JPED Author Guidelines
The Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability welcomes submissions of innovative and scholarly manuscripts relevant to the issues and practices of educating students with disabilities in postsecondary educational programs. Manuscripts must be submitted electronically via email to jped@ahead.org
Guidelines for authors are as follows:
Content
Manuscripts should demonstrate scholarly excellence in at least one of the following categories:
• Research: Reports original quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method research
• Integration: Integrates research of others in a meaningful way; compares or contrasts theories; critiques results; and/or provides context for future exploration.
• Innovation: Proposes innovation of theory, approach, or process of service delivery based on reviews of the literature and research
• Policy Analysis: Provides analysis, critique and implications of public policy, statutes, regulation, and litigation.
Format
All manuscripts must be prepared according to APA format as described in The Publication Manual (6th ed.), American Psychological Association, 2010. For responses to frequently asked questions about APA style, consult the APA web site at http://apastyle.org/faqs.html
• Manuscript length typically ranges between 25 and 35 pages including figures, tables, and references. Exceptions may be made depending upon topic and content.
• Write sentences using active voice.
• Authors should use terminology that emphasizes the individual first and the disability second (see pages 71 - 76 of APA Manual). Authors should also avoid the use of sexist language and the generic masculine pronoun.
• Manuscripts should have a title page that provides the names and affiliations of all authors and the address of the principal author.
• Include an abstract that does not exceed 250 words. Abstracts must be double-spaced on a separate page, or placed in an email request.
• Provide a cover letter asking that the manuscript be reviewed for publication consideration and that it has not been published or is being reviewed for publication elsewhere.
• Tables and figures must conform to APA standards, and must be in black and white only. All tables and figures should be vertical and fit on the page, no landscape format.
How to Submit Manuscripts
• Submit all manuscripts (research and practice briefs) to JPED at this email address: jped@ahead.org. Manuscripts must be submitted as email attachments in Microsoft Word format. Include a brief cover note addressed to Dr. David Parker, Executive Editor of JPED. Please confirm that the manuscript has not been published elsewhere and that it is not being reviewed at this time by another publication source. The abstract should be included in the manuscript and not attached separately. Finally, please ensure that all tables or figures are included as well. These can be included in the manuscript or attached as separate documents. You will receive an email reply from Richard Allegra, Managing Editor of JPED, to confirm receipt of your submission.
Upon acceptance for publication
For manuscripts that are accepted for publication, the following items must be provided to the Executive Editor:
• An electronic copy of the final manuscript as an email attachment.
• A 40-50 word bibliographic description for each author.
• A signed and completed Copyright Transfer form.
Manuscript submissions by AHEAD members are especially welcome. The JPED reserves the right to edit all material for space and style. Authors will be notified of changes.
Practice Brief Manuscripts
JPED invites practitioners and/or researchers to submit Practice Briefs that can inform readers of innovative practices that could, in time, become the basis of an empirical study. Practice Briefs will describe new or expanded programs, services, or practices that support postsecondary students with disabilities. The overall length of a Practice Brief will be limited to 12 double-spaced pages, which includes separate title page, abstract, and references pages. Tables and/or figures may be submitted, too, above and beyond the 12 page limit. Practice Briefs should be organized using the following headers/sections.
Title Page: Title not to exceed 12 words. Identify each author and his/her campus or agency affiliation. State in your email cover note that the work has not been published elsewhere and that it is not currently under review by another publication.
Abstract: The abstract needs to answer this question: “What is this paper about and why is it important?” The abstract should not exceed 150 words.
Summary of Relevant Literature: Provide a succinct summary of the most relevant literature that provides a clear context for what is already known about your practice/program. If possible, describe similar practices on other campuses. Priority should be given to current literature published within the past 10 years unless an older, seminal source is still the best treatment of a particular topic/finding.
Depiction of the Problem: In addition to a clear statement of the problem being addressed, consider the following questions when stating the purpose of the article: What outcome , trend, or problem might improve if your practice/program works? What gaps or problems or issues might persist or arise if this practice/program did not exist?
