Guide for authors
- MANUSCRIPT Preparation
- Length
- Essential title page information
- Highlights
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Main text: Structure
- Main text: Content
- Illustrations
- Supplementary material
- Article types
- STYLE AND CONVENTIONS
- Language
- Use of inclusive language
- Abbreviations
- Footnotes
- Maths formulae
- Use of word processing software
- Elsevier Researcher Academy
- Acknowledgements
- Declaration of funding sources
- REFERENCES
- APA 7th Edition
- Your Paper Your Way
- Citations in text
- Reference list
- Before you submit
- Ethics in publishing
- Submission declaration and verification
- Author Agreement Statement
- Changes to authorship
- Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing
- Declaration of Competing Interest statement
- Studies in humans and animals
- Preprint posting on SSRN
- Author rights
- Copyright
- Open access
- SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
- Check
- Prepare files
- Upload files
- ASSESSMENT PROCESS
- Initial assessment
- Plagiarism check
- Peer review
- After acceptance
- Proofs
- Offprints
- AUTHOR ENQUIRIES
- Author contributions
All submitted manuscripts should be around 8,000 words in length for "full-length" research papers. "Review articles" may be shorter, at around 4,000 words long (for other article types, please see "Article Types"). The word count is for the full "Manuscript (with author names)" file and therefore includes all main elements (i.e., title, abstract, keywords, captions, reference list and illustrations) but excludes supplementary data/appendices. Papers of up to 10000 may be permissible with prior agreement from the managing editor, but we advise against this. Essential title page information
• Title. Concise and informative. Titles are often used in information-retrieval systems. Avoid abbreviations and formulae where possible.
• Author names and affiliations. Please clearly indicate the given name(s) and family name(s) of each author and check that all names are accurately spelled. You can add your name between parentheses in your own script behind the English transliteration. Present the authors' affiliation addresses (where the actual work was done) below the names. Indicate all affiliations with a lower-case superscript letter immediately after the author's name and in front of the appropriate address. Provide the full postal address of each affiliation, including the country name and, if available, the e-mail address of each author.
• Corresponding author. Clearly indicate who will handle correspondence at all stages of refereeing and publication, also post-publication. This responsibility includes answering any future queries about Methodology and Materials. Ensure that the e-mail address is given and that contact details are kept up to date by the corresponding author.
• Present/permanent address. If an author has moved since the work described in the article was done, or was visiting at the time, a 'Present address' (or 'Permanent address') may be indicated as a footnote to that author's name. The address at which the author actually did the work must be retained as the main, affiliation address. Superscript Arabic numerals are used for such footnotes.
• Prepare this document as its own, one page Word/PDF file labelled "Title page (with author details)". Highlights
Highlights are optional yet highly encouraged for this journal, as they increase the discoverability of your article via search engines. They consist of a short collection of bullet points that capture the novel results of your research as well as new methods that were used during the study (if any). Please have a look at the example Highlights.
Highlights should be submitted in a separate editable file in the online submission system. Please use 'Highlights' in the file name and include 3 to 5 bullet points (maximum 85 characters, including spaces, per bullet point).
AbstractA concise and factual abstract is required. The abstract should briefly state the purpose of the research, the principal results and major conclusions. An abstract is often presented separately from the article, so it must be able to stand alone. For this reason, citations should be avoided, but if essential, then cite the author(s) and year(s). Non-standard or uncommon abbreviations should also be avoided, but if essential they must be defined at their first mention in the abstract itself. There is no strict word count for the abstract, yet ideally it should fall between 150–400 words. The abstract should be placed at the top of the "Manuscript (without author names)" file, after the manuscript title. More detailed guidance on how to write an abstract can be found at this link. Graphical abstract
Although a graphical abstract is optional, its use is encouraged as it draws more attention to the online article. The graphical abstract should summarize the contents of the article in a concise, pictorial form designed to capture the attention of a wide readership. Graphical abstracts should be submitted as a separate file in the online submission system. Image size: Please provide an image with a minimum of 531 × 1328 pixels (h × w) or proportionally more. The image should be readable at a size of 5 × 13 cm using a regular screen resolution of 96 dpi. Preferred file types: TIFF, EPS, PDF or MS Office files. You can view Example Graphical Abstracts on our information site. Keywords
Provide between three to six keywords. Avoid general and plural terms and multiple concepts (avoid, for example, 'and', 'of'). Be sparing with abbreviations: only abbreviations firmly established in the field may be eligible. These keywords will be used for indexing purposes. The keywords should be placed immediately after the abstract, each beginning with a capital letter and separated by a semi-colon (;). Main text: Structure Guide structure
Full-length research papers should use the basic structure below as a guide:
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review/Research Context/Background
3. Methods
4. Results
5. Discussion
6. Conclusion
This should be followed by:
• Acknowledgements
• Funding statement
• Illustrations (optional)
• References
Appendices should be uploaded as a separate file marked as "Supplementary material" (see below).
