Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice
• Examining the Effects of Group Influences
The incoming editor welcomes more research on group therapy outcomes and groups in the context of forensic and criminal justice (from Monitor on Psychology, June 2013)
Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice publishes original empirical articles, theoretical analyses, literature reviews, and brief reports dealing with basic and applied topics in the field of group research and application.
The editors construe the phrase group dynamics in the broadest sense—the scientific study of all aspects of groups—and publish work by investigators in such fields as psychology, psychiatry, sociology, education, communication, and business.
The journal publishes articles examining groups in a range of contexts, including ad hoc groups in experimental settings, therapy groups, naturally forming friendship groups and cliques, organizational units, self-help groups, and learning groups.
Theoretically driven empirical studies of hypotheses that have implications for understanding and improving groups in organizational, educational, and therapeutic settings are particularly encouraged.
Incoming (2014) Editorial Board
(handling all new submissions in 2013)
Incoming (2014) Editor
David K. Marcus
Washington State University
Incoming (2014) Associate Editors
Bryan L. Bonner
University of Utah
Jay W. Jackson
Indiana University–Purdue University at Fort Wayne
Cheri L. Marmarosh
George Washington University
Giorgio A. Tasca
University of Ottawa
Incoming (2014) Consulting Editors
Michael R. Baumann
University of Texas–San Antonio
Eric C. Chen
Fordham University
M. Nicole Coleman
University of Houston
Robert K. Conyne
University of Cincinnati
Traci Y. Craig
University of Idaho
Janice L. Delucia-Waack
University at Buffalo
Dennis J. Devine
Indiana University–Purdue University at Indianapolis
Deborah L. Feltz
Michigan State University
Donelson R. Forsyth
University of Richmond
Matthew J. Grawitch
Saint Louis University
J. Robert Grove
University of Western Australia
Nathan B. Hansen
Yale University
Verlin B. Hinsz
North Dakota State University
Jeff Joireman
Washington State University
Anthony Joyce
University of Alberta
Cynthia R. Kalodner
Towson University
Steven J. Karau
Southern Illinois University
Janice R. Kelly
Purdue University
Dennis M. Kivlighan
University of Maryland
Glenn Littlepage
Middle Tennessee State University
Rayna D. Markin
Villanova University
Richard L. Moreland
University of Pittsburgh
Karen D. Multon
University of Kansas
Bernard A. Nijstad
University of Groningen
Craig D. Parks
Washington State University
Ronald E. Riggio
Claremont McKenna College
Maria T. Riva
University of Denver
Eduardo Salas
University of Central Florida
Susan G. Straus
RAND
R. Scott Tindale
Loyola University
Jan-Willem van Prooijen
VU University Amsterdam
Nathanial G. Wade
Iowa State University
Tessa West
New York University
Gwen Wittenbaum
Michigan State University
Virgil Zeigler-Hill
Oakland University
Incoming (2014) Manuscript Coordinator
Alyssa L. Norris
Outgoing Editorial Board
(handling invited revisions only in 2013)
Outgoing Editor
Craig D. Parks
Washington State University
Outgoing Associate Editors
Bryan L. Bonner
University of Utah
Cheri L. Marmarosh
George Washington University
Giorgio A. Tasca
University of Ottawa
Outgoing Consulting Editors
Holly Arrow
University of Oregon
Michael R. Baumann
University of Texas–San Antonio
Eric C. Chen
Fordham University
M. Nicole Coleman
University of Houston
Robert K. Conyne
University of Cincinnati
Traci Y. Craig
University of Idaho
Janice L. Delucia-Waack
University at Buffalo
Dennis J. Devine
Indiana University–Purdue University at Indianapolis
Deborah L. Feltz
Michigan State University
Donelson R. Forsyth
University of Richmond
Matthew J. Grawitch
Saint Louis University
J. Robert Grove
University of Western Australia
Sally M. Hage
University at Albany
Nathan B. Hansen
Yale University
Verlin B. Hinsz
North Dakota State University
Arthur M. Horne
University of Georgia
Jay W. Jackson
Indiana University–Purdue University at Fort Wayne
Jeff Joireman
Washington State University
Anthony Joyce
University of Alberta
Cynthia R. Kalodner
Towson University
Steven J. Karau
Southern Illinois University
Janice R. Kelly
Purdue University
Norbert L. Kerr
Michigan State University
Dennis M. Kivlighan
University of Maryland
James R. Larson, Jr.