Participant Demographics and Institutional Partners/Resources: Maintain the anonymity of the students, colleagues, and campus(es) discussed in the article but provide a clear demographic description of participants (e.g., number of students, disability type, gender, race and/or ethnicity whenever possible, age range if relevant) and the types of offices or agencies that were collaborative partners (if relevant).
Description of Practice: Briefly and clearly describe your innovative practice/program and how it has been implemented to date. Tables and figures are encouraged to provide specific details you are comfortable sharing. They condense information and enhance replication of your practice/program on other campuses.
Evaluation of observed outcomes: Whenever possible, summarize formative or summative data you have collected to evaluate the efficacy of your practice/program. This can be anecdotal, qualitative, and/or quantitative data. Support any claims or conclusions you state (e.g., “Our program greatly enhanced students’ ability to self-advocate during their transition to college”) with objective facts and/or behavioral observations to support these claims.
Implications and Portability: Discuss what you have learned thus far and how you could further develop this practice/program in the future. Be honest about any challenges you may have encountered. This transparency enhances the rigor of your reporting. What would you do differently next time to achieve stronger outcomes? Provide a clear description of how and why disability service providers on other campuses should consider adapting your practice/program. Finally, how could your practice be studied by researchers? Identify possible research questions, hypotheses, or potential outcomes that could be studied if you and/or colleagues could expand the practice/program into a research investigation.
References: Use the current APA guidelines to format and proofread your paper prior to submitting it. This includes the proper use of spelling, punctuation and grammar; appropriate use of headers; correct formatting in listing references; and formatting any tables or figures appropriately.
Upon acceptance for publication
For manuscripts that are accepted for publication, the following items must be provided to the editor:
• An electronic copy of the final manuscript as an email attachment.
• A signed and completed Copyright Transfer form.
• A 40-50 word bibliographic description for each author.
Manuscript submissions by AHEAD members are especially welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all material for space and style. Authors will be notified of changes.
Guidelines for Special Issues
Occasionally the Executive Editor of the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability is approached with ideas related to research, policy, theory or practice that would comprise a topical issue of the journal. Special issues feature a series of articles on a particular topic. The JPED welcomes ideas for special topical issues related to the field of postsecondary education and disability. The issue can be formatted as a collection of articles related to a particular topic, or as a central position paper followed by a series of commentaries (a modified point counter point).
Below is the process for proposing and submitting ideas for a special issue:
Authors who wish to prepare a special issue should first contact the JPED Executive Editor at jped@ahead.org
The authors should describe the topic and proposed authors.
If the series appears to be valuable to the readership of the JPED, the Executive Editor will contact the individual making the proposal with a decision to proceed. The Executive Editor may provide suggestions for modification to content or format. The proposer will be a Guest Editor of the special edition The Guest Editor will then submit a list of proposed articles, authors and affiliations, and brief abstracts to the Executive Editor. The Guest Editor will inform authors of due dates and monitor the progress of the special issue. Each special edition manuscript will be reviewed by a combination of the Guest Editor, the Executive Editor, JPED editorial board members, and Guest Reviewers through the standard review process. The guest editor and the editors will be responsible for final editing and formatting.
Book Review Column Guidelines and Procedures
Please contact the JPED Executive Editor at jped@ahead.org to suggest books to be reviewed or to discuss completing a book review. Contact and discussion should be done before the book review is completed in order to expedite the procedures in the most efficient and fairest way possible. Book reviews that do not follow the guidelines may not be considered for publication.
Goals of JPED Book Review Column
• To bring new publications to the attention of service providers, administrators, researchers, and others within the field of disabilities services in higher education
• To help shape and extend the field itself by suggesting new directions, locating books within the field's current perspectives, and challenging conventions or extending our thinking when appropriate
• To provide a vehicle for those who are interested in writing for a scholarly publication
• A book review in a professional journal is a service to the readers.
• Therefore, the review should simultaneously convey the content of the book, evaluate the publication as to its relevance to the field, and assess its particular quality and usefulness for various audiences within our field.
Ways to Participate
• Contact the Executive Editor to suggest books to be reviewed
• Contact the Executive Editor to discuss reviewing a particular book
• Executive Editor or designee will invite individuals to review books of interest to the field
• Executive Editor may identify three to four individuals to do book reviews on a regular basis.
