Submission Template and Contact Information
All articles should be submitted using our Article Template which can be downloaded from here. Article content should be text only. (Figures, tables, images and photos are not accepted.)
Send your files by email to both editors: editor (at) iafpd.info & co-editor (at) iafpd.info
In the email subject, include JOPD.
Brief reports
Brief reports are no longer than 1500 words plus references in length. They could be a commentary, discussion, or a comment about research. Short Abstracts and keywords are required.
Extended Reports
Extended reports are no longer than 3500 words plus references in length. They could be a commentary, discussion, or a comment about research. Short Abstracts and keywords are required.
Position Papers
Position papers focus on subjects or fields of work which, in the author’s opinion, need readdressing. A clear position with possible actions, should be made on the subject. Position papers would normally be between 1500-3500 words in length. Abstracts and keywords are required.
Opinion Papers
Opinion Papers are original reports and personal views on a given topic or field of work (focusing on the author’s views). Claims and assertions should be supported with facts, statistics, or published research studies. Opinion papers would normally be between 1000-3500 words in length. Abstracts and keywords are required.
Approaches, techniques, interventions and strategies section
As an applied journal, we are interested in receiving articles about methods to enhance professional practice such as learning techniques, interventions and strategies. Articles would normally be between 750-1500 words in length. Abstracts and keywords are required.
Invited papers & keynotes
Invited papers and conference keynotes relating to some aspect of professional development, learning or training. Abstracts and keywords are required.
Keywords
Five or six keywords are required for all papers.
Book reviews
Book reviews should include the book title, author(s) or editor(s), publisher, date of publication, number of pages, cost. We recommend that the journal editor is initially contacted to ascertain if the book is suitable for review in this journal.
Conference, congress and symposium reports
Reports on conferences, congresses and symposia are important in order to keep researchers and practitioners up-to-date with events they were unable to attend. All submissions should include the event title, organising body, location, date and URL to the event website. (Full conference abstracts can only be included with written permission from the conference organisers.) It is important to receive agreement for an event submission from the editor to confirm if the event falls within the remit of this journal.
Use of English
Articles should use consistent spelling, grammar and language ie. American or British English.
Reference style
In the reference section authors should the following APA citation style. It must be used consistently and authorship of cited works is adequately attributed, with all information necessary to locate cited material included. Take a look at the latest APA style (7th ed), Reference Guide.
SOURCE: American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Submission files and responsibilities
- Articles, reviews etc should be submitted using the Article Template available on this website and sent as an email attachments in MS Word. (Postal submissions will not be accepted for consideration.)
- The file must be saved under an abbreviated title of your submission eg PD-in-Education
- Author names should not be in the file title, nor in the file properties.
- Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission to publish lengthy quotations for which they do not own copyright.
- Authors are responsible for paying any copyright fees that may be payable to a copyright holder for the inclusion of their work.
- Please submit your ORCID identifier.
- Send your files by email to: editor (at) iafpd.info & co-editor (at) iafpd.info In the email subject, include JOPD.
Paper Transfer
If the Co-Editor believes that your article is more suitable for one of our other journals published by our affiliated company, the National Wellbeing Service Ltd, then they will bring this to your attention. If you agree to a transfer your article will be transferred automatically on your behalf.
Figures, graphs & diagrams
Figures, graphs, tables or diagrams are not used in the Journal of Professional Development. Text articles and submissions only.
Footnotes, Endnotes & Epigraphs
We do not use footnotes. Either incorporate the content within the main text or use endnotes.
Epigraphs are often used at the beginning of a book, chapter or section. They are used far less often in academic papers. Often they require copyright permission for use as they are not considered the same as a normal citation in a journal paper. If an author wishes to include epigraphs in a journal paper, then it is the author’s responsibility to obtain written permission and pay any copyright fees prior to submission.
New paper statement
On the article Template, a statement must be submitted confirming that the paper has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration in any other publication.
Publishing as an article or blog on a website still constitutes as previously published. The publisher will undertake checks on all submissions to verify if a paper has been previously published.
Plagiarism or self-plagiarism is not accepted.
Ethics
If a manuscript constitutes primary publication of results from a study involving human subjects, authors must affirm that it was undertaken in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the American Psychological Association or national psychology body of the country where the research was being undertaken. The research should have been approved by a relevant ethics committee. Book reviews, techniques, interventions, strategies, discussion and debate papers do not generally need approval by an ethics board or committee unless research participants were involved.
NB. Journal editors will abide the CSE’s White Paper on Promoting Integrity in Scientific Journal Publications. (Scott-Lichter D and the Editorial Policy Committee, Council of
Science Editors. CSE’s White Paper on Promoting Integrity in Scientific Journal Publications, 2012 Update. 3rd Revised Edition. Wheat Ridge, CO: 2012.)
Plagiarism
It is essential to avoid plagarism which can relate to another person’s ideas and/or words. It is always important to acknowledge and accurately cite the author or source. The NWS does check articles for plagiarism. If you are based at a university, you will generally have access to a Plagiarism Checker. If not, then we recommend that authors use the free online Check Plagiarism tool.
For further information about avoiding plagarism, please look at the APA Style 7th Edition Avoiding Plagiarism Guide.
Conflict of interest declaration or Competing interests
On the Article Template, Authors must declare any conflict of interests or competing interests or state that no competing interests exist.
Submissions by members of the editorial team
Papers submitted to the journal by a member(s) of the editorial team will have their paper processed by an other editor or member of the International Editorial Board not involved with the paper concerned.
Funding & Grants
Authors must declare what, if any, financial support or grants they received for the research.
Acknowledgments
Acknowledge people who may have been involved in supporting the paper but not directly involved as co-authors.