Indian Journal of Psychological Science (IJPS)
Guidelines to Authors
The Indian Journal of Psychological Science (IJPS) invites original and unpublished manuscripts in the field of psychology and allied behavioural sciences. Authors are requested to carefully follow the submission and formatting guidelines before submitting their manuscripts.
1. Types of Manuscripts Accepted
The journal accepts the following categories of manuscripts:
- Original Research Articles
- Review Articles
- Systematic Reviews
- Meta-Analyses
- Case Studies
- Short Communications
- Book Reviews
- Letters to the Editor
2. Language
Manuscripts must be written in clear and grammatically correct English.
3. Manuscript Formatting
Authors should prepare manuscripts according to the following format:
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font Size: 12 pt
- Line Spacing: 1.5
- Paper Size: A4
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- Alignment: Justified
- Page Numbers: Bottom Center
4. Manuscript Structure
Title Page
The title page should include:
- Title of the manuscript
- Full names of all authors
- Institutional affiliations
- Designation of authors
- ORCID ID (if available)
- Corresponding author details
- Email address and contact number
Abstract
- Maximum 300 words
- Structured abstract preferred
- Include:
- Background
- Objectives
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusion
Keywords
Provide 4–6 keywords below the abstract.
Main Text
The manuscript should preferably contain the following sections:
- Introduction
- Review of Literature
- Objectives/Hypotheses
- Methodology
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- Limitations
- Implications
- Future Directions
- Acknowledgments (if applicable)
- Conflict of Interest
- Funding Statement
- References
5. Tables and Figures
- Tables and figures should be numbered sequentially.
- Provide appropriate titles and captions.
- Images must be of high quality.
- Avoid duplication of information in text and tables.
6. Reference Style
The journal follows APA 7th Edition referencing style.
Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of references and citations.
General Guidelines
The Indian Journal of Psychological Science (IJPS) follows the latest edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) Style Manual (7th Edition) for manuscript formatting, in-text citations, and reference lists.
Authors must ensure that all citations and references are:
- accurate,
- complete,
- properly formatted,
- and consistent throughout the manuscript.
All sources cited in the manuscript must appear in the reference list, and all references listed must be cited within the text.
In-Text Citation Guidelines
Single Author
- (Sharma, 2022)
Two Authors
- (Sharma & Gupta, 2021)
Three or More Authors
- (Sharma et al., 2020)
Narrative Citation
- Sharma (2022) reported that...
Direct Quotations
For direct quotations, page numbers must be included.
- (Sharma, 2022, p. 45)
For quotations longer than 40 words, use block quotation formatting according to APA 7th edition guidelines.
Reference List Guidelines
- The reference list must appear at the end of the manuscript under the heading “References.”
- References must be arranged alphabetically by the surname of the first author.
- Use hanging indentation for all references.
- Journal titles and volume numbers should be italicized.
- Include DOI links in URL format wherever available.
- References should follow sentence case formatting for article and book titles.
- Authors are encouraged to verify all DOI links before submission.
APA 7th Edition Reference Examples
Journal Article with DOI
Sharma, R., & Gupta, P. (2022). Psychological well-being among adolescents. Indian Journal of Psychological Science, 14(2), 45–58. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx
Journal Article without DOI
Mehta, S. (2021). Emotional intelligence among university students. Journal of Behavioral Studies, 8(1), 15–27.
Book
Kapoor, S. (2020). Introduction to clinical psychology (2nd ed.). ABC Publications.
Edited Book Chapter
Mehta, R. (2021). Cognitive development in adolescence. In P. Singh (Ed.), Contemporary psychology studies (pp. 120–135). XYZ Publishers.
Website
World Health Organization. (2023). Mental health overview. https://www.who.int/
Thesis or Dissertation
Kumar, A. (2021). Stress and coping mechanisms among adolescents (Unpublished master’s dissertation). XYZ University.
