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10 tips on How to Pen Down a Manuscript for Psychology Journal Publication

This entry was posted in Research Paper , on August 30 , 2019.

Preparing a manuscript for a major psychology journal publication can be a daunting task for everyone, from first-time authors to even experienced researchers. However, all authors need is just a bit of help in preparing their manuscript in the best possible manner as required by prominent psychology journals. The process of submitting manuscripts varies a little from one journal to another. However, there are some standard practices to follow when submitting your work to a publication.

Listed below are ten tips that will help you prepare the best manuscript possible

Nail The Abstract Of Your Manuscript

The author usually waits for the last minute to prepare this section, but this is usually the first section that a typical reader sees. The abstract can be difficult to write because the author has to summarize an entire paper in no more than a few hundred words. A good abstract is accurate, autonomous, non-evaluative, consistent and legible. In addition, it is designed to address two important functions. Firstly, once the article is published, it may be the only part of the study that is read by most researchers. Many scan the summary to decide whether the paper is worth reading or not. Secondly, with the development of electronic search systems, magazine readers have begun to increasingly rely on abstract services to identify relevant documents. The best way to nail your abstract is to begin working on it early on, in every project.

Capture Readers’ Attention With A Captivating Introduction

A solid introduction captivates readers and provides a context for the study. In presenting the research topic, every author must clearly explain why the problem merits further research, placing the study in the context of current knowledge and previous theoretical and empirical work on the subject, in the form of a short, engaging introduction!

Pay Close Attention To The Length Of Your Manuscript

Journal editors generally work with a limited number of assigned research papers. This number is determined at the beginning of the year of publication. Space is valuable, and a manuscript should not contain more than 30 to 35 typed double-spaced pages, inclusive of relevant tables, figures, and references. Editors and reviewers regularly review the length of various sections, especially the introduction and discussion sections. As an author, it is vital that you pay heed to the balance in the length of individual sections within your manuscript. Use words carefully and make every word count.

Use Relevant Stats & Figures To Better Elucidate Your Point

Readers often tend to acquire a clearer understanding of a research paper with the help of the tables and figures used within. The heart of the study is often found in these compact sources. All authors should, therefore, pay close attention to stats. The best tables and figures are those that are structured according to the style of the APA, are clear and isolated with legends, and also complement rather than duplicate the information offered in the text itself.

Keep Things Simple

A good manuscript is always easy to understand. Sometimes the main reason for psychology journal reviewers and editors rejecting an article is that they find it hard to understand. The importance of clear and concise communication in scholarly writings cannot be emphasized enough. Writing is hard work. However, it is possible to follow some basic guidelines to facilitate good writing. These include –

Choose The Most Appropriate Style For Your Manuscript

The style of scholarly manuscripts may refer to various aspects of the writing technique.  Authors who are preparing to submit a manuscript will want to take a close look at the APA editorial style, for rules on capitalization, italics, abbreviations, the structure of headers, etc. It is also crucial to avoid language bias, which is especially important in the case of sensitivity to concerns such as participants’ mental illness and cultural background. A solid manuscript will demonstrate the author’s mastery of writing in the academic genre of a research article. a) the methodical expression of ideas, b) the fluidity of expression, c) precision/clarity of words, and d) correct grammar.

Think About The Finer Details Of Your Manuscript

In addition to the style requirements discussed above, a well-crafted manuscript also conforms to the minor technical aspects that most psychology journal publications require authors to adhere to. Authors should carefully re-read their manuscripts for typographical and spelling errors before submitting them for publication. Reviewers and writers generally go through multiple manuscripts and are quite strict, even with the most minute mistakes. Even minor mistakes can cloud an otherwise phenomenal research paper.

Use References Wisely

With regards to using references, it is important for authors to be as economical as possible, because space is limited, and also use the best, most recent, and most relevant sources available. Reviewers/editors tend to challenge manuscripts that do not cite relevant studies and rely too often on unpublished works. The authors should also make sure that references are consistent with the APA editorial style.

Think About All Pertaining Ethical Guidelines

When planning and preparing a manuscript, authors should refer to the “Psychologist’s Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct” and all pertaining ethical guidelines of the institution where the research was conducted. The APA Code of Ethics requires that authors ensure the approval of the concerned institutional review committees and obtain the informed consent of all participants. Compliance with these requirements should be noted in the ‘Method’ section.

Perform Multiple Revisions Before Submitting Your Manuscript

Even the most experienced authors submit their completed manuscripts only after considerable editing and re-editing. Until you have gained some experience in technical writing, you must plan on performing multiple revisions to your manuscript.All successfully submitted psychology research manuscripts usually have a number of elements in common. These ten tips are guaranteed to help authors in preparing concise, high-quality manuscripts fit to be published in any top psychology journal publication in the globe.