Books to be reviewed should have been published within the last two to three years. Topics of interest can include legal aspects, assessment of adults, Disability Studies, personal accounts of the experiences of disabilities, instructional and service provision strategies, among many others. Also, remember that AHEAD is an international organization; we welcome international books and reviewers. The Executive Editor will decide whether a particular book is appropriate for review in the journal.
Content and Format
In general, the book review should present:
(1) an overview of the book, providing the book's stated purpose, the author's viewpoint, and a general summary of the content
(2) an evaluation of the book, elaborating on the author's objectives and how well those objectives were achieved, the strengths and weaknesses of the book
along with the criteria you used for making that assessment, and the organization and presentation of the book, and
(3) recommendations that focus on to whom you would recommend the book, why, and how you would suggest the book be used, and its potential contribution
to our field.
Of course, the emphasis on each of the three areas may vary depending on the book reviewed; however, each of the areas should be addressed in some way in the review.
Aspects of content, evaluation, and recommendation can be treated separately or woven throughout the review narrative. It is inappropriate to use the book review as a forum for personal biases, research interests, or to dwell on minor points in the text and extraneous or peripheral concerns.
Citations within the book review should use American Psychological Association (APA) (6th edition) style.
At the end of the review, list your name and institutional affiliation as you want it to appear when the review is printed.
Submission
The length of a book review can range from 800 - 1200 words. Please send in an email attachment in MS Word, double-spaced to jped@ahead.org. After the review is submitted, the Executive Editor or designee will determine whether it is in accordance with the guidelines. If so, the book review will be reviewed and you will be contacted to discuss any minor changes, deletion, or additions needed before it is forwarded for publication. If the review does not meet the guidelines and/or requires more extensive revisions, it will be returned to the author for revisions or may be considered by the Executive Editor or designess to be inappropriate for publication at any time. Book reviews are considered to be academic manuscripts, and minor edits may be made to the manuscripts.
JPED Manuscript Review Process
All manuscripts received the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability (JPED) are reviewed for publication based on the Journal’s overall mission, and goals for its readership. Following is a description of the manuscript review process for JPED:
• Upon receipt, each manuscript is logged in and assigned a code number for identification.
• The manuscript is then read by the Executive Editor for overall appropriateness, scholarship, and its relevance to the Journal.
• A letter is sent to the author, usually within 2-3 weeks, acknowledging receipt of the manuscript. The manuscript is either then sent out for review or deemed “not appropriate for review”. Typical reasons for not sending the manuscript out for review is a mismatch between the theme of the manuscript and the stated content
guidelines for publication or a general concern in the quality of research*.
*NOTE: For publication, the manuscript must either be a research study; and/or an integration of other research studies, including a critique of results, or content for future exploration; and/or present an innovation regarding existing theory, approach or process of service delivery.) Manuscripts must also meet a minimum threshold level of excellence in scholarship to be considered for further review. (See other published articles in JPED for level of professional scholarship.)
• Upon its acceptance for review, the manuscript is sent to two or three professionals in the field of higher education and disability who are members of the
editorial board. The selection of reviewers also depends on the topic of the manuscript. Editorial board members provide comments and make a recommendation for publication.
• Reviewers are asked to respond within 4 weeks of receipt of the manuscript.
• All reviewer feedback is read by the Executive Editor and a final decision is made either to (1) accept the manuscript with minor editing, (2) request revisions and
resubmission for publication, or (3) reject the manuscript. A letter with the final decision and explanation for the decision is sent to the author(s) shortly after receiving the recommendations from the reviewers.
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Resources for Authors
Authors may want to check the following resources for additional guidance on APA style. All can be accessed through the APA website (http://www.apastyle.org):
Gelfand, H. & Walker, C.J. (Ed.). (2001). Mastering APA Style: Student’s Workbook and Training Guide. (American Psychological Association, Washington, DC).
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition (2010) or http://www.apastyle.org/faqs.html.
Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/)
Summary of major updates in APA Manual, Version 6 (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/societyimages/cdei/APA6th_ChangesFr5th.pdf)
