Submission Information

All articles are peer reviewed.  For an overview of the peer review process, click the button below!

    Most contributions are by invitation and all are then peer-reviewed and edited. The editors, however, welcome unsolicited manuscripts, in which case, we suggest potential authors send an abstract or short summary of contents and we will respond as to our interest in a full manuscript submission.   Authors who wish to be considered for publication in BAO Journals must submit a signed assignment of rights form with their article.  To print a pdf file version of the form, click the button below.

    In all cases, manuscripts should be submitted electronically saved in "rich text format"(.rtf) or MS Word "DOC" format  to BOTH Michael Lamport Commons, Ph.D. and Darlene E. Crone-Todd, Ph.D.

    Please adhere to APA format and use "Times New Roman" font in 11 pt. throughout. In references, however, please italicize the places where APA format would have you underline.  Headings are encouraged and must follow APA format. The author's full contact information must appear at the conclusion of the article.

    In addition to APA format, BAO has additional protocols for submissions.  In cases where BAO and APA protocols do not agree, BAO protocols are to supersede APA rules.

   1) All articles must have abstracts - See rules for abstracts below.
    2) Key word descriptors must be placed after the abstract.
    3) No author inserted pagination or headers and footers.
    4) All pages should be created in the portrait format - Do not create documents with mixed landscape and portrait formats.
    5) Each article should be in one document - Creating documents in "sections" creates serious problems when attempting to apply pagination.
    6) An indicator is to be placed within the text wherever a figure or table is to be inserted in an article.
    7) Ensure that the references are properly indented and italicized.
    8) Ensure that full author contact information is included at the end of the article for each author - Indexing services require this.
    9) All margins are to be 1" all around and paper size 8 1/2 X 11"
  10) All articles are to be single spaced
  11) All graphical content ( figures, illustrations, etc.), must be in jpeg format only.  No Excel graphs, for example.
 
 

    In order to ensure that BAO Journals will be accepted in the major psych databases, there are certain guidelines that must be followed for abstracts relating to our articles and the Journal.

The following guidelines are straight from the PsycINFO website. Click on the button to visit the PsychINFO website.

General Guidelines for Writing Effective Abstracts

     For use in PsycINFO and other databases, an abstract should not exceed 960 characters and spaces (approximately 120 words).

Characters may be conserved by:

    • using digits for numbers (except at the beginning of sentences)
    • using well-known abbreviations
    • using the active voice

 Begin with the most important information, but don't waste space by repeating the title. Include in the abstract only the four or five most important concepts, findings, or implications.

Embed as many key words and phrases in the abstract as possible; this will enhance the user's ability to find the citation for your article in a computer search. Include in the abstract only information that appears in the body of the paper.

 Style:

Remember that not all people who read your abstract will have a high level of psychological knowledge. Define all acronyms and abbreviations, except those for measurements.

    • Spell out names of tests
    • Use generic names for drugs (when possible)
    • Define unique terms

Use the present tense to describe results with continuing applicability or conclusions drawn and the past tense to describe variables manipulated or tests applied.  As much as possible, use the third person, rather than the first person.

 Abstracts for Empirical Studies:

Abstracts of an empirical study are generally about 100––120 words. Include the following information:

    •    problem under investigation (in one sentence)
    •    pertinent characteristics of subjects (number, type, age, sex, and genus and species)
    •    experimental method, including apparatus, data-gathering procedures, complete test
    •    names, and complete generic names and the dosage and routes of administration of any drugs (particularly if the drugs are novel or important to the study)
    •    findings, including statistical significance levels
    •    conclusions and implications or applications

 Abstracts for Review/Theoretical Articles

Abstracts for review or theoretical articles are generally about 75––100 words. Include the following information:
    •   the topic in one sentence
    •   purpose, thesis, or organizing construct and the scope  (comprehensive or selective) of the article
    •   sources used (e.g., personal observation, published literature)
    •   conclusions

Editing

    Accepted manuscripts are copyedited according to APA format and returned to the author for approval. Authors are responsible for all statements made in their work, including changes made by the copy editor and authorized by the corresponding author. Please adhere to APA format and use "Times New Roman" font in 11 pt. throughout. In references, however, please italicize the places where APA format would have you underline. Headings are encouraged and must follow APA format.

Thank you,
Michael Lamport Commons, Ph.D.
Darlene E. Crone-Todd, Ph.D.