If using numbered sections, the abstract, keywords and reference list should not be numbered.
Subdivision - numbered sections• Long sections can be sub-divided
• Any subsection should be given a brief heading
• Each heading should appear on its own separate line with a line space above
• If using numbered headings, sub-sections should be numbered 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 etc.
• Further divisions if needed, to be 1.1.1, 1.1.2, etc. …)
• Use sub-headers for internal cross-referencing: do not just refer to 'the text' Main text: Content
Introduction. State the objectives of the work and provide an adequate background, avoiding a detailed literature survey or a summary of the results.
Literature Review. Provide a review of current and past research on the topic. This section labelled "Literature Review", "Research Context" or similar should comprise a detailed and comprehensive explanation and evaluation of previous research into the topic. It should be included in addition to the introduction.
Material and methods. Provide sufficient details to allow the work to be reproduced by an independent researcher. Methods that are already published should be summarized and indicated by a reference. If quoting directly from a previously published method, use quotation marks and also cite the source. Any modifications to existing methods should also be described.
Theory/calculation. A Theory section should extend, not repeat, the background to the article already dealt with in the Introduction and lay the foundation for further work. In contrast, a Calculation section represents a practical development from a theoretical basis.
Results. Results should be clear and concise.
Discussion. This should explore the significance of the results of the work, not repeat them. A combined Results and Discussion section is often appropriate. Avoid extensive citations and discussion of published literature.
Conclusions. The main conclusions of the study may be presented in a short Conclusions section, which may stand alone or form a subsection of a Discussion or Results and Discussion section.
IllustrationsThe use of illustrations in the form of charts, photographs, drawings, maps, plans ("figures") and tables is encouraged, yet optional. Illustrations can be embedded into the main text or presented together at the end of the main text (after the Conclusion and before the References) with a section header "Illustrations". General points
• Ensure that each illustration has a caption.
• Supply captions separately, not attached to/embedded within the figure or table
• A caption should contain the figure or table number and then provide brief title and a description of the illustration.
• Number figures and tables in separate running series from 1 onwards in order of their appearance in text.
• Refer to each figure and table individually in-text.
• All work not your own should also have a citation at the end of the caption, e.g:
Figure 1. Map of Kenya with the study area marked (amended from Smith 1998: fig. 1 p. 12).
This source should be included in the list of "References" at the end of the manuscript
• For figures: If you (or a co-author) are not the original creator of the artwork, you must get permission to use it from the copyright holder in advance of submission.
When your article is accepted for publication, you will be required to provide:
• A separate list of captions for all illustrations (figures and then tables)
• Each illustration as a separate file (using a logical naming convention for each file)
• Keep text in the illustrations themselves to a minimum but explain all symbols and abbreviations used
• Size the illustrations close to the desired dimensions of the published version
• Make sure you use uniform lettering and sizing of your original artwork
• Embed the used fonts if the application provides that option
• Use the following fonts or similar in your illustrations: Arial, Courier, Times New Roman, Symbol
• Ensure that colour images are accessible to all, including those with impaired colour vision
• A detailed Elsevier guide to electronic artwork is available
If your figures are created in a Microsoft Office application (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) then please supply 'as is' in the native document format.
Regardless of the application used other than Microsoft Office, when your electronic artwork is finalized, please 'Save as' or convert the images to one of the following formats (note the resolution requirements for line drawings, halftones, and line/halftone combinations given below):
EPS or PDF:
• Vector drawings, embed all used fonts
TIFF or JPEG:
• Colour or grayscale photographs (halftones), keep to a minimum of 300 dpi
• Bitmapped (pure black & white pixels) line drawings, keep to a minimum of 1000 dpi
• Combinations bitmapped line/half-tone (colour or grayscale), keep to a minimum of 500 dpi
Please do not:
• Supply files that are optimized for screen use (e.g., GIF, BMP, PICT, WPG); these typically have a low number of pixels and limited set of colours
• Supply files that are too low in resolution
• Submit graphics that are disproportionately large for the content
• All tables should be black and white
• Use the same font as the main text
• Place any table notes below the table body.
• Be sparing in the use of tables and ensure that the data presented in them do not duplicate results described elsewhere in the article.
• Please avoid using vertical rules and shading in table cells.
Tables should be submitted in Microsoft Office Word of Excel format, as editable text and not as images.