Conference Paper
Verma, P. (2022, July 12–14). Psychological resilience among youth during pandemics [Conference presentation]. National Conference on Mental Health, New Delhi, India.
DOI and URL Guidelines
- Present DOI as an active URL format:
- https://doi.org/xxxxx
- Do not use “Retrieved from” before URLs unless a retrieval date is necessary.
- Hyperlinks should remain active wherever possible.
Citation Ethics
Authors must ensure ethical citation practices by:
- acknowledging original sources appropriately,
- avoiding plagiarism,
- avoiding excessive self-citation,
- avoiding citation manipulation,
- and citing only relevant scholarly material.
The journal reserves the right to request revision or correction of references during editorial review.
Recommended Reference Management Tools
Authors may use reference management software such as:
- Zotero,
- Mendeley,
- EndNote,
- RefWorks,
- or equivalent tools to ensure citation consistency and accuracy.
Final Submission Responsibility
Authors are solely responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all citations, references, DOI links, and bibliographic information included in the manuscript.
7. Ethical Guidelines
Human Participants Research
Studies involving human participants must include:
- Institutional Ethics Committee approval
- Informed consent statement
- Compliance with ethical research standards
8. Authorship Criteria
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant scholarly contributions to the study.
Ghost authorship and honorary authorship are strictly prohibited.
9. Plagiarism Policy
The journal strictly prohibits:
- Plagiarism
- Self-plagiarism
- Data fabrication
- Data falsification
- Citation manipulation
- Duplicate publication
All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software.
Similarity Criteria
- Overall similarity should preferably be below 10%.
- Manuscripts with excessive similarity may be rejected.
10. AI-Generated Content Policy
The Indian Journal of Psychological Science (IJPS) does not accept manuscripts primarily generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.
Authors are strictly advised not to submit manuscripts containing substantial AI-generated content. The use of AI tools for generating academic text, interpretation, analysis, literature reviews, or research findings is considered unacceptable.
All submitted manuscripts may undergo AI-content screening during the editorial evaluation process.
If significant AI-generated content is detected, the manuscript may be:
- Rejected without peer review,
- Returned for revision, or
- Removed from the publication process at any stage.
Authors are fully responsible for the originality, authenticity, accuracy, and academic integrity of the submitted work.
AI tools cannot be listed as authors under any circumstances.
11. Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest related to the manuscript.
If no conflict exists, authors should mention:
“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”
12. Funding Disclosure
All funding sources and sponsorships must be clearly acknowledged.
If no funding was received, authors should mention:
“No external funding was received for this study.”
13. Peer Review Process
All manuscripts submitted to IJPS undergo a double-blind peer review process by independent subject experts.
Possible editorial decisions include:
- Accept
- Minor Revision
- Major Revision
- Reject
The journal does not guarantee manuscript acceptance or unrealistically short review timelines.
14. Copyright and Licensing
Upon acceptance, authors may be required to sign a copyright agreement.
Licensing information and copyright policies are clearly indicated on published articles.
15. Open Access Policy
The journal follows an open-access policy and provides free access to published articles for readers.
16. Article Processing Charges (APC)
Processing Fee
The journal charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) for accepted manuscripts.
Current APC Structure
- Indian Authors: INR 3500/-
- International Authors: USD 100
The APC covers:
- Editorial processing
- Peer review management
- DOI allocation
- Typesetting and formatting
- Online publication and hosting
- Digital archiving
Important Notes
- APC is payable only after acceptance.
- Payment of APC does not guarantee publication.
- APC once paid is non-refundable.
17. Publication Ethics
The journal follows ethical publishing standards and COPE guidelines in handling:
- Plagiarism
- Duplicate publication
- Citation manipulation
- Research misconduct
- Ethical complaints
18. Submission Process
Authors should submit manuscripts through the journal’s official submission email or online submission system.
Authors must ensure:
- Originality of submission
- Compliance with journal formatting
- Ethical approval documentation (where applicable)
- Complete author information
19. Publication Frequency
The journal is published bi-annually.
