FAQ | sjpsych

FAQ

For information and guidelines specific to the next issue please visit the homepag e.

The deadline for the upcoming Winter issue will be 20th January 2014.

GENERAL FAQ

1. What is the Student Journal of Psychology?

The Student Journal of Psychology (simply called “Journal” from here) is a psychology journal run by the University of Kent Psychology Society. It was founded in 2011 and provides undergraduates and postgraduates with the opportunity to get a publication during their university degree.

2. Why do you run a journal like this?

This is the first time any Psychology Society in the UK has provided a journal to their students. It is our aim to allow students the flexibility and creativity to write about what interests them in psychology. Furthermore, the process of finding a topic to write about, independently sourcing and reviewing literature, and the process of submission and revision are important skills for any student interested in career in science and academics.

3. Who can submit articles?

All psychology undergraduates and postgraduates from a University in the UK can submit articles.

4. What type of articles can I submit?

The Journal welcomes any articles, book or literature reviews, conference reports, and commentaries on any aspect of psychology. We also welcome original research and systematic reviews. You can also respond to an article previously published in the Journal. However, we now incorporate themes for each issue in order to address current psychological research interests.

5. Can I submit something that I have written for another purpose (e.g. coursework)?

We would strongly encourage you to write an original article for the journal. We do accept the submission of coursework, but chances of publication will be significantly higher when submitting original work. By original work we mean an article that has been written specifically for submission to the Journal, i.e. no coursework or previously published work. You are free to use previously written work as a basis for your journal submission. We will check all submitted articles for plagiarism.

6. How much do I have to write?

We ask you to write a minimum of 1000 words (excluding abstract). This roughly equals five paragraphs, which is a lot less than most undergraduate coursework. There is no fixed maximum word count, but we may ask you to shorten an article if it is too long. The typical length of previously published articles is about 2000 words.

7. Can I write an article together with others?

Yes, you are welcome to get together in a group of two, three, four or more people and write an article together. For example, if you split an article between three of you, then everyone may just need to write two paragraphs. You could each look at different aspects of a question and then merge the discussion into one article. Another option would be for one of you to write the article and then have another person read through it, comment and make recommendations for changes. How you split the work between authors is up to you!

8. Are there any other guidelines I need to pay attention to?

Apart from the minimum word count of 1000 words, there are a couple of other criteria that your article needs to meet:
• It needs to have a title that is no more than 15 words long.
• It needs to have an abstract (or summary) that is no more than 150 words long.
• Your article and references need to be formatted according to APA 6 style.
• You can have subheadings in your article, if you feel they would guide the reader.

9. How can I submit my article?

Please download the submission form from the home page of this website. Fill out the form and read the Terms & Conditions. Then send the submission form and your article to psychsocjournal@kent.ac.uk

10. Who do I contact if I have any further questions?

Please contact psychsocjournal@kent.ac.uk if you have further questions or are unsure about anything.