. Crosas et al. (2018) assessed public websites for 291 highly ranked social science journals. Across psychology journals reviewed, 60% posted a data sharing policy, with 22% of the policies requiring data sharing.

Considerations Related to Data Sharing

The often-personal characteristics of social science research topics may inhibit data sharing. Researchers express concerns that shared data might be used outside of intended parameters, or that data sharing might contribute to the reidentification of confidential information. Jeng et al. (2016) evaluated data sharing behavior using a profiling instrument. Of those profiled, 85% agreed that data sharing benefits collaboration in research. However, many were reluctant to share data.

Data Sharing with Qualitative Research

Data sharing may be of particular concern for qualitative researchers. Qualitative data collection differs fundamentally from quantitative data collection (Tsai et al., 2016). Qualitative data are non-numerical data used to approximate or characterize information that is not easily counted. Qualitative data include focus group responses, direct observations or interviews, and audio or video recordings. The nature of qualitative data may increase the risk of reidentification (Tsai et al., 2016). Further, even with interview scripts and operationally defined coding procedures, there are concerns about fidelity in replication or analysis of qualitative data (Tsai et al., 2016).

Apprehensions notwithstanding, Tsai et al. (2016) suggests that data sharing might increase confidence in qualitative research. A small percentage of journals evaluated by Crosas et al. (2018) explicitly noted qualitative data in their data policies. Authors of qualitative studies might consider choosing such a journal. Journals with policies specific to qualitative data are more likely to support verifiable, reproducible, and safe qualitative data sharing (Crosas et al., 2018; Tsai et al., 2016).

Data Sharing and Study Approval

You should find the data sharing policy for a selected journal posted on, or accessible through, the author instructions pages. Confirm that the terms of your study approval align with the journal’s data sharing policy. Data associated with a manuscript must be managed in accordance with the research protocol, the terms of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, and the language of the informed consent (Meyer, 2018). Deviations may require that you request a change of protocol through the IRB.

In considering whether to share data and to what level, weigh potential risks to research participants as well as permissions granted. Ethical considerations will vary depending, in part, on whether participant consent forms address or omit the mention of data sharing (Meyer, 2018). If you determine that sharing your data in part or in full is not appropriate, state this in your Data Availability Statement (see below) and include a detailed rationale in your cover letter. Notably, most researchers profiled by Jeng et al. (2016) judged their research data wholly or mostly sharable. Only 5% said their data was not sharable. The authors found no significant difference in data sharing profiles across qualitative and quantitative researchers.

Data Repositories

If you have opted to post your study data to a data repository, include the name of the repository and the citation for your data set with your manuscript submission. A data repository is a sustainable virtual warehouse that maintains and distributes data used in scholarly work. Although journals do not typically require data sharing through a repository, it is strongly encouraged. Data repositories promote FAIR data sharing (Crosas et al., 2018). Repository-held data sets are assigned a DOI, making the data citable and discoverable. Further, data repositories curate data to ensure it is usable over time and across technological changes (Alter & Gonzalez, 2018).

If you have not posted your data to a repository, and doing so is within the parameters of your approval/consent, consider sharing your data to a data repository before submitting for publication. The National Institute of Health (sharing.nih.gov) offers guidelines on selecting an appropriate data repository. Consider long-term sustainability, confidentiality, curation, and quality assurance. Alter and Gonzalez (2018) recommends that authors use a domain-specific data repository. While general and institutional repositories have a broader range, domain-specific repositories focus on limited data and are more likely to offer curation. The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) is an example of a domain-specific repository. It hosts 21 specialized topic collections within the social and behavioral sciences (icpsr.umich.edu). Qualitative researchers might consider the Qualitative Data Repository (https://qdr.syr.edu/).

Formatting for Submission

Confirm that you have formatted your manuscript according to journal requirements. Editors endorse incorrect style and language as the category of author error most often noted in submitted manuscripts (Kapp & Albertyn, 2008). These errors are easily avoidable with close attention to detail. Review journal instructions carefully. While most social science journals advise authors to follow APA formatting guidelines, journal instructions do not always align with APA standards. Make notes on journal instructions pertaining to style and language in the corresponding sections of your checklist. Check for formatting resources provided by the journal. For example, some journals offer templates. Consider downloading a similar paper from the journal as a sample for reference (Hartley & Cabanac, 2017). Journal editors and editorial staff (Johnson & Green, 2009; Welch, 2007) alert authors to areas in which formatting errors are common. We discuss how to recognize and surmount those potential trouble spots below.

Type of Paper

Determine what type of manuscript you are submitting. The requirements and standards applied to a manuscript (i.e., formatting, components, standards for reporting or data sharing) can differ depending on the article type. As such, the submission portal may require you to select the category that best applies to your paper. Journals typically publish multiple article types, including original research, case studies, opinion papers, and editorials. To determine which category best suits your manuscript, check the journal’s author instruction pages for category parameters and examples.

Word Counts and Page Limits

Confirm your manuscript complies with journal page or word count limits. Journals control the length of submissions by establishing such limits. Limits keep authors focused and concise and allow journals to maximize the number of papers they can include in an issue. Not attending to established limits is a primary reason for the immediate rejection of a manuscript (Welch, 2007). Journals vary in how word counts or page limits are applied.