Loyola University
Glenn Littlepage
Middle Tennessee State University
David K. Marcus
Washington State University
Rayna D. Markin
Villanova University
Richard L. Moreland
University of Pittsburgh
Karen D. Multon
University of Kansas
Bernard A. Nijstad
University of Groningen
John S. Ogrodniczuk
University of British Columbia
Amy L. Reynolds
University at Buffalo
Ronald E. Riggio
Claremont McKenna College
Maria T. Riva
University of Denver
Eduardo Salas
University of Central Florida
Susan G. Straus
RAND
R. Scott Tindale
Loyola University
Jan-Willem van Prooijen
VU University Amsterdam
Nathanial G. Wade
Iowa State University
Outgoing Manuscript Coordinator
Alyssa L. Norris
Abstracting and indexing services providing coverage of Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice
- Current Abstracts
- Current Contents
- EMBASE/Exerpta Medica
- Journals@Ovid
- PsycINFO
- PubMed
- SCOPUS
- SocINDEX
- Social Sciences Citation Index
- Social Work Research & Abstracts
- Studies on Women Abstracts
- SwetsWise All Titles
- TOC Premier
Prior to submission, please carefully read and follow the submission guidelines detailed below. Manuscripts that do not conform to the submission guidelines may be returned without review.
Submission
Submit manuscripts electronically through the Manuscript Submission Portal.
Revisions of manuscripts submitted prior to January 1, 2013 may be directed to the Outgoing Editor:
Craig D. Parks, Editor
Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice
Department of Psychology
Johnson Tower 210
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164
General correspondence may be directed to the Editor's Office.
Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice publishes original empirical articles, theoretical analyses, literature reviews, and brief reports dealing with basic and applied topics in the field of group research and application. We construe the phrase group dynamics in the broadest sense — the scientific study of all aspects of groups — and publish work by investigators in such fields as psychology, psychiatry, sociology, education, communication, and business.
The journal publishes articles examining groups in a range of contexts, including ad hoc groups in experimental settings, therapy groups, naturally forming friendship groups and cliques, organizational units, self-help groups, and learning groups. Theoretically driven empirical studies of hypotheses that have implications for understanding and improving groups in organizational, educational, and therapeutic settings are particularly encouraged.
Masked Review Policy
Masked reviews are optional, and authors who wish such reviews must request them when submitting their work. They must also prepare their manuscript so that they cannot be identified: A separate title page with authors' names and affiliations must be provided, and any identifying footnotes or self-citations should be removed.
If your manuscript was mask reviewed, please ensure that the final version for production includes a byline and full author note for typesetting.
Manuscript Review
The Editor and Associate Editors, in consultation with members of the Journal's Editorial Review Board and ad hoc reviewers, will determine which manuscripts are accepted for publication in the journal. The primary criterion for acceptance will be the work's impact on understanding groups.
The introduction should be theoretically coherent and compelling, and any relevant literatures should be reviewed. The methods and measures used should be appropriate, the findings should be interpretable and statistically meaningful, and conclusions drawn should be suitable ones given the results obtained.
Authors of manuscripts examining basic theory and research should identify implications of their work for more applied areas, and authors of manuscripts dealing with more applied topics should draw conclusions that are relevant to basic research and theory.
When possible, manuscripts dealing with applied topics will be critiqued by a basic researcher, and basic research studies will be reviewed by a practitioner. In some cases these critiques will be published with the original article.
Types of Manuscripts
Group Dynamics is the forum for empirical research on all aspects of groups, and so primarily publishes data-based papers that test hypotheses about groups. Theory papers and literature reviews will be published, provided they meet the standards set by such journals as Psychological Review and Psychological Bulletin.