20. Editorial Independence and Ethical Safeguards
The Indian Journal of Psychological Science (IJPS) is committed to maintaining transparency, fairness, and integrity in the peer-review and editorial decision-making process. To avoid conflicts of interest and ensure unbiased editorial practices, the journal follows strict safeguards in cases involving author–editor overlap.
Author–Editor Overlap
Author–editor overlap refers to situations where an author submitting a manuscript holds an editorial role within the journal, including but not limited to:
· Editor-in-Chief
· Associate Editor
· Guest Editor
· Editorial Board Member
· Advisory Board Member
It may also include cases involving close professional, institutional, research, or personal relationships with editorial staff.
Recusal Policy
In all such cases:
1. The concerned editor shall be completely recused from the editorial and peer-review process of the manuscript.
2. The editor-author will not:
o select reviewers,
o access reviewer identities,
o participate in editorial discussions,
o influence editorial decisions, or
o access confidential manuscript records during review.
3. The manuscript shall be assigned to an independent handling editor who has no conflict of interest with the author(s).
4. Final publication decisions shall be made independently based solely on reviewer comments, editorial assessment, originality, ethical compliance, and scholarly merit.
Peer Review Safeguards
To ensure impartiality, IJPS adopts the following safeguards:
- Independent editorial handling
- Double-blind peer review wherever applicable
- Confidential reviewer management
- Documentation of editorial decisions
- Ethical oversight by the editorial office
Disclosure and Transparency
Where relevant, the journal may disclose in the published article that appropriate conflict-of-interest management procedures were followed in accordance with journal ethics policy.
Compliance with Publication Ethics
IJPS follows internationally accepted ethical publishing standards and principles relating to editorial independence, transparency, and conflict-of-interest management.
Any attempt to influence editorial decisions improperly may result in rejection, withdrawal, or further ethical action as deemed appropriate by the journal.
21. Appeal Policy
Purpose
The Indian Journal of Psychological Science (IJPS) is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, and unbiased editorial process. Authors who believe that a decision regarding their manuscript was based on a misunderstanding, procedural error, or incomplete evaluation may submit an appeal for reconsideration.
The appeal process is intended to address genuine concerns regarding editorial decisions and shall not be used to contest reviewer opinions solely on the basis of disagreement.
Grounds for Appeal
Authors may submit an appeal under the following circumstances:
- Suspected procedural irregularity during peer review
- Significant misunderstanding or factual error in the evaluation
- Evidence that reviewer comments were inappropriate, biased, or unrelated to the manuscript
- Concerns regarding ethical handling of the manuscript
- New substantial information relevant to the editorial assessment
Appeals based solely on dissatisfaction with rejection decisions, publication timelines, or reviewer recommendations without substantive justification may not be considered.
Appeal Submission Procedure
- Appeals must be submitted officially through the journal’s registered communication channel or official email.
- The corresponding author must provide:
- manuscript title,
- manuscript ID/reference number,
- detailed explanation for the appeal,
- point-by-point response addressing editorial or reviewer concerns,
- any supporting evidence or clarification documents.
- Appeals should be submitted within 15–30 days from the date of the editorial decision unless exceptional circumstances exist.
Editorial Review of Appeals
- Upon receipt, the appeal shall be acknowledged by the editorial office.
- The appeal will be reviewed independently by:
- the Editor-in-Chief,
- an independent handling editor,
- or an ethics/editorial committee member not involved in the original decision.
- The journal may:
- uphold the original decision,
- request revisions and reconsider the manuscript,
- seek additional peer review,
- or reopen editorial evaluation where necessary.
- The decision following appeal review shall be considered final.
Ethical and Professional Conduct
Authors are expected to maintain professional and respectful communication during the appeal process. Abusive, threatening, defamatory, or inappropriate communication may result in termination of the appeal review process.
