Call for papers: Psychological networks

• Alexander P. Christensen
• Jill de Ron
• Ria Hoekstra
• Karoline Huth
• Lara Russell-Lasalandra
• Samuel Turecki

We invite submissions for a special issue of Translational Issues in Psychological Science focused on psychological networks and their potential to advance theory, methodology, and understanding of human behavior. The special issue is part of an innovative journal titled Translational Issues in Psychological Science, cosponsored by APA and the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS).

Psychological network approaches provide a framework for studying psychological phenomena as complex systems of interacting variables, while network science more broadly offers tools for examining relationships among individuals, psychological processes, biological systems, and social contexts. This special issue seeks to bring together theoretical, methodological, empirical, and translational perspectives that advance our understanding of when, why, and how network approaches can contribute to psychological science.

We particularly welcome work that develops innovative network methodology, evaluates the statistical evidence and robustness of network models, advances psychological theory through network perspectives, or demonstrates how network approaches can be translated into meaningful applications in psychological, behavioral, and health science.

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:

• advances in network methodology, including network estimation, regularization, model selection, uncertainty quantification, statistical inference, Bayesian and frequentist approaches, and methods for high-dimensional network data
• temporal, dynamic, and idiographic networks, including person-specific modeling, intensive longitudinal data, symptom dynamics, treatment response, relapse prediction, and personalized intervention
• integration across levels of analysis, including approaches that combine psychological, social, behavioral, and biological networks to understand complex human systems
• theoretical developments in network science, including the use of network models to develop, evaluate, or challenge theories of psychological functioning and human behavior
• network approaches to physical health and health behavior, including chronic illness, pain, health behavior, treatment engagement, and resilience
• clinical and translational applications, including case formulation, assessment, intervention, treatment planning, monitoring, and personalized care
• individual differences, cognitive, and behavioral networks, including semantic, personality, cognitive ability, creativity, attitude, and emotion networks
• computational and emerging approaches, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, large language models, and other computational approaches that extend network-based psychological science

We encourage submissions that move beyond simply applying an existing network method to a new dataset. Contributions may instead introduce or evaluate methodological innovations, address important theoretical questions, critically examine existing practices, integrate network approaches across levels of analysis, or demonstrate how network science can produce meaningful advances in psychological research and practice.

The special issue is intended to reflect the diversity of network science while maintaining a clear focus on psychological science and its translation to human behavior, health, and practice. Both theoretical and empirical contributions are welcome, as are scientific commentaries that address important methodological, conceptual, or translational questions in psychological network research.

Manuscripts submitted to TPS should be coauthored by at least one psychologist in training (graduate student, postdoctoral fellow), should be written concisely for a broad audience, and focus on the practical implications of the research presented in the manuscript. For more information about the journal, including detailed instructions to authors, visit the TPS website.

The deadline for submissions is January 13, 2027.