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As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.

  • The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
  • The submission file is in Microsoft Word, RTF, or WordPerfect document file format.
  • Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
  • The text is double-spaced; uses a 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
  • The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines, which is found in About the Journal.
  • If submitting to a peer-reviewed section of the journal, the instructions in Ensuring a Blind Review have been followed.
  • Manuscripts must be prepared according to the format and guidelines of The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), Sixth Edition.
  • Manuscripts must be double spaced on 8.5” x 11” paper with a 1” margin on all sides. Set all text in 12-point Times New Roman type. All pages should be numbered with title (no name) in top right corner.
  • Manuscripts should not be longer than 20 double-spaced, typewritten pages, including 50-75 word abstract and tables (not including references). Exceptions should be discussed with the co-editors prior to submission.
  • Language is a powerful tool. Authors are reminded to use words that cannot be read as biased, oppressive, or offensive by reasonable people. Such resources as The Non-Sexist Word Finder: A Dictionary of Gender Free Usage and the Dictionary for Bias-Free Usage: A Guide to Non-Discriminatory Language may be useful in finding appropriate language substitutions. Avoid the use of the term “subject.” Use more specific references such as “student,” “client,” or “participant” instead.
  • Use titles that are short and descriptive of the manuscript’s content. Do not use abbreviations in titles.
  • Only citations included in the manuscript should be listed in the references. Double check all references to ensure that all sources are cited in the text appear in the references and vice versa. Make sure all references are complete and correct. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all references, quotations, tables, and figures.
  • The Journal Review Board will consider manuscripts through a blind review system. The text of manuscripts must not contain any clues to the authors’ identities. Up to one-third of the articles selected for publication in the journal may be submitted by Ph.D. students.
  • Manuscripts that are under consideration by another publication or that are intended to be submitted to another publication must not be submitted under any circumstances. Material previously published, in whole or in part, cannot be submitted unless it is discussed with the co-editors prior to submission.
  • Authors are responsible for adhering to accepted standards for conducting research involving human subjects, and if selected for publication research articles must have written documentation of human subjects approval.
Policy on generative AI and large language model (LLM)-based tools:
  • AI tools cannot be listed as an author of a paper, as they do not meet the requirements for authorship (COPE).
  • Authors are discouraged from using AI tools to generate any text for their submissions (This does not include the use of tools specifically designed to assist with correcting or improving spelling, grammar, clarity, etc.). Any use of an AI tool in the production of a submission’s text must be disclosed to the editors and in the manuscript. If AI assistance is used, authors must include in the body or appendix of their submission a description of the relevant tools, prompts, and methods.
  • Authors are discouraged from using AI tools to generate charts, graphs, tables, images, or other visual content for their submissions. Any use of an AI tool in the production of visual content must be disclosed to the editors and in the manuscript. If AI assistance is used, authors must include in the body or appendix of their submission a description of the relevant tools, prompts, and methods.
  • Authors may use AI tools for automation, data creation, data analysis, and any other experimental processes relevant to the production of their submissions. However, any use of an AI tool in the production of a submission must be disclosed to the editors and in the manuscript. If AI assistance is used, authors must include in the body or appendix of their submission a description of the relevant tools, prompts, and methods.
  • Authors must validate any content generated by an AI tool and are responsible for any bias, errors, plagiarism, misinformation, or research misconduct that results from the use of an AI tool.
  • Journal of the Student Personnel Association at Indiana University Bloomington editors and peer reviewers will not use AI tools in the evaluation of submitted manuscripts.
  • This policy was adapted from and created with reference to the policies of COPEWAMEJAMASAGEPNASScience, and Elsevier.