Application of Word Count and Page Limits

Limitations may differ based on the type of paper you are submitting. For example, Psychological Science limits commentaries to 1000 words (including main text, notes, acknowledgments, and appendices) but accepts research articles of longer lengths. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science accepts review articles of up to 10,000 words, but the journal caps empirical, conceptual, and practical application papers at 6000 words.

Check journal standards to determine which manuscript sections are included in word and page counts. A journal might apply limits to the body of the manuscript only. For example, Psychological Methods accepts manuscripts of 12,000 words, excluding references, tables, figures, and appendices. American Psychologist, on the other hand, includes the title page, abstract, references, tables, and figures in their 35 double-spaced page limit. The 6000-word limit imposed by the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science includes the abstract but does not include references, tables, or figures.

Journals might differentially apply word count limits across sections of a manuscript. For example, JABA’s 3000-word limit applies only to the Introduction and Discussion sections of the manuscript. Psychological Science does not place a limit on the length of the Method or Results sections. However, the word count must not exceed 2000 across the Introduction, Discussion, footnotes, acknowledgments, and appendices. Some journals (American Psychologist, Psychological Methods) will make exceptions to page limits when the topic or the study format justifies additional pages (e.g., multiple studies or phases) and the article makes an exceptional contribution to the literature. American Psychologist requires that the author submit a request to the editor for additional page space prior to submission.

General Formatting Guidelines

Format your manuscript according to the standards indicated by the journal. When reviewing journal formatting standards, it is helpful to have a copy of the APA publication manual handy for reference. Be sure you are working with the most recent version (e.g., APA 7th Edition). As noted previously, there may be discrepancies between formatting instructions provided by a journal and APA standards. For example, the APA Publication Manual (2020) permits up to five levels of headings (Section 2.27), but Analysis of Verbal Behavior will accommodate no more than three heading levels. Discrepancies may also present when author instructions need to be updated. When in doubt, contact the journal to confirm formatting standards. Doing so could ultimately save you time.

Language and Tone

Confirm that your manuscript’s language and tone align with journal requirements. The language standard for academic writing is English for Research Publication Purposes (ERPP). Applying standard language to academic writing promotes global dissemination of knowledge (Flowerdew, 2015). However, an ERPP standard may put international scholars at a distinct disadvantage. Journals can be inflexible in accepting variants of English (McKinley & Rose, 2018), presenting a bias against English speakers of other languages. Submission systems that rely on artificial intelligence may be exceptionally resistant to variations.

Format-free submission processes (Ganz et al., 2022) may benefit English speakers of other languages. In addition, as part of their commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), many author instructions pages now include a link to access editing services specific to academic writing and English language editing. There is typically a cost for these services. However, authors may be eligible for a discount with some vendors. For instance, authors attempting to publish in an APA journal can access discounted editing services (https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/resources/editing-services).

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Language

Authors have a role in promoting DEI in academic publishing as well. Ensure you have written your manuscript in language that is inclusive and bias-free. For example, replace any gendered terms with gender-neutral variants (i.e., supplant she/he with they/them). The APA Publication Guide (2020) offers general and topic-specific guidelines for reducing bias in writing (Sections 5.1–5.10). DEI issues in academia perpetuate systemic oppression. Conversely, publications that promote bias-free and inclusive language benefit the scientific community by increasing contributions from otherwise underrepresented groups (Dewidar et al., 2022).

Text Formatting

Confirm that you have formatted text according to the requirements of the journal. Most journals require documents written in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx). LaTeX (.tex) may be used if the manuscript includes mathematical content. Construct equations using software like MathType (https://www.wiris.com/en/mathtype/) or Equation Editor 3.0, a component included in some versions of Microsoft Word. Additional text formatting guidelines may specify font or font size (e.g., 10- or 12-point Times New Roman). Bolding and italics are typically acceptable for adding emphasis, but other text effects may not be permitted. Other specifications may include using the tab function to indent rather than the space bar and avoiding using field functions. Unless a journal states otherwise, the text should be double-spaced with standard margins of one inch on all sides. Maintain formatting design consistency across the document, including in tables and figures. Ensure that you have disabled macros and protections in Word.

Footnotes

Journals may have special instructions for authors using footnotes. Generally, footnotes are used to give additional information or to indicate copyright attributions. Not all journals allow footnoting. JEAB, for instance, permits footnoting only when they are essential. Journals that allow footnotes might specify how to include them (e.g., within the body of the manuscript, on a separate page). Authors submitting to Psychological Methods should add footnotes to the acknowledgments page.

Manuscript Components

Ensure your manuscript is clearly written and easy to follow. While many errors are amenable to correction during the review process, it is “vital” that authors submit a well-crafted, well-written manuscript (Bordage, 2001, p. 893). The Journal Article Reporting Standards (JARS) are guidelines for journal article content formulated by the APA (https://apastyle.apa.org/jars). JARS standards promote transparency and methodological integrity in research. There are JARS standards for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies. See the APA Style JARS website (https://apastyle.apa.org/jars) for in-depth information on the etiology and application of JARS. Chapter 3 of the APA Publication Manual (7th ed.) provides an overview of JARS. We discuss JARS here in terms of common formatting errors leading to manuscript rejection prior to review.