Other types of papers, such as manuscripts that describe innovations and applications in group contexts that do not include evaluative data pertaining to the effectiveness of the intervention, will be reviewed for publication, but such papers should be submitted in the form of brief reports. All papers to be accepted for publication must make a definitive contribution to theory, research, or practice.
Brief Reports
The Journal publishes brief reports, such as single-experiment studies that do not require extensive theoretical introduction, case studies, reports of therapeutic innovations, and theoretical commentaries about specific issues. When possible, qualitative or quantitative evidence of the impact and effectiveness of therapeutic techniques should be included in reports of such interventions.
Brief reports must conform to the Publication Manual standards, but the manuscript itself cannot exceed 18 pages, including references, tables, and figures. Unsolicited book reviews will not be accepted.
Manuscript Preparation
Prepare manuscripts according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th edition). Manuscripts may be copyedited for bias-free language (see Chapter 3 of the Publication Manual).
Review APA's Checklist for Manuscript Submission before submitting your article.
Full-length manuscripts should not exceed 8,000 words total (including cover page, abstract, text, references, tables, and figures). If the manuscript exceeds 8,000 words, the author should explain in his or her cover letter why the requirement could not be met.
Double-space all copy. Other formatting instructions, as well as instructions on preparing tables, figures, references, metrics, and abstracts, appear in the Manual.
Below are additional instructions regarding the preparation of display equations and tables.
Display Equations
We strongly encourage you to use MathType (third-party software) or Equation Editor 3.0 (built into pre-2007 versions of Word) to construct your equations, rather than the equation support that is built into Word 2007 and Word 2010. Equations composed with the built-in Word 2007/Word 2010 equation support are converted to low resolution graphics when they enter the production process and must be rekeyed by the typesetter, which may introduce errors.
To construct your equations with MathType or Equation Editor 3.0:
- Go to the Text section of the Insert tab and select Object.
- Select MathType or Equation Editor 3.0 in the drop-down menu.
If you have an equation that has already been produced using Microsoft Word 2007 or 2010 and you have access to the full version of MathType 6.5 or later, you can convert this equation to MathType by clicking on MathType Insert Equation. Copy the equation from Microsoft Word and paste it into the MathType box. Verify that your equation is correct, click File, and then click Update. Your equation has now been inserted into your Word file as a MathType Equation.
Use Equation Editor 3.0 or MathType only for equations or for formulas that cannot be produced as Word text using the Times or Symbol font.
Tables
Use Word's Insert Table function when you create tables. Using spaces or tabs in your table will create problems when the table is typeset and may result in errors.
Submitting Supplemental Materials
APA can now place supplementary materials online, available via the published article in the PsycARTICLES® database. Please see Supplementing Your Article With Online Material for more details.
Abstract and Keywords
All manuscripts must include an abstract containing a maximum of 250 words typed on a separate page. After the abstract, please supply up to five keywords or brief phrases.
References
List references in alphabetical order. Each listed reference should be cited in text, and each text citation should be listed in the References section.
Examples of basic reference formats:
Journal Article:
Herbst-Damm, K. L., & Kulik, J. A. (2005). Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients. Health Psychology, 24, 225–229. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.24.2.225
Authored Book:
Mitchell, T. R., & Larson, J. R., Jr. (1987). People in organizations: An introduction to organizational behavior (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Chapter in an Edited Book:
Bjork, R. A. (1989). Retrieval inhibition as an adaptive mechanism in human memory. In H. L. Roediger III & F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), Varieties of memory & consciousness (pp. 309–330). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Figures
Graphics files are welcome if supplied as Tiff, EPS, or PowerPoint files. The minimum line weight for line art is 0.5 point for optimal printing.
When possible, please place symbol legends below the figure instead of to the side.
