The British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology publishes articles, review articles and expert tutorials.
Articles are papers in which mathematical or statistical models are used to explore psychological phenomena. BJMSP will also publish papers which have a greater mathematical or statistical or other formal aspect of their argument than is usual in other journals. Nevertheless, it is important that all submissions that have a clear reference to substantive psychological issues or to quantitative techniques used in psychology and related disciplines. New models for psychological processes, new approaches to existing data, critiques of existing models and improved algorithms for estimating the parameters of a model, are examples of articles which are encouraged. The journal may also publish innovative applications of mathematics or statistics that establish a substantive theoretical or methodological contribution over alternative methods.
In the introduction of Review Articles, our purpose is to provide a forum for experts in the field of mathematical and statistical psychology to reflect on the history, development and future of important topics in the field at greater length. Previous articles that might have fit into this category include:
Keselman, H. J., Algina, J., & Kowalchuk, R. K. (2001). The analysis of repeated measures designs: A review. British Journal of Mathematical & Statistical Psychology, 54, 1-20.
Sheynin, O. (2004). Fechner as a statistician. British Journal of Mathematical & Statistical Psychology, 57, 53-73.
Steinley, D. (2006). K-means clustering: A half-century synthesis. British Journal of Mathematical & Statistical Psychology, 59, 1-35,
Although we expect that areas such as the analysis of response times, eye-tracking, or brain imaging data - topics of broad interest in psychology but whose analysis and interpretation is contingent upon mathematical and statistical techniques - may also be covered.
Expert Tutorials aim to provide a resource for mathematical and statistical psychologists to share their expertise, knowledge and skills for teaching and research. These articles should be aimed at doctorate level researchers in psychology or related disciplines with a good grounding in quantitative methods, but who are not yet expert in the topic of the tutorial. The criteria for publication of Expert Tutorials will include the clarity with which advanced techniques are conveyed to a non-specialist audience and the extent to which they address a perceived need for the dissemination of innovations in mathematical and statistical psychology.
Prior to submitting a Review Article or Expert Tutorial contributors are advised to submit an abstract to the Editor. From time to time the editors will also invite experts in the field to submit Review Articles or Expert Tutorials on topical or important issues. All Review Article or Expert Tutorial submissions will undergo the normal process of anonymous peer review.
The following series of questions are used in relation to those papers submitted for review:
- Is a psychological or substantive context identified?
- Is the relevance and importance of the work to psychology or related disciplines sufficiently clear?
- Is relevant previous work referred to?
- Is the problem well identified?
- Are alternative solutions considered?
- Are the mathematical or statistical arguments competent and correct?
- Is an example necessary? If given, is the example trivial?
- Is the abstract adequate?
In particular, it is policy to reject without review articles that do not set out the psychological relevance of the paper sufficiently clearly or which fail to meet minimum standards of clarity and presentation.
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 5000 words (6000 for Review Articles and 4000 for Expert Tutorials), 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.
- 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. 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)
6. 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.
7. 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.
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