Title Page

The title of your article should concisely capture the theme of the paper and convey the study design and aim (Bordage, 2001; Johnson & Green, 2009). Prepare your title page according to APA standards and in line with journal specifications. Some journals may limit title length. JABA, for example, limits a title to 12 words or fewer. The running head, a shortened version of the article title, should be included at the top of the title page and all manuscript pages. See the APA Publication Guide (2020, Section 2.3).

Authors

List all study authors in order of their contribution to the project. Include each author’s academic or non-academic affiliation (e.g., hospital, laboratory, other organization). For authors in private practice, state their geographic location.

Author Note

Organize the author note into paragraphs, each pertaining to a required information set (See APA Publication Manual, 2020, Section 2.7). The information included in the author’s note varies across journals. We describe prevailing standards below.

Author Information

For each author, provide full name, complete mailing address, email address, and ORCID ID (if applicable). Identify the corresponding author clearly. When requested, include each author’s contribution to the study.

Disclosures

State potential conflicts of interest or indicate that no conflicts exist. List funding sources and grant support. For each contributor, specify the nature of the support. Include grant numbers where applicable. Include study registration information if applicable. If study data are shared openly, include the citation for the data set.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledge people who contributed to the study but did not meet criteria for authorship. Also include those who provided general support or technical assistance. Each acknowledgment should include the person or entity’s name and their specific function or contribution. Clever (1997) advises authors to solicit consent from anyone they intend to name in the acknowledgments.

Abstract

Confirm your abstract meets the requirements for your selected journal. The purpose of the abstract is to provide a brief summary of the manuscript content. Some journals require structured abstracts, while others require an unstructured, paragraph-style abstract. The APA Publication Manual (2020, Section 3.3) describes JARS standards for abstracts. In general, abstracts should include background, purpose, research design and method, and conclusions (Hartley & Cabanac, 2017; Mosteller et al., 2004). Depending on the type of article, the abstract may also include information on the setting or population, the intervention, data analysis, and findings (Mosteller et al., 2004). A journal may specify additional required content. Most journals limit the length of the abstract to 150–250 words.

In some cases, journals require more than one abstract. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, for instance, asks for an abstract of 250 words or less and a shorter abstract of no more than 100 words. Psychological Methods requires a technical abstract at submission and a second non-technical, translational abstract with first revisions. Some journals offer authors the option to include a visual (Paltridge, 2020) or video abstract. Depending on the submission system, you will either upload the abstract as a separate document or cut and paste the abstract into a field within the submission form.

Keywords

Identify keywords or short phrases that represent your study or article according to journal parameters. Keywords are terms indicative of central topics, research themes, or discussion points in your manuscript. Publishers use these terms for indexing or cross-indexing your work. Some journals structure keywords, requiring the author to select a specific number of applicable words from a standard list. Alternatively, the author may be permitted to submit 3–10 words or short phrases of their choosing. Consider referencing a subject index when choosing keywords. APA, for example, offers a Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms (www.apa.org). Johnson and Green (2009) caution against using terms taken from the common vernacular, which may convey meaning other than what a researcher intends.

During submission, you will either select keywords from a list of options or enter terms into a field within the submission form. Some journals require the author to submit keywords on the abstract or the title page. Check author instructions for other journal-specific requirements. For example, JEAB advises authors to list keywords in descending order of importance.

Introduction

Journals may reject manuscripts at submission if the introduction is too long or does not include clearly stated hypotheses (Johnson & Green, 2009). As per JARS, your introduction should frame your study by stating the importance of the problem and related implications. It should include a review of relevant literature, noting gaps to be addressed by your study. The introduction should conclude by stating the aim of the study and the research hypotheses. According to Johnson and Green (2009), three to four paragraphs should be sufficient to provide study context and related theories and to state the study aims and hypotheses.

Methods Section

Inadequacies in a manuscript’s Methods section might also result in rejection before review. Common inadequacies include insufficient detail, inappropriate statistical analyses, and failure to note relevant approvals (Johnson & Green, 2009). Ensure your methods section provides sufficient information to facilitate study replication (See Jars, Method). Reference within the Methods section any supplementary materials that would support replication (e.g., extended scripts, surveys, visuals). Provide a clear, concise rationale for your chosen statistical approach. Consider consulting with a statistician as necessary. Include specific information related to study registration (i.e., registration number and the site registered with) and ethical approvals (e.g., IRB affiliation). Clearly state that research was conducted within the parameters of registered study protocols and ethical approvals.

Results Section

Common errors in the Results sections include unnecessary information or commentary (Johnson & Green, 2009) and incomplete reporting of statistical analyses (Giofrè et al., 2017; Johnson & Green, 2009). Reference JARS standards appropriate for your research design (i.e., quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods) to ensure your Results section includes all necessary components. Reserve commentary for the Discussion section. Review journal standards for reporting statistical findings. Failure to adhere to requirements will likely result in the rejection of your manuscript.