Confidentiality
All appeal-related communications, reviewer comments, editorial discussions, and supporting documents shall remain confidential and will be handled according to the journal’s ethical and publication policies.
Policy Integrity
Submission of an appeal does not guarantee reversal of the original editorial decision. The journal reserves the right to decline repetitive, unsupported, or frivolous appeals.
23. Article Licensing Policy
Copyright and Licensing
This journal follows a journal-specific licensing policy that permits readers to read, download, print, share, and cite published articles for academic and research purposes with proper acknowledgment to the original author(s) and source of publication. “Open Access with Attribution Required”
Authors retain the copyright of their published work unless otherwise specified by the journal policy.
Upon acceptance and publication, authors grant the journal the non-exclusive right to publish, reproduce, archive, and distribute the article in electronic and print formats.
24. Review Timeline Policy
Editorial and Peer Review Timeline
The Indian Journal of Psychological Science (IJPS) is committed to ensuring a timely, transparent, and efficient peer-review and publication process while maintaining the highest standards of academic quality and ethical publishing practices.
The timelines mentioned below are indicative and may vary depending on reviewer availability, manuscript quality, revision requirements, and editorial workload.
Initial Editorial Screening
After manuscript submission, the editorial office conducts an initial screening to assess:
- scope and relevance,
- manuscript formatting,
- plagiarism and ethical compliance,
- completeness of submission files,
- and adherence to journal guidelines.
Estimated Timeline:
- 3 weeks
Manuscripts that do not comply with journal requirements may be returned to authors for correction before peer review.
Peer Review Process
Eligible manuscripts are forwarded for peer review by subject experts.
The journal follows a confidential peer-review process to evaluate:
- originality,
- methodological quality,
- academic contribution,
- clarity of presentation,
- ethical compliance,
- and relevance to the field.
Estimated Timeline:
- 2–8 weeks
Review duration may vary depending on:
- reviewer response time,
- complexity of the manuscript,
- and the need for additional expert evaluation.
Revision Stage
Authors receiving revision requests are expected to submit revised manuscripts within the timeline communicated by the editorial office.
Suggested Revision Timelines:
- Minor Revision: 7–15 days
- Major Revision: 15–30 days
Failure to respond within the specified period without prior communication may result in administrative withdrawal of the manuscript.
Final Editorial Decision
Following peer review and revision assessment, the editorial board may issue one of the following decisions:
- Accept
- Minor Revision
- Major Revision
- Reject
Estimated Timeline:
- 5–15 working days after receipt of reviewer reports or revised manuscript
Publication Timeline
Accepted manuscripts proceed to:
- copyediting,
- proofreading,
- formatting,
- DOI assignment,
- and publication scheduling.
Estimated Timeline:
- 1–4 weeks after final acceptance
Delay and Exceptional Circumstances
While the journal strives to maintain timely processing, delays may occasionally occur due to:
- reviewer unavailability,
- technical issues,
- ethical investigations,
- high submission volume,
- or editorial requirements.
Authors will be informed appropriately in case of significant delays.
Author Communication
Authors are encouraged to maintain all manuscript-related communication within a single email thread to facilitate efficient tracking and editorial coordination.
The corresponding author shall receive updates regarding:
- manuscript receipt,
- review status,
- revision requests,
- editorial decisions,
- and publication progress.
Policy Disclaimer
The timelines stated above are approximate and do not constitute a guarantee of publication or decision within a fixed period. Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit, reviewer recommendations, and compliance with journal policies.
Publication Frequency
The journal publishes two issues annually:
January Issue
July Issue
Correspondence
All editorial correspondence should be addressed to:
Editor
Indian Journal of Psychological Science (IJPS)
Email: managingeditorijps@gmail.com
Website: https://www.napsindia.org/
Contact Information
National Association of Psychological Science (NAPS)
Department of Psychology Room No. 232
University of Delhi New Delhi – 110007
India
Helpline: +91-7340861222
Email: managingeditorijps@gmail.com