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:
The circulation of the Journal is worldwide. Papers are invited and encouraged from authors throughout the world.
The word limit for papers submitted for consideration to JOOP is 6000 words and any papers that are over this word limit will be returned to the authors. The word limit does not include abstract, references, figures, and tables. 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). The authors should contact the Editor first in such a case.
All manuscripts must be submitted via our online peer review system. The Journal operates a policy of anonymous peer review.
For guidelines on editorial style, please consult the APA Publication Manual published by the American Psychological Association.
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:
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.
Studies conducted using only cross-sectional self-report data will be considered only in exceptional circumstances. For example; if the sample is exceptionally large, representative or multiple. In all other cases, cross-sectional self-report data should form part of a wider selection of data, including other measures such as longitudinal or experimental elements, corroborating or comparison data, third party records or psycho-physiological data.
For more details on the use of cross-sectional self-report data please see the March 2004 Editorial.
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.
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.