Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology (JOOP)

Notes for Contributors

The Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology publishes empirical and conceptual papers which aim to increase understanding of people and organizations at work. Its domain is broad, covering industrial, organizational, engineering, vocational and personnel psychology, as well as behavioural and cognitive aspects of industrial relations, ergonomics, human factors and industrial sociology. Innovative or interdisciplinary approaches with a psychological emphasis are particularly welcome. So are papers which develop the links between occupational/organizational psychology and other areas of the discipline, such as social and cognitive psychology.

We welcome the following varieties of paper:

• empirical research papers, containing new quantitative or qualitative data which address significant theoretical and/or practical concerns;
• papers which offer new theory and conceptualisation, perhaps accompanied by a critique of existing approaches;
• narrative and/or quantitative reviews of existing research which lead to new conclusions or insights into a field of research and/or practice;
• prescriptive articles advocating changes in research paradigms, methods, or data analytic techniques;
• analyses of practice in occupational and organizational psychology, where such analyses are driven by theory and/or sound data.
  

1. Circulation

The circulation of the Journal is worldwide. Papers are invited and encouraged from authors throughout the world.

2. Length

Papers should normally be no more than 6000 words, although 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.

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.
• All articles should contain a clear statement of where and when any data were collected.
• 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. Short research notes

In order to supplement innovative research produced in full paper format, the journal provides access to a wider range of investigation through the publication of research in Short Research Note format. Papers submitted as Short Research Notes will be subject to the normal double-blind review process. Short Research Notes should be largely empirical studies. Typically, they will do one of the following:

• replicate existing findings in a new context;
• develop new measures and report on their reliability and validity;
• report contradictory findings that sharpen the interpretation of existing research;
• present new applications of an existing measure;
• report descriptive findings or case studies that will significantly develop professional practice;
• offer an informed and focused challenge to key elements of an existing study, theory or measure.
  

Papers submitted as Short Research Notes should not exceed 2000 words, including the abstract but not including references or tables. It is normally expected that any tables will take up no more than two printed pages, and there should be no more than about 15 references. With the exception of the items of a new or substantially revised measure, appendices are discouraged.

A paper submitted as a Short Research Note will not necessarily receive positive reviews simply because it falls into one of the categories listed above. Papers need to be located in a conceptual/theoretical context, with rigorous method and appropriate reporting. The issues they raise and/or the findings they report must be deemed to be contributing significantly to the knowledge and understanding of academics and/or practitioners in occupational and organizational psychology. Short Research Notes are not a facility for publishing on the basis of weak data and/or weak conceptual underpinning.

In the majority of cases, authors will have submitted the paper in the Short Research Note format. In some instances, however, the Editors may feel that a full paper is best reviewed in a Short Research Note format, or the referees may only recommend publication under this format. All articles in this format will be officially designated and published with the preface 'Short Research Note:' These are placed towards the back of the journal. Acceptance for publication on this basis will be indicated in writing to the authors by the Editor or Associate Editor if the original submission was in full paper format.

6. Student populations

Papers using student populations will normally be considered so long as it is reasonable to suppose that the data obtained from the students are likely to generalise to working populations.

7. Publication ethics

All submissions should follow the ethical submission guidelines outlined the the documents below:

Ethical Publishing Principles – A Guideline for Authors

Code of Ethics and Conduct (2006)

8. Supplementary data

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.

9. 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.