Guide to Publishing in Psychology Journals

by Robert J. Sternberg (Editor)

This book is an indispensable guide to how to write articles, choose journals, and deal with revisions or rejection. Each chapter is written by a highly experienced journal editor - people who have actually made decisions on manuscripts and publication, as well as being eminent in their respective scientific field and written many articles themselves. It showcases parts of articles, discusses journal submission, outlines the resubmission process, and highlights systemic issues. Clear instructions are given on writing an empirical article, literature reviews, titles and abstracts, introductions, theories, hypotheses, methods and data analysis. Each part of the process is laid out from presenting results, to mapping-out a discussion and writing for referees. The integral skills of revising papers and ensuring a high impact are taught in 'article writing 101'. Whilst less intuitive knowledge is provided concerning publishing strategies, references, online submission, review systems, open access and ethical considerations.

Genres: Psychology

284 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2000

About the author

Robert J. Sternberg's spectacular research career in psychology had a rather inauspicious beginning. In elementary school he performed poorly on IQ tests, and his teachers' actions conveyed their low expectations for his future progress. Everything changed when his fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Alexa, saw that he had potential and challenged him to do better. With her encouragement, he became a high-achieving student, eventually graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University. In a gesture of gratitude, Dr. Sternberg dedicated his book, Successful Intelligence to Mrs. Alexa.

Dr. Sternberg's personal experiences with intelligence testing in elementary school lead him to create his own intelligence test for a 7 th grade science project. He happened to find the Stanford-Binet scales in the local library, and with unintentional impertinence, began administering the test to his classmates; his own test, the Sternberg Test of Mental Abilities (STOMA) appeared shortly thereafter. In subsequent years he distinguished himself in many domains of psychology, having published influential theories relating to intelligence, creativity, wisdom, thinking styles, love and hate.

Dr. Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of (Successful) Intelligence contends that intelligent behavior arises from a balance between analytical, creative and practical abilities, and that these abilities function collectively to allow individuals to achieve success within particular sociocultural contexts. Analytical abilities enable the individual to evaluate, analyze, compare and contrast information. Creative abilities generate invention, discovery, and other creative endeavors. Practical abilities tie everything together by allowing individuals to apply what they have learned in the appropriate setting. To be successful in life the individual must make the best use of his or her analytical, creative and practical strengths, while at the same time compensating for weaknesses in any of these areas. This might involve working on improving weak areas to become better adapted to the needs of a particular environment, or choosing to work in an environment that values the individual's particular strengths. For example, a person with highly developed analytical and practical abilities, but with less well-developed creative abilities, might choose to work in a field that values technical expertise but does not require a great deal of imaginative thinking. Conversely, if the chosen career does value creative abilities, the individual can use his or her analytical strengths to come up with strategies for improving this weakness. Thus, a central feature of the triarchic theory of successful intelligence is adaptability-both within the individual and within the individual's sociocultural context.

Reviews

[Emine Ozturk · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good reference for researchers who are working in psychology-related fields and the beginning of their careers. The information in the books most relevant to experimental designs; however, each step in writing article were considered. Specifically, I've found helpful the chapters related to advocating your research paper and writing for your referees.

[Stanley Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the specific advice they give for improving each section of your paper. It's actually a good read!

[Dante Pirouz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same old same old and not at all helpful!!