Original color figures can be printed in color at the editor's and publisher's discretion provided the author agrees to pay
- $255 for one figure
- $425 for two figures
- $575 for three figures
- $675 for four figures
- $55 for each additional figure
Permissions
Authors of accepted papers must obtain and provide to the editor on final acceptance all necessary permissions to reproduce in print and electronic form any copyrighted work, including, for example, test materials (or portions thereof) and photographs of people.
Download Permissions Alert Form (PDF, 47KB)
Publication Policies
APA policy prohibits an author from submitting the same manuscript for concurrent consideration by two or more publications.
See also APA Journals® Internet Posting Guidelines.
APA requires authors to reveal any possible conflict of interest in the conduct and reporting of research (e.g., financial interests in a test or procedure, funding by pharmaceutical companies for drug research).
Download Disclosure of Interests Form (PDF, 38KB)
Authors of accepted manuscripts are required to transfer the copyright to APA.
Download Publication Rights (Copyright Transfer) Form (PDF, 83KB)
Ethical Principles
It is a violation of APA Ethical Principles to publish "as original data, data that have been previously published" (Standard 8.13).
In addition, APA Ethical Principles specify that "after research results are published, psychologists do not withhold the data on which their conclusions are based from other competent professionals who seek to verify the substantive claims through reanalysis and who intend to use such data only for that purpose, provided that the confidentiality of the participants can be protected and unless legal rights concerning proprietary data preclude their release" (Standard 8.14).
APA expects authors to adhere to these standards. Specifically, APA expects authors to have their data available throughout the editorial review process and for at least 5 years after the date of publication.
Authors are required to state in writing that they have complied with APA ethical standards in the treatment of their sample, human or animal, or to describe the details of treatment.
Download Certification of Compliance With APA Ethical Principles Form (PDF, 26KB)
The APA Ethics Office provides the full Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct electronically on their website in HTML, PDF, and Word format. You may also request a copy by emailing or calling the APA Ethics Office (202-336-5930). You may also read "Ethical Principles," December 1992, American Psychologist, Vol. 47, pp. 1597–1611.
Other Information
- Prevention Groups
Special issue of the APA journal Group Dynamics, Vol. 14, No. 3, September 2010. Focusing on prevention groups, the issue includes articles about their history, effectiveness, and use in various populations and settings.
- Evolutionary Approaches to Group Dynamics
Special issue of the APA journal Group Dynamics, Vol. 12, No. 1, March 2008. Includes articles about social networks; group-level evolutionary adaptations; interpersonal and intergroup aggression; social exclusion; and cooperation in large-scale groups.
- Groups in Educational Settings
Special issue of the APA journal Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, Vol. 11, No. 4, December 2007. Includes articles about Glasser quality school; group approaches to reducing aggression and bullying; the efficacy of using music in children of divorce groups; student success skills; counseling and psychotherapy groups; and schools as team-based organizations.
- Groups and the Internet
Special issue of the APA journal Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, Vol. 6, No. 1, March 2002. Includes articles about effects of depersonalization in computer-mediated communication; a model of the effects of identifiability on communicative behavior; attachment and normative behavior in chats; gender differences in computer-mediated interpersonal influence; face-to-face and computer-mediated team decision making; differences between social- and cyberostracism; social influences in e-mail negotiations; and virtual group dynamics.
- Group-Based Interventions for Trauma Survivors
Special issue of the APA journal Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice, Vol. 5, No. 4, December 2001. Includes articles about treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder with comorbid panic attacks; therapy for bereaved adults and children following an air disaster; school-based postwar intervention with traumatized Bosnian adolescents; intervention for adolescents exposed to community violence; and exploring responses to catastrophes.
- 100 Years of Groups Research
Special issue of the journal Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice, Vol. 4, No. 1, March 2000. Includes articles about group cohesion, leadership, work groups, social influence, intergroup conflict, and group psychotherapy.
- Research Methods
Special issue of the APA journal Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice, Vol. 2, No. 4, December 1998. Includes articles about meta-analysis; the social relations model; measurement of consensual beliefs; focus group discussions as a research method; structural analysis of group arguments; efficacy as an example of a multilevel model; and hierarchical linear modeling in group dynamics research.


