About the Open Journal of Educational Psychology
Aims and scope
OJEP aims to provide psychologists, educators, and the wider research community with open-access to high-quality peer-reviewed research and commentary in Educational Psychology. The journal welcomes submissions which address: child development, teaching and learning, emotional health and wellbeing, organisational change in educational settings and psychological practice.
A core feature of the journal is its commitment to publishing research with the potential to improve outcomes for children and young people. The journal considers for publication practice-focussed articles as well as theoretical articles from authors who wish to communicate with a community of practitioners who may not have access to subscription journals.
The journal has a particular commitment toward publishing work undertaken by students and practitioners who have not previously published in an academic journal. OJEP offers a rigorous but supportive peer review process and does not charge a fee for publication or review.
Authors are invited to submit manuscripts under one of the following headings:
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Literature Reviews, of up to 6000 words, addressing theory, policy or practice.
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Original Research Articles, of up to 6000 words, and Brief Research Articles, of up to 2000 words, which present findings from original research studies.
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Practice Reviews, of up to 4000 words, which describe new or innovative ways of applying Educational Psychology.
Articles should be written in a clear, accessible style for a broad, international readership. Authors may assume the readership is familiar with core psychological theory and educational principles, however knowledge of national policy and practice should not be assumed. Technical and psychological terms should be illustrated with examples, where appropriate, and jargon should be avoided. Appendices should be kept to a minimum and strictly what is relevant to the main argument(s) of the article.
Peer Review Process
Manuscripts should comprise solely of original, unpublished work completed by the author(s).
Manuscripts should be double-spaced and written in 11 point font using either Arial or Times New Roman typefaces. Titles and subtitles should be printed in bold type, with increased font size where appropriate. Tables should use a simple, clear style and cells should not be shaded. Any figures or diagrams should be original work completed by the author(s). At present, the Journal does not publish photographic images or pictures.
Upon receipt, manuscripts will undergo initial screening by the journal manager to ensure correct formatting and relevance to Educational Psychology. The journal manager will then select two members of the editorial board, based on their areas of professional interest, to undertake double-blind peer-review.
Reviewers will grade the manuscript across five dimensions: relevance to educational psychology; applicability to practice; contribution to knowledge; academic rigour and clarity & style. Please click the link below to download a copy of our assessment criteria.
Assessment criteria for articles@:
After grading the manuscript, reviewers will make an overall recommendation to the journal editor regarding suitability for publication. In cases where recommendations from the two reviewers differ, the editor may choose to appraise the manuscript and reviewer feedback themselves before making a final decision, or forward the manuscript to a third member of the editorial board for further review.
Once the editor has made a decision about the suitability of the manuscript for publication, they will contact the author and provide feedback. OJEP is committed to supporting early-career academic writers and the editorial board endeavour to provide constructive feedback, identifying a manuscript’s strengths and limitations.
In cases where an author feels that the content or presentation of feedback could be improved, or disagrees with comments made about their manuscript by a reviewer, they are invited to contact the editor. Such feedback will be used to improve the editorial process. The editor’s decision on publication is, however, final.
If accepted for publication, a member of the editorial board will liaise with the author to ensure that any adaptations, recommended through the peer review process, are implemented. The manuscript will then undergo copy-editing and proofing. Articles will usually be published immediately, thereafter.
Editorial Board
Further information about OJEP’s Editorial Board can be found here.
Open Access
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.