Guidelines for Contributors

The Journal of Experimental Education (JXE) publishes basic and applied research studies that use the range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies found in the behavioral, cognitive, and social sciences. Published studies address all levels of schooling and various educational contexts, including public and private education in the United States and abroad. The journal’s audience includes researchers and practitioners interested in advancing educational research and improving teaching, learning, and schooling. The journal is divided into three sections: Learning, Instruction, and Cognition; Motivation and Social Processes; and Measurement, Statistics, and Research Design. Authors must indicate in the cover letter to which section they are submitting their manuscript.

Cover Sheet and Abstract

Because all manuscript reviews are blind, author names and affiliations should appear only in the cover letter. A 120-word abstract should appear after the title and before the main text of the manuscript. In a research paper, the abstract should concisely state the problem, method, data, and conclusion. In a review or discussion article, the abstract should state the central thesis. Choose 5–7 keywords from the list on Manuscript Central and include them after the abstract to aid researchers in Web searches.

Text

Manuscripts must be no more than 35 pages, double-spaced, including abstract, notes, and references. Research articles should be clearly organized. Authors may use the following elements and order as a guide.

Problem. Present the nature, scope, and significance of the problem.

Related research. Present and selectively discuss related research and include references essential to clarify the problem under examination.

Rationale. Define the variables and state the hypotheses. Explain the rationale behind each hypothesis.

Method. Describe the sample, sampling procedures, data-gathering instruments (if well known, this description may be omitted), and statistical procedures.

Results. Summarize the data and their statistical treatment. Consider rival hypotheses and the importance of related studies and educational theory. Present summary data (e.g., means, standard deviations, frequencies, correlation) in tabular or graphic form. Report means, standard deviations, degrees of freedom, and sample sizes. Report statistics to 2 decimal places. Discussion of the data should be interpretive. Use the phrase “statistical significance” in place of “significance” whenever referring to the results of inferential tests. Interpret magnitude-of-effect measures in conjunction with every p value that is reported.

Discussion. Summarize findings and state the support or nonsupport of the original hypotheses. Compare results with the work of others. Describe any theoretical or practical implications of the results. Suggest improvements on research, or propose new research questions.

Style & Format

Use The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), fifth edition (2001), to prepare your manuscript. The manuscript’s text should follow typical reporting style for educational research. Consult recent issues of JXE (or similar journals, such as the Journal of Educational Research, American Educational Research Journal, or Journal of Education Psychology) for examples of acceptable reading formats.

Format. Manuscripts should be double-spaced and in 12-point, Times New Roman font, with 1-in. margins. Do not use forced section, page breaks, or automatic footnotes.

References. Before submitting your manuscript, provide complete, APA-formatted references and text citations, making sure the two correspond exactly. Pages 207–281 of the APA Manual (fifth ed.) detail these guidelines.

Sentence structure and acronyms. Change all instances of passive voice to active voice whenever possible, as these changes will be necessary before publication. Spell out each acronym at its first use.

Tables and figures. See pages 147–202 in the APA Manual (5th ed.), for guidelines in preparing, for example, titles, headings, and notes.

Length. Manuscripts must be no longer than 35 pages, double-spaced, including the abstract, notes, and references. Manuscripts that do not comply with instructions specified here will be returned to the author immediately.

Procedures

The review process. Two consulting editors with expertise in an appropriate field blind review each manuscript. An executive editor reviews their recommendations and has final authority regarding acceptance and rejection. If editors suggest revisions, they outline them in a decision letter, which also contains information about submitting a revised manuscript. The review process takes approximately 3–4 months.

Manuscript submission. To submit a manuscript, follow the directions at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jxe. Include with your submission a statement that the manuscript has been sent only to JXE and that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Accepted manuscripts. The editors of JXE reserve the right to edit articles for clarity, readability, and adherence to APA and Heldref styles. Manuscript galleys are sent to authors for final approval.