The British Journal of Social Psychology publishes original papers in all areas of social psychology. Topics covered include social cognition, attitudes, group processes, social influence, intergroup relations, self and identity, nonverbal communication, and social psychological aspects of personality, affect and emotion, and language and discourse. Submissions addressing these topics from a variety of approaches and methods, both quantitative and qualitative are welcomed.
We publish papers of the following kinds:
Empirical papers that address theoretical issues
Theoretical papers, including analyses of existing social psychological theories and presentations of theoretical innovations, extensions, or integrations
Review papers that provide an evaluation of work within a given area of social psychology and that present proposals for further research in that area
Methodological papers concerning issues that are particularly relevant to a wide range of social psychologists
1. Circulation
The circulation of the Journal is worldwide. Papers are invited and encouraged from authors throughout the world.
2. Length
The word limit for papers submitted for consideration to BJSP is normally 7000 words. This does not include the abstract, reference list, tables and figures. Appendices however, are included in the word limit. The Editor retains discretion to publish papers beyond this length in cases where the clear and concise expression of the scientific content requires greater length (e.g., a new theory or a new method).
3. Submission and reviewing
All manuscripts must be submitted via our online peer review system. The Journal operates a policy of anonymous peer review.
4. Manuscript requirements
Contributions must be typed in double spacing with wide margins. All sheets must be numbered.
Tables should be typed in double spacing, each on a separate page with a self-explanatory title. Tables should be comprehensible without reference to the text. They should be placed at the end of the manuscript with their approximate locations indicated in the text.
Figures can be included at the end of the document or attached as separate files, carefully labelled in initial capital/lower case lettering with symbols in a form consistent with text use. Unnecessary background patterns, lines and shading should be avoided. Captions should be listed on a separate sheet. The resolution of digital images must be at least 300 dpi.
All articles should be preceded by an Abstract of between 100 and 200 words, giving a concise statement of the intention, results or conclusions of the article.
For reference citations, please use APA style. Particular care should be taken to ensure that references are accurate and complete. Give all journal titles in full.
SI units must be used for all measurements, rounded off to practical values if appropriate, with the imperial equivalent in parentheses.
In normal circumstances, effect size should be incorporated.
Authors are requested to avoid the use of sexist language.
Authors are responsible for acquiring written permission to publish lengthy quotations, illustrations, etc. for which they do not own copyright.
For guidelines on editorial style, please consult the APA Publication Manual published by the American Psychological Association.
5. Brief Reports
Brief reports should be limited to 3,500 words (including abstract, but excluding references, tables, and figures). Abstracts should not exceed 120 words. Brief reports may include research studies but we also welcome theoretical contributions. Paper evaluation will focus on the theoretical contribution, innovation and relevance to the Journal. Brief reports will be treated as a priority during the review process and they will also be prioritized once they are accepted.
6. Publication ethics
All submissions should follow the ethical submission guidelines outlined the the documents below:
Supplementary data too extensive for publication may be deposited with the British Library Document Supply Centre. Such material includes numerical data, computer programs, fuller details of case studies and experimental techniques. The material should be submitted to the Editor together with the article, for simultaneous refereeing.
8. Copyright
On acceptance of a paper submitted to a journal, authors will be requested to sign an appropriate assignment of copyright form. To find out more, please see our Copyright Information for Authors.