Standards for Reporting Statistical Findings

Confirm that you have reported findings according to journal standards. Many journals now require or strongly encourage authors to report new statistics (Giofrè et al., 2017). Increased standards include exact reporting of statistical findings. For example, when indicating statistical significance, a journal may require exact p values (e.g., p < 0.0232) rather than estimates (p < 0.05). Researchers should support p values with confidence intervals (e.g., 95% CI [3.27, 6.34]. Other features of new statistical reporting include indicating how the sample size was determined and what criteria were applied to include and exclude subjects from the sample. Researchers are also encouraged to conduct and report a meta-analysis of related results.

Typographical Errors in Statistical Reporting

Typographical errors in reporting statistics may result in rejection prior to review. Some journals evaluate submissions using StatCheck (https://mbnuijten.com/statcheck/), an R program that assesses statistics for typographical errors. Manuscripts with errors will not progress to the review stage. Psychological Science recommends that authors run StatCheck or a similar program before submitting so that any typographical errors in statistics can be detected and corrected before review.

Tables and Figures

Tables and figures can enhance the readability and clarity of your manuscript. However, an unnecessary or poorly formatted table or figure could result in the rejection of your manuscript. Reference the Table Checklist (Section 7.20) and the Figure Checklist (Section 7.35) in APA Publication Manual (2020) for standards in formatting. Attend closely to journal-specific criteria for tables and figures as well.

Including Tables or Figures

Include a table or graph in your manuscript if the visual conveys the information more clearly and concisely than the text. If the information can be clearly presented in the text, JABA editors advise leaving it in the text. Reference any tables or figures in the body of the manuscript but avoid redundancy. Refrain from explaining in the text what you have depicted in the table or figure (Johnson & Green, 2009).

Formatting Tables and Figures

Journals habitually reject manuscripts that include figures with poor resolution, incorrect formatting, or missing legends or captions (Johnson & Green, 2009; Welch, 2007). Therefore, attend closely to formatting instructions for your selected journal. While text and style conventions for the manuscript body typically apply to tables and figures, there are likely to be exceptions.

Tables

Create tables using the table function in Microsoft Word rather than importing a spreadsheet. Use borders or lines only where necessary for clarity. Do not use shading. Number your tables using sequential Arabic numerals. Cite tables within the text consistent with the numerical order of the table.

Figures

Figures follow similar guidelines regarding numbering and sequential display within the text. Figures embedded into the text should be manipulatable. The journal may ask for editable files. When applicable, note which graphics program you used to create an image. Check journal policies on figure hue. Journals may publish figures in color online, but they typically print figures in black and white. Some journals allow authors to have a figure printed in color for a fee. Psychological Methods, for example, charges the author $900 for an initial color image, with subsequent images printed in color at reduced rates. In lieu of color printing, Johnson and Green (2009) advise creating figures using symbols to maximize readability.

Confirm that your figures are of sufficient resolution for printing. Line art should generally be 900–1200 DPI, and images should be at least 300 DPI for color or 600 DPI for black and white. Journals may give instructions for specific types of figures. For example, JABA and JEAB specify criteria for line graphs, including standards for data points, axes, and lines. Psychological Methods specifies line weight based on the program used to create the image.

Submitting Tables and Figures

Determine requirements for submitting tables and figures. For example, some journals require authors to include tables and figures in the body of the manuscript, while others require authors to upload figures and tables as separate documents.

Tables and Figures in the Manuscript

When including tables and figures in the manuscript, attend to directions for placement (e.g., within the text, after the references, on separate pages attached to the manuscript). Instructions for applying text components (i.e., title, notes, legend) to tables and figures also vary across journals. For instance, journals might instruct authors to embed text within a table or figure or to add associated text to the manuscript body.

Tables and Figures Uploaded as Separate Documents

Alternatively, a journal may require authors to remove tables and figures from the manuscript and upload the items to the submission portal as individual documents. Ensure that you upload table bodies and figure images in the correct orientation. Determine how accompanying text is to be included. Tables and figures may be uploaded with accompanying text embedded. Alternatively, the portal may include a link for uploading the table body or figure with linked fields to add related text. You will also provide a section of text from the manuscript to orient the editor to table or figure placement within your main document.

Discussion Section

Your discussion should address whether your study results support your hypotheses. Include an interpretation of your results in light of the relevant literature, accounting for potential sources of bias. Remove any commentary not supported by your research or the related body of literature.

Addressing Limitations and Suggesting Future Directions

Scientists are ethically obligated to indicate any weaknesses in their research that might have influenced outcomes or conclusions. However, authors commonly err by failing to sufficiently consider and describe limitations (Johnson & Green, 2009). Ross and Bibler Zaidi (2019) provide a framework for considering study limitations. They recommend evaluating your study in terms of study design, data collection, data analyses, and threats to internal validity (e.g., attrition, maturation) and external validity (e.g., generalizability). For each potential limitation, describe contributing factors, explain the implications, and detail your efforts to minimize the effects of each limitation. When applicable, suggest alternative interpretations of and explanations for your results. All studies have limitations. Do not leave the task of identifying limitations to peer reviewers (Greener, 2018; Ross & Bibler Zaidi, 2019). Reviewers favor manuscripts that interpret results with regard for study limitations (Bordage, 2001; Ross & Bibler Zaidi, 2019). Doing so demonstrates rigor and transparency (Greener, 2018). A discussion of study limitations should segue into considerations for future research. Johnson and Green (2009) advise authors to go beyond stating the need for more research by offering considered strategies for extending research. For example, authors could suggest alternative approaches that might mitigate the effects of limitations in future studies.