Supplementary materialSupplementary material such as applications, images and sound clips, can be published with your article to enhance it. Submitted supplementary items are published exactly as they are received (Excel or PowerPoint files will appear as such online). Please submit your material together with the article and supply a concise, descriptive caption for each supplementary file. If you wish to make changes to supplementary material during any stage of the process, please make sure to provide an updated file. Do not annotate any corrections on a previous version. Please switch off the 'Track Changes' option in Microsoft Office files as these will appear in the published version. Appendices
Appendices can be used to present additional data in the form of tables and other illustrations. If there is more than one appendix, they should be identified as "Appendix A", B, C. etc. Formulae and equations in appendices should be given separate numbering: Eq. (A.1), Eq. (A.2), etc.; in a subsequent appendix, Eq. (B.1) and so on. Similarly for tables and figures: Table A.1; Fig. A.1, etc. Unlike illustrations (figures and tables), appendices should not be referred to individually in-text as they are additional not essential material. Video
Elsevier accepts video material and animation sequences to support and enhance your scientific research. Authors who have video or animation files that they wish to submit with their article are strongly encouraged to include links to these within the body of the article. This can be done in the same way as a figure or table by referring to the video or animation content and noting in the body text where it should be placed. All submitted files should be properly labelled so that they directly relate to the video file's content. In order to ensure that your video or animation material is directly usable, please provide the file in one of our recommended file formats with a preferred maximum size of 150 MB per file, 1 GB in total. Video and animation files supplied will be published online in the electronic version of your article in Elsevier Web products, including ScienceDirect. Please supply 'stills' with your files: you can choose any frame from the video or animation or make a separate image. These will be used instead of standard icons and will personalize the link to your video data. For more detailed instructions please visit our video instruction pages. Note: since video and animation cannot be embedded in the print version of the journal, please provide text for both the electronic and the print version for the portions of the article that refer to this content. Data visualization
Include interactive data visualizations in your publication and let your readers interact and engage more closely with your research. Follow the instructions here to find out about available data visualization options and how to include them with your article. Article types
A Full-length research article is the default submission type (explained above). However, authors may also submit the following types of articles (all to include a title, abstract, keywords, reference list and use citations throughout): Review articles
A Review article is a comprehensive summary of the current understanding of a specific research topic and is based on previously published research. Unlike research papers, it does not contain new research, data and results, but can propose new inferences based on the combined findings of previous research.
Review articles are typically two types:
Literature review: A general survey of current and past literature on a specific research topic
Systematic review: This is more focused and aims to investigate a highly focused research question. As such, it is more detailed, with information on the search strategy used, the eligibility criteria for inclusion of studies, the methods utilized to review the collected information.
Regardless of the type, Review articles should have a clearly defined research question, use a wide range of credible sources, have a clear introduction outlining the aims and methods used to address the question. Review Articles should be critical and unbiased and end with a critical discussion and clear summary.
Guide word count: 4,000 words (including the title, abstract, keywords, illustrations and references. Appendices are not included in the word count).
Replication studiesReplication studies are those that seek to replicate previous results. Such studies are not novel, yet they are encouraged by SSHO ad they are vital for ensuring the data we have is robust. Replication studies are useful as they wither confirm or disprove a previously published result. With Replication studies, you can show whether a result that has been published has also been found by others. Replication studies should be clearly structured with an abstract, section headers including an Introduction outlining the aims and research question(s), followed by Analysis, Discussion and Conclusion sections.
Guide word count: 4,000–6,000 words (including the title, abstract, keywords, illustrations and references. Appendices are not included in the word count).
Short communicationsShort communications are for the presentation of brief observations which do not warrant a full-length research paper. Content should be original and significant. Submissions of this type must be no more than 4,000 words. As a short paper for rapid dissemination, the main text of a Short communication should not be subdivided. The manuscript should include:
• Title
• Abstract (maximum 100 words)
• Keywords
• Main text (no sub-divisions)
• References
Appendices are not accepted for Short communications and a maximum of 3 figures and tables is accepted.
Word count: No more than 4,000 words (including all elements)
STYLE AND CONVENTIONS LanguageWe accept submission in the English language only. Please prepare your submission in either British or US English and ensure you are consistent throughout. Spell-check software set to the English of either region can help with this. Submissions should be at a good level of English, and all submissions throughout checked before submission. Authors who feel their English language manuscript may require editing to eliminate possible grammatical or spelling errors and to conform to correct scientific English may wish to use the English Language Editing service available from Elsevier's Author Services. Use of inclusive language
Inclusive language acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities. Content should make no assumptions about the beliefs or commitments of any reader; contain nothing which might imply that one individual is superior to another on the grounds of age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability or health condition; and use inclusive language throughout. Authors should ensure that writing is free from bias, stereotypes, slang, reference to dominant culture and/or cultural assumptions. We advise to seek gender neutrality by using plural nouns ("clinicians, patients/clients") as default/wherever possible to avoid using "he, she," or "he/she." We recommend avoiding the use of descriptors that refer to personal attributes such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability or health condition unless they are relevant and valid. When coding terminology is used, we recommend to avoid offensive or exclusionary terms such as "master", "slave", "blacklist" and "whitelist". We suggest using alternatives that are more appropriate and (self-) explanatory such as "primary", "secondary", "blocklist" and "allowlist". These guidelines are meant as a point of reference to help identify appropriate language but are by no means exhaustive or definitive. Abbreviations
Abbreviations should be avoided in the title and abstract. Any abbreviations used should be defined at their first mention (in the Introduction or otherwise). Ensure consistency of abbreviations throughout the article. Footnotes
Footnotes should be used sparingly. Number them consecutively throughout the article. Many word processors can build footnotes into the text, and this feature may be used. Otherwise, please indicate the position of footnotes in the text and list the footnotes themselves separately at the end of the article. Do not include footnotes in the Reference list. Maths formulae
Please submit math equations as editable text and not as images. Present simple formulae in line with normal text where possible and use the solidus (/) instead of a horizontal line for small fractional terms, e.g., X/Y. In principle, variables are to be presented in italics. Powers of e are often more conveniently denoted by exp. Number consecutively any equations that have to be displayed separately from the text (if referred to explicitly in the text). Use of word processing software
It is important that the file be saved in the native format of the word processor used. The text should be in single-column format. Keep the layout of the text as simple as possible. Most formatting codes will be removed and replaced on processing the article. In particular, do not use the word processor's options to justify text or to hyphenate words. However, do use bold face, italics, subscripts, superscripts etc. When preparing tables, if you are using a table grid, use only one grid for each individual table and not a grid for each row. If no grid is used, use tabs, not spaces, to align columns. The electronic text should be prepared in a way very similar to that of conventional manuscripts (see also the Guide to Publishing with Elsevier). Note that source files of figures, tables and text graphics will be required whether or not you embed your figures in the text. See also the section on Electronic artwork.
To avoid unnecessary errors you are strongly advised to use the 'spell-check' and 'grammar-check' functions of your word processor. Elsevier Researcher Academy
Researcher Academy is a free e-learning platform designed to support early and mid-career researchers throughout their research journey. The "Learn" environment at Researcher Academy offers several interactive modules, webinars, downloadable guides and resources to guide you through the process of writing for research and going through peer review. Feel free to use these free resources to improve your submission and navigate the publication process with ease. Acknowledgements
Collate acknowledgements in a separate section at the end of the article, after the Conclusion and before the references (and any illustrations). Do not, therefore, include them on the title page, as a footnote to the title or otherwise. List here those individuals who provided help during the research (e.g., providing language help, writing assistance or proofreading the article, etc.). Be sure not to include any identifying information as this file should be anonymous. Declaration of funding sources
The text should list funding sources immediately after the Acknowledgments section, in this standard way to facilitate compliance to funder's requirements:
Funding: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health [grant numbers xxxx, yyyy]; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA [grant number zzzz]; and the United States Institutes of Peace [grant number aaaa].
It is not necessary to include detailed descriptions on the program or type of grants and awards. When funding is from a block grant or other resources available to a university, college, or other research institution, submit the name of the institute or organization that provided the funding.
If no funding has been provided for the research, it is recommended to include the following statement:
Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
REFERENCES APA 7th EditionSocial Sciences and Humanities Open uses the APA 7th Edition style of referencing, however as member of Elsevier's Your Paper Your Way, you may make your initial submission in any standard (and consistent) referencing format you choice. Please be sure to write in your own original words and to use references throughout your work, in order to avoid plagiarism. Full details of the APA reference style can be found in the instructional material of the APA website for full formatting instructions. Your Paper Your Way
As member of Elsevier's Your Paper Your Way, you may make your initial submission in any standard (and consistent) referencing format you choice. Only if your paper is accepted for publication, do you need to update it to the house reference style which is explained below. Citations in text
• (Author: Date) style citations should be used in text (also for figures and tables).
• Include page numbers unless referring to an entire work in general.
• All sources cited should be listed together at the end of the manuscript the reference list.
• Ensure that every reference cited in the text is also present in the reference list (and vice versa).
• This excludes Personal Communications which should be cited but not included in the reference list.
• Citation of a reference as 'in press' implies that the item has been accepted for publication.
• Any direct quotes should be followed but a citation including the page number(s). Reference list
• This list should be prepared carefully and accurately.
• This section should be titled "References" (not "Reference List" or "Bibliography").
• Place it at the end of your work (after the Conclusions, the acknowledgements and funding statement, and any illustrations).
Examples:
(For a quick guide see this link)
Journal Article
Edwards, A. A., Steacy, L. M., Siