Call for Papers in Special Issue in JAP | Social Impact Research

Call for Papers
Journal of Applied Psychology
Special Issue on Social Impact Research
1,000 Word Proposal Due April 1, 2024

Guest Editors
Talya Bauer, Portland State University
Wendy Casper, University of Texas at Arlington
Lillian Eby, University of Georgia
Bryan Edwards, Oklahoma State University
Allison Gabriel, Purdue University
Jia (Jasmine) Hu, Ohio State University
Jonas Lang, Ghent University
Fred Oswald, Rice University

The goal of the Call for Papers is to encourage empirical (quantitative or qualitative) research on work- and employment-related issues with great social impact, well beyond the organizations in which employees work. All submissions must have clear and well-developed implications for directly improving the human condition through (but not limited to) formal and informal organizational policies and practices, as well as state, national, regional, and/or country-level policies, with broad benefits for society at large. Intervention research and policy evaluation studies of this nature are particularly welcomed. More generally, our expectation is that successful manuscripts will contain field data to maximize ecological validity. Hypothetical vignette-based studies, student samples, and other convenience samples (Prolific, MTurk, etc.) may be appropriate in multi-study designs, but must be closely contextualized to the research question(s) under consideration. Submissions focusing on any level of analysis are accepted, so long as the research serves to develop knowledge and practical recommendations with social impact, while staying true to the JAP mission to “enhance understanding of cognitive, motivational, affective, and behavioral psychological phenomena in work and organizational settings, broadly defined.”

Example Submission Topics

• Below is a non-exhaustive list of potential topics to illustrate the types of submissions appropriate for this call. Please note that successful submissions must have clear and well-developed implications for directly improving the human condition.
• Policies and practices related to fair and equitable compensation and benefits
• Interventions and policies to reduce unemployment, address the unique issues facing the working poor, and reduce poverty through improving employment
• International, country, regional, or state legislation or policy issues with broad implications for employment and quality of work life
• Programs and policies supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in employment for stigmatized and historically disadvantaged groups
• Criminal justice reform as it relates to improving public service workers’ preparation and delivery of services to their communities
• Efforts to address climate change and encourage conservation behaviors at work
• Policies and practices related to the ethical use of technology and artificial intelligence in the workplace
• Workplace policies and practices aimed at improving reducing hazardous working conditions and improving employee health and well-being
• Implementation of organizationally sponsored or supported philanthropy/volunteering programs and practices

Submission will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Practical contribution and broader impact of research for social good
• Data collection methods: high ecological validity
• Conceptual development: strong rationale provided for focal constructs and proposed hypotheses
• Rigor of research methods
• Clarity of exposition: quality of writing

Review Process and Review Criteria

Step 1. Authors will first submit a short proposal by April 1, 2024 (5:00pm Eastern Standard Time). Proposals should describe work that is at least in progress and if invited, final submissions must be fully completed studies. Proposals must be prepared according to APA style (double spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-point font) and must not exceed 1,000 words (exclusive of title, references, and figures). Proposals should include (1) rationale and research question, (2) methodology (including sample, methods, analytical approach), (3) summary of key findings, (4) conceptual contribution, (5) implications for practice and/or policy, and (6) relevance to the special issue theme. Failure to follow the submission guidelines will result in a desk reject decision without the opportunity to submit again. Proposals must be submitted using this link [https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0er1V2AGs2OGrKS] and will be reviewed by two Guest Editors for overall quality and fit with the purpose of this Special Issue. A subset of proposals will be invited to move forward with the development and submission of a full manuscript. Submitting authors will be notified of the decision on their proposal by July 1, 2024. Due to high anticipated submission volume, detailed feedback will not be provided on proposals. If you have questions about the Special Issue, please review the FAQ sheet [https://www.thejournaleditorscorner.com/faqs.html] before contacting the Editor-in-Chief, Lillian Eby (leby@uga.edu).

Step 2. Authors of accepted proposals will be invited to submit a full manuscript through the Journal of Applied Psychology Manuscript Central system by November 1, 2024. Full manuscripts must be prepared according to the Journal’s submission guidelines. Submitted manuscripts will undergo editorial review with an assigned Guest Editor, who will assign two reviewers, consistent with the Journal of Applied Psychology peer review guidelines. Please note that the request to submit a full manuscript does not guarantee publication at the Journal. In addition, no extensions will be allowed in the review process.

Additional guidelines for Step 2. Manuscripts selected for full submission must discuss the societal relevance of the research question and study aims, emphasizing the specific practical implications of the findings for creating a better world. The introduction and discussion sections must have a clear focus on (1) informal or formal organizational policies or practices or (2) international, country, regional, or state legislation or policy that has the potential to benefit society. Submissions must also be strongly grounded in existing research and have a well-developed conceptual or theoretical foundation. There are no specific page limits, but the expectation is that manuscripts be submitted as Feature Articles with its manuscript length being commensurate with contribution. Authors may be asked to reduce their manuscript to a Research Report during the review process. All manuscripts must also adhere to the methods checklist for JAP (https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/apl-manuscript-checklist.pdf).

Special Issue Timeline
April 1, 2024: 1,000 word proposals due (5pm Eastern Standard Time)
July 1, 2024: Initial decisions on proposals (rejection or request full manuscript submission)
November 1, 2024: Full paper due
November 1, 2025: Final manuscript decisions
March 2026 targeted publication date

Proposals must be submitted using this link https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0er1V2AGs2OGrKS