In-text Citations and References

Review your document to verify that all in-text citations and references are correctly formatted and confirm agreement between in-text citations and the reference list. Proper citation is essential to research ethics and transparency. Nonetheless, editors endorse reference and citation mistakes as the second most noted category of author error (Kapp & Albertyn, 2008). Common mistakes include incorrect formatting, citing inappropriate references, and citing work that does not accurately support a statement in the text (Johnson & Green, 2009). Errors related to citations and references may result in your manuscript submission being rejected.

Confirming Citations and References

Use citations any time information is referenced from a previous text, including work previously published by a named author. For all in-text citations, include the source in your reference list. An exception is personal communications referenced in your text that readers cannot recover (e.g., emails, text messages, live speeches). See the APA Publication Manual (2020, Section 8.9) for details on citing and referencing personal communications. Include in your reference list only sources you have cited in your manuscript. Use the “find” feature in Microsoft Word’s editing suite to reconcile in-text citations with the reference list. For each work, enter the primary author’s name into the search box. Check the results to confirm that you have included all cited works in references and referenced all works cited in the text.

Ensure that works cited in your text match the associated statements. Avoid citing articles based solely on information gleaned from a review of the abstract. Before attributing content to another author, take time to read the article you intend to cite (Johnson & Green, 2009) and consider content within the context of the study. Limit your use of secondary or indirect citations (i.e., citing content found in one source but originally published in another). Access the original source when possible. If you cannot access the original source, cite the primary source in the text, add the phrase “as cited in,” and cite the source where you found the information. Include the secondary source in your reference list (American Psychological Association, 2020, Section 8.6).

Formatting Citations and References

Verify that you have formatted in-text citations (American Psychological Association, 2020, Chapter 8) and references (American Psychological Association, 2020, Chapter 9) according to APA guidelines. Review journal-specific instructions for exceptions to standard guidelines. For example, the 7th edition permits authors to use shortened DOIs (American Psychological Association, 2020, Section 9.36), but some journals require full DOIs. Journals may give instructions specific to certain types of references. The Psychological Record, for instance, advises authors not to include references for works that are unpublished or in publication. A journal may also establish limits on the number of references an author can include in an article, although this practice is uncommon.

Plagiarism

Properly cite work that has influenced your manuscript to avoid the perception of plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined in the APA Publication Manual (2020, Section 8.2) as presenting material (text, theories, or images) created by another person as though it is your work. Increasingly, journals are using software such as Turnitin (https://www.turnitin.com) to verify the originality of submissions (Paltridge, 2020). Journals return manuscripts failing to meet standards of originality without review. There may be additional repercussions as well. Consider using anti-plagiarism software to evaluate your paper before submission.

Supplemental Materials

Supplemental materials are anything you have not included in the manuscript that would enrich understanding or facilitate replication of the study. Examples are extensions of manuscript content such as more detailed protocols, questionnaires or surveys, forms, and tables or figures too large to include in the manuscript. Supplemental material might also include enhancements such as audio or video clips, or simulations of models. Some journals promote submitting large data sets as supplementary material to encourage and facilitate data sharing (Crosas et al., 2018). Alter and Gonzalez (2018) encourage researchers to share data and program codes or scripts through a data repository rather than as supplementary material. Data repositories are likely to offer greater functionality and easier access. Include all supplemental materials with your initial submission. Refer to the supplementary material in the body of the manuscript and note it in your cover letter. For copyrighted materials, note the status of permissions for use as well (See Permission to Use Copyrighted Material later in this chapter).

Final Preparations for Submission

Deidentify Documents for Double-Blind (Masked) Review

Many journals routinely conduct double-blind reviews to minimize bias during the reviewing process. In a double-blind review, the editor conceals peer reviewer identities from authors and author identities from reviewers. You may be required to submit two copies of your complete manuscript, one blinded and one with the title page included. Alternatively, you may be instructed to submit a deidentified manuscript.

Deidentify your manuscript by removing author names and affiliations from the main document and all supplementary material. Ensure you save documents in a format that does not identify contributors. Check for indicators of authorship on data repository citations as well. Some journals advise against authors citing their previous work. Even in double-blind reviews, self-citation can increase the likelihood of author identification (Hill & Provost, 2003). See the APA Publication Manual (2020, Section 8.3) for instructions on concealing your previous work during the review process.

Blind reviews contribute to a bias-free publication process. Absent blind review, studies have shown reviewers are significantly more likely to select submissions from eminent authors or prestigious institutions (Okike et al., 2016; Tomkins et al., 2017). If your selected journal does not conduct blind reviews as a matter of procedure, consider requesting a blind review for your manuscript.

Organize Materials for Submission

Take time before submitting to organize your materials according to the submission process flow. Common submission errors include omitting a required element (Welch, 2007) and improperly sequencing documents (Johnson & Green, 2009). These oversights are avoidable with pre-planning and organization. Your submission checklist should list all components (e.g., manuscript, title page, supplemental materials) required for submission in the order specified by the journal. Make a note of how the submission portal will collect each component. For example, the abstract might be uploaded as a Word file or pasted into the submission form. Figures or tables may be submitted as part of your manuscript or as individual files.

For each component to be uploaded, save relevant content as a separate document. Check journal requirements related to naming conventions. The Psychological Record, for example, advises authors to save each figure as Fig plus the number (i.e., Fig1 for the first figure appearing in the manuscript). Confirm whether the journal permits spaces or special characters in file names. Note on your checklist how you named the document and the location to which you saved it. Follow journal instructions and submission prompts carefully to ensure you include all necessary documents in the submission, with documents uploaded to the correct links and in the correct order. Check off the listed components as you progress through the process.

Declarations and Attestations

Before finalizing a submission, authors must provide written declarations and attest to statements related to ethics, research reporting standards, and compliance with journal submission instructions. Declarations and attestations are included in the submission process to preserve the integrity of academic publications. Some are nearly universal (e.g., Disclosure Statement), while others are included at the journal’s discretion. Whether a declaration or attestation applies to your submission may depend on the nature of your study. We review customary declarations and attestations below.

Disclosure Statement

Your submission must include a Disclosure Statement identifying any potential conflicts of interest directly or indirectly related to the paper seeking submission. Potential financial conflicts may include direct funding for the study, employment related to the funding, and other financial interests (e.g., holding company shares). If you received funding for your study, state how you used funding and whether the funder had a role in the research beyond funding. For research supported by grant funding, include information for the granting source and the grant number. Disclose potential non-financial conflicts as well (e.g., relationship to a member of the editorial board, institutional affiliations, academic associations). If you perceive no potential conflicts, indicate this in your Disclosure Statement.

The Disclosure Statement promotes objectivity, transparency, and ethical conduct. Failure to include a Disclosure Statement, or failure to include any potential conflicts in the Disclosure Statement, will likely result in rejection before review. Declaring a potential conflict does not necessarily mean that a conflict exists. Further, evidence of a potential conflict will not necessarily preclude your study from being published. Welch (2007) advises authors to demonstrate transparency by declaring any relationships that could be perceived as a conflict of interest and allowing readers to decide whether a conflict exists. Check the journal’s author information pages for examples of Disclosure Statements. Note that journals published by APA also require authors to submit a Full Disclosure of Interests Form (https://www.apa.org/pubs/authors/disclosure-of-interests.pdf) with their manuscript.

Data Availability/Open Practices Statement

When submitting original research, include a Data Availability statement. Your statement should cover all data needed to interpret, replicate, and extend your research findings. Include in your statement where to find study data. Digitally sharable data are preferred (Giofrè et al., 2017). Cite your data set according to APA guidelines (10.9) and include a DOI or link for accessing the data set. Report any publicly available data you used to support the findings as well. If there are limitations on sharing your data, state the rationale (e.g., confidentially concerns, potential for harm to participants) and the conditions for accessing the data set (Alter & Gonzalez, 2018).

In some cases, authors may wish to request an embargo on data sharing (i.e., a period post-publication during which data cannot be shared) to allow for additional research activity (Alter & Gonzalez, 2018). Include this information in the Data Availability statement as well. If the paper did not include any original data, provide a statement declaring that data sharing is not applicable.

An Open Practices statement is an extension of the Data Availability statement that includes information on study registration. If your study was not carried out according to the pre-registration plan, note any changes to the initial plan in the Open Practices statement and indicate how you disclosed those changes. If you did not pre-register your study or if you registered after the fact, explain why. Examples of Data Availability and Open Practice statements are on most journal pages.

Compliance with Ethical Standards Statement

A Compliance with Ethical Standards statement might apply to your submission if you conducted your research with human or animal participants. State the ethics committees or Institutional Review Board (IRB) through which you obtained study approvals. Affirm that you conducted your study in accordance with approvals. If you feel your human subject data did not require IRB approval, include a statement to this effect and cite the rationale (Welch, 2007). State that researchers obtained informed consent or assent for participation from all human subjects. Consenting to participate in a study does not necessarily imply consent for data to be published or shared. Specify whether participants explicitly consented to the publication of study findings. The journal may require informed consent specific to publishing. If animals were involved in the study, include a statement regarding animal welfare.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

The Diversity and Inclusion statement describes how the study demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). A study might demonstrate a commitment to DEI by drawing from multiple perspectives when formulating research questions and analyzing results. Authors should state how they endeavored to recruit a diverse participant group and how participant inclusion and exclusion criteria may have impacted representation within the sample (Dewidar et al., 2022). Consider the extent study results are likely to generalize beyond the participant group (Simons et al., 2017) and what might be done to extend generalizability to traditionally under-represented groups. In place of a formal statement, a journal might require authors to attest that DEI is addressed in their manuscript.

Statement of Relevance/Translational Abstract

A Statement of Relevance or Translational Abstract is a short paragraph (about 150 words) that describes the significance of the study findings beyond the associated area of research and ideally for the greater public. The Statement of Relevance is similar to an “elevator pitch,” written in a manner that could solicit dialog with a layperson. For more information, reference the APA’s Guidance for Translational Abstracts and Public Significance Statements (https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/resources/translational-messages). Although this type of statement is not standard, some journals (e.g., Psychological Science, American Psychologist) require relevance to be communicated as a separate statement or within the body of the manuscript.

Constraints on Generality Statement

A Constraints on Generality (COG) statement clearly defines the target population for the study and describes how results may be limited to the specific participant group (Simons et al., 2017). The statement should address materials, procedures, and study context variables. Authors should suggest how methods could be varied to facilitate generalization without jeopardizing results. APA journals require a COG, as do select other journals.

Attest to Originality

Confirm that the manuscript has not previously been published and is not currently under review by another journal. Submitting a manuscript simultaneously to multiple journals is not ethical or acceptable. If your manuscript was previously submitted to and rejected by another journal, confirm whether you are required to formally withdraw your manuscript from consideration before submitting elsewhere. In your cover letter, disclose the previous submission and the outcome of the submission. Presenting a manuscript at a professional conference before submission or during the review process is typically permittable. Report any conference presentations in your cover letter. If your manuscript contains re-used material (e.g., portions of a study submitted elsewhere), also indicate this in your cover letter.

Manuscripts Containing Data from a Larger Study

More than one manuscript can be submitted from a large study, provided each is materially different. Feldman (2003) suggests your submission may not be considered a “new” study if you predominantly use the same sample or variables you used before. If your manuscript contains data from a more extensive study, state this in your cover letter. The American Psychologist submission instructions advise authors to clarify the relationship between their paper and others from the same study. Authors should describe any overlap in participants, measures, and analysis across papers. Describe the larger study and provide references to other study-related papers. State how the current manuscript adds value to the literature. Note that the journal may request copies of related manuscripts during the review.

Increasingly, journals are using software like Crossref (https://www.crossref.org) to verify the originality of submissions (Paltridge, 2020). Submissions failing to meet standards for new material are rejected prior to review. Therefore, applying such checks to your manuscript before a submission is advisable. Any potential overlap with previously published studies could be remedied before submission or addressed in your cover letter.

Author Agreement

Confirm that all named authors explicitly consent to submit the current version of the manuscript for publication in the selected journal. Depending on the journal, you may also have to attest that all named authors agree that they are authors (and by extension, they accept all associated responsibilities) and agree with their stated role in the project and their order on the title page. Some journals (e.g., Journal of Applied Psychology) require this information in the form of an Author Agreement. For the most part, the corresponding author signs attestations of authorship. Some journals may require signatures from all named authors.

Permission to Use Copyrighted Material

If your manuscript or supplemental resources include previously published text, tables, figures, or other materials, you must obtain permission from the copyright author(s). In your Permission to Use Copyrighted Materials statement, indicate which items you have acquired permission to use and how you have included proof of permission with your submission. If requested permissions are pending, include this information as well. Note any required permissions and the status of written permissions in your cover letter. Authors seeking publication in an APA journal must also submit a Permissions Alert Form (https://www.apa.org/pubs/authors/permissions-alert.pdf).

Other Declarations and Attestations

Journals may require other statements or declarations about ethical research and reporting standards. For example, Psychological Science requires authors to attest that all dependent and independent variables were included in the Methods section and that all excluded observations are noted and explained. Authors might also attest to compliance with submission instructions (e.g., deidentification of documents, adherence to page or word count limits, formatting conforms to APA standards).

Including Declarations and Attestations in Submission

Instructions for including declarations in the submission process vary across journals. Authors might post declarations into corresponding fields within the submission form. Journals may direct authors to include declarations on their title page, below the abstract, or as a separate page within the manuscript. In some cases, journals require the inclusion of declarations in more than one part of the submission (e.g., within the submission form and on the title page). Authors should include relevant declarations in their cover letter as well. Not all declarations or attestations will require a written response. Alternatively, you may be asked to attest to a set of bulleted statements by checking the associated box within the submission form.

In addition to declaration statements and other forms, journals published by the APA require authors to submit a Certification of Compliance with APA Ethical Principles form (https://www.apa.org/pubs/authors/ethics.pdf). This form addresses study approval, informed consent, care of animals, results reporting, authorship, and data sharing. All named authors are listed on the form, but only the corresponding author must sign it.

Suggesting and Excluding Reviewers

Authors may have the option to request that a particular peer reviewer be included or excluded from consideration for their manuscript. Excluding a reviewer might be beneficial if the reviewer is a competitor in the field or your viewpoints on the study topic are at odds. Communicate your request to the editor in the appropriate section of the submission form or within the cover letter. Provide a clear and concise rationale for your request. Alternatively, you may opt to suggest a specific reviewer for your work, especially if your research topic is not well-known or well-understood. If you suggest a reviewer, selecting someone active in the research community is advisable. Consider domestic and international candidates from all career levels. It is pertinent that the recommended reviewer is in no way affiliated with the named authors or with the work. Be clear and concise in your rationale for recommending the reviewer. Include information for contacting the recommended reviewer (e.g., name, institutional affiliation, and email address).

Editors are not required to use reviewers recommended by an author. However, if they do, it may help get your paper published. Kowalczuk et al. (2015) compared 800 reviewer reports for manuscripts submitted to medical journals. Reviewers suggested by authors were significantly more likely to recommend acceptance than reviewers selected by editors. Authors tend to recommend experts who are familiar with their study topic and recognize the importance of the study. Editors also seek reviewers with expertise relevant to the manuscript. However, experts chosen by the editor might be less interested in or even opposed to your specific paper’s tenets (Schroter et al., 2006).

Cover Letters

A cover letter is the author’s opportunity to summarize key aspects of their submission. Some journals require a cover letter. Even when not required, including a cover letter is highly advised (Welch, 2007). Use the cover letter to highlight how your study makes a fresh and meaningful contribution to the literature. The cover letter is also an opportunity to explain potential conflicts and issues of concern. See the APA Publication Manual (2020, Section 12.11) for guidance on what to include in a cover letter. Your selected journal may also stipulate statements or information to include. Sample cover letters are on the APA Style website (https://apastyle.apa.org).

Information to Include in a Cover Letter

Indicate the type of manuscript (e.g., case study, systematic review) you are submitting (Clever et al., 1997). State the title and list all named authors. Confirm that all named authors meet standards for authorship and agree to the journal’s terms for publication. Provide contact information for the corresponding author. Some journals (e.g., Behavior Modification) require contact information for all named authors in the cover letter.

Describe the scientific value of your article and how it adds to the existing literature. Explain how your article aligns with the mission of the journal. Verify that all study tasks were conducted in accordance with ethical standards. Provide information on how this manuscript or any closely related material has been shared previously. For example, indicate if any part of this work has been submitted to this or other journals or shared on another platform (e.g., professional conference, Podcast). Inform the editor if your article is taken from a more extensive study and cite related manuscripts (Feldman, 2003).

Include the registration number or link for pre-registered studies. If you opted not to pre-register your study or registered after the fact, explain why. If your data are sharable, briefly state how data can be accessed (e.g., include the citation for your data set). List any supplementary materials. Inform the editor of the status of permissions for reproducing any copyrighted materials. Review any potential conflicts of interest. Identify funding sources (if applicable) and describe the funder’s relationship to or role in the study. Include grant numbers. Explain any conflicts with required declarations and attestations. If you are asking to exclude or include specific peer reviewers, provide a rationale for your request. List any recommended reviewers with their full names and contact information.

Address your cover letter to the editor of the journal. It is usually sufficient for the corresponding author to sign the cover letter. Some journals require the signatures of all named authors. If the journal requires a cover letter, you will likely find a specified upload link within the submission form. Otherwise, include the cover letter in the optional or additional documents section.

Completing the Submission Process

Once you have collected all necessary information and confirmed that your manuscript is formatted to journal standards, you are ready to submit. Log into the system with your username and password. Select the “author” tab within the submission portal. The manuscript submission system will guide you through submitting information and uploading documents. Reference your checklist to ensure that one copy of each required document is included in the submission and uploaded in the correct order. Remember to save throughout.

Reviewing Your Proof

As a final step in the submission process, you may be given an opportunity to review a proof of your submission. The system will generate a .pdf document that includes all uploaded components of your manuscript in the order you submitted them. Cooper (2022) advises authors to review the proof carefully. Errors or omissions are easily corrected at this stage. Check for items you omitted from the submission or included more than once. Confirm manuscript components are ordered according to journal requirements. If you have forgotten to disable tracking in your document, a margin with editing notes will be evident. Return to the appropriate step in the submission process for each error detected to make necessary adjustments or corrections. When editing a document, delete the file you initially submitted before uploading the edited version. Review the updated proof. Download the final version if the system allows it and save it for your records.

Confirming Receipt of Submission

After finalizing your submission, you should receive an automatically generated email confirming that your submission was received. The email will contain a link through which you can check the status of your submission. Contact the editor if you are still waiting to receive confirmation of your submission after three business days. Include the manuscript title and system-issued identifiers in all communications (Johnson & Green, 2009). Ethical standards apply in the submission and publication process as well. All correspondence between the author and the journal is confidential unless the parties have explicitly consented to share information.

Conclusion

For better or worse, the widespread adoption of digital editorial management systems has changed the manuscript submission process. Critics argue that rigidity within digital systems and variation across systems increase the likelihood of a manuscript being rejected prior to review. With proper preparation, authors are likely to find digital editorial management systems facilitate and streamline the manuscript submission process. Avoid common submission errors with pre-planning, organization, and attention to detail. Prepare by reviewing author resources specific to your selected journal and to the digital editorial system used by that journal. Use these resources to create a submission checklist. Note journal-specific formatting requirements and limitations on manuscript length. Confirm you have reported results consistent with journal standards (e.g., new statistics). Check journal guidelines for tables, figures, and supplementary materials. Ensure all required disclosures and attestations are included in your submission. Prepare a cover letter to convey essential information related to your submission. State your manuscript’s unique contribution to the literature and highlight how it fits with the mission and values of the selected journal. Describe any potential conflicts or issues of concern.

Before initiating the digital editorial management process, review your submission requirements checklist. Verify that all elements of your submission are organized and according to author instructions. This will facilitate seamless submission and reduce the likelihood of immediate rejection related to missing or misfiled material. If the editorial management system generates a proof, take the time to review the proof before finalizing the submission. Errors are more easily addressed at this stage. If you encounter barriers to submission, do not be daunted! “To get to know, to discover, to publish (Arago, 1855) -this is the destiny of a scientist” (Mackay, 1977, p. 10).