American Psychologist® Editor: Norman B. Anderson ISSN: 0003-066X Published nine times a year, beginning in January

Presubmission Checklist

Submissions to the American Psychologist undergo an initial editorial review, at which time a decision is made to circulate a manuscript for peer review or to return it to its author(s) because the manuscript is not a strong candidate for publication in the journal.

Authors who want to ascertain the likelihood that their submissions will be circulated for peer review can answer the following questions about their papers. The more questions that can be answered yes, the likelier it is that the paper will survive the initial round of editorial review.

Does the paper:

1. Use a writing style that will be appreciated by a majority of AP readers because it is jargon-free and interesting to read?
2. Serve to inform psychologists across a broad array of specialties by reporting on a new but generally accepted advance that is not widely known beyond the experts within a specialty area?
3. Integrate two or more areas of the field?
4. Present a new idea or concept and demonstrate in concrete terms how it might be applied in at least one area?
5. Have a conceptual or theoretical nature that is pertinent to a variety of psychologists, rather than to those in one narrow field?
6. Make a significant, original contribution?
7. Have some material that might appeal to the media?
8. Not primarily report the authors' empirical results that have been previously published elsewhere?