I've served on the editorial board of two APA journals (Psychological
Assessment and Journal of Abnormal Psychology) and reviewed for 9 or 10 other
APA journals, and have never seen an article rejected for lack of conformance
to APA style (although I've certainly seen editors note this problem in passing
in their action letters). I don't doubt, as Stuart observes, that a few
journals reject articles on this basis (Teaching of Psychology has something of
a reputation in this regard), but I do suspect that it's quite rare (unless, as
Jim Clark notes, the errors are egregious).
More broadly, I'm inclined to agree with Jim that we place too much
emphasis on APA style issues in our undergraduate teaching. I certainly do
think that students should know the basics, to be sure, but even most
experienced authors in the field don't bother much about the nitty-gritty
details (e.g., I've seen running heads and short titles presented in all kinds
of different formats in APA manuscripts I've reviewed without editors ever
seeming to notice or care). I, for one, would prefer that psychology students
focus on clear and crisp writing, the mechanics of basic grammar, organization,
and good scientific thinking in their written work, with the APA style
specifics being relegated to a tertiary emphasis. But I realize that I am
probably in a minority in this regard. ....Scott
Scott O. Lilienfeld, Ph.D.
Professor
Editor, Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice
Department of Psychology
Emory University
36 Eagle Row
Atlanta, Georgia 30322
[email protected]
(404) 727-1125
Psychology Today Blog:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-skeptical-psychologist
50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology:
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-140513111X.html
Scientific American Mind: Facts and Fictions in Mental Health Column:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/sciammind/
The Master in the Art of Living makes little distinction between his work and
his play,
his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his
recreation,
his love and his intellectual passions. He hardly knows which is which.
He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does,
leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing.
To him - he is always doing both.
- Zen Buddhist text
(slightly modified)
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Clark [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 6:45 PM
To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)
Subject: RE: [tips] Running head
Hi
I think this reflects badly on the editors (or perhaps there was some
pre-editor screening process?), or at least on the journal unless the
errors were really egregious ... no method or results section, results
preceding method, absence of critical statistics (which I would not call
a style issue), ... What purely "style" issue actually interferes with
comprehension (and evaluation) of a manuscript? Wouldn't "style"
matters be better dealt with by one line in the evaluation (accepted
subject to final version that adheres to apa style, ...).
Take care
Jim
James M. Clark
Professor of Psychology
204-786-9757
204-774-4134 Fax
[email protected]
>>> Stuart McKelvie <[email protected]> 24-Aug-09 2:30:00 PM >>>
Dear Jim and Tipsters,
Perception & Psychophysics returned a paper to me unread because it did
not follow APA format.
Sincerely,
Stuart
_____________________________________________________
"Floreat Labore"
"Recti cultus pectora roborant"
Stuart J. McKelvie, Ph.D., Phone: 819 822 9600 x 2402
Department of Psychology, Fax: 819 822 9661
Bishop's University,
2600 rue College,
Sherbrooke,
QuĊĦbec J1M 1Z7,
Canada.
E-mail: [email protected] (or [email protected])
Bishop's University Psychology Department Web Page:
http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
Floreat Labore"
_______________________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Clark [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: August 24, 2009 3:26 PM
To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)
Subject: Re: [tips] Running head
Hi
Has anyone ever had a manuscript rejected because of an APA style
error? I haven't despite numerous violations. I wonder if we spend too
much time on "niceties" of apa style given APA itself can't seem to get
it correct, adherence does not really matter except for classwork, and
clear communication is more important than "style" issues (I do
appreciate the aspects of the APA manual that address writing clearly).
Take care
Jim
James M. Clark
Professor of Psychology
204-786-9757
204-774-4134 Fax
[email protected]
>>> Deb Briihl <[email protected]> 24-Aug-09 1:07:38 PM >>>
One of my coworkers contacted the APA gurus about the Running head. The
sample paper is incorrect (why is this a theme?) - the running head is
to
be on each page to the left - the words "Running head" are not to be
included.
Deb
Dr. Deborah S. Briihl
Dept. of Psychology and Counseling
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698
(229) 333-5994
[email protected]
http://chiron.valdosta.edu/dbriihl/
Well I know these voices must be my soul...
Rhyme and Reason - DMB
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