Articles Types
Social Psychological Bulletin accepts submissions in the following forms:
| Article type | Word count | Number of references | Number of figures | Number of tables |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short research reports - main body of the article should report empirical results. To discuss more nuanced findings please make good use of the space reserved for supplementary materials | 3.500 | 30 | 2 | 2 |
| Research and review articles - empirical or theoretical papers | 8.000 | 50 | 3 | 4 |
| Target articles - if accepted will be accompanied by invited commentaries from specialists in the field | 8.000 | 50 | 3 | 3 |
| Commentaries - comments on a newly published article | 3.500 | 30 | 2 | 2 |
| Methodological articles - presentations of psychological methods and instruments | 8.000 | 50 | 3 | 3 |
| Registered Reports - research articles in which methods and proposed analyses are pre-registered and peer-reviewed prior to research being conducted. Once the protocol is accepted and the study is completed the authors are invited to submit the article including results and discussion sections. This format is open to replications as well as original research. Read more on Registered Reports. | 8.000 | 50 | 3 | 4 |
The final publication (after peer-review) must not exceed 8,000 words in length (excluding only references). The supplementary materials do not have a word count nor figure/table/reference limit.
If you have any questions regarding the format of your paper, please do not hesitate to contact us at spb@psychopen.eu.
Guidelines for Registered Reports
Research articles in which methods and proposed analyses are pre-registered and peer-reviewed prior to research being conducted (Stage 1). Once the protocol is accepted and the study is completed the authors are invited to submit the article including results and discussion sections (Stage 2). This format is open to replications as well as original research.
If you would like to read more about Registered Reports, we recommend that you visit this page: https://www.cos.io/initiatives/registered-reports
FAQ regarding Registered Reports
- 1. How long will it take to complete the Stage 1 review process?
- SPB intention is to process Registered Reports via a Fast Track review process. We will ask our reviewers to perform the reviews of Stage 1 submissions within 4 weeks maximum.
- 2. Whether and how do I include preliminary data (pilot studies and non-registered studies) in the manuscript?
- Although typically all studies within a RR manuscript undergo Stage 1 review, authors can include preliminary and non-preregistered studies in the manuscript. The final manuscript will clearly distinguish between non-pregistered studies/preliminary data and the data obtained in the main experiment that went through Stage 1.
- 3. How are the manuscripts withdrawn after Stage 1 review handled?
- The Authors are free to withdraw the article at any stage. If an article is withdrawn after Stage 1, SPB will publish an abstract of the submission online.
- 4. How are multiple registered studies as part of a manuscript handled?
- If multiple studies are presented in one manuscript at once, all go under review in Stage 1. However, if the authors decide to add a study or studies after in principal acceptance (IPA), the process can repeat and the new study/studies can go again through Stage 1 review.
- 5. Are there any statistical power requirements for submitted studies and what level of power is required?
- We expect the authors to rely on statistical power of at least 90%. If the authors wish to rely on lower power, they are asked to make a strong argument that can support their choice.
- 6. Is secondary data allowed to be used for a Registered Report?
- The authors may submit a Registered Report, where they aim at analyzing secondary data, if they can provide a proof of no access to the data nor to reports of the data until after IPA.
- 7. Is there a deadline for Stage 2 submission after Stage 1 acceptance?
- SPB does not set a firm deadline for Stage 2 submissions after Stage 1 acceptance, but by default the authors will be given 3 months to submit Stage 2 manuscript. If the authors are not able to meet the deadline, they will be asked to contact the handling editor and ask for an extension of the deadline.
- 8. Can I make changes to the introduction submitted at Stage 1 in the submission at Stage 2?
- The authors are discouraged from making any changes to the submission. If they find a strong rationale behind introducing any minor change, they may consult the handling editor and discuss such a possibility. Please note that, in general, any changes introduced to the Stage 1 submission after IPA could be a basis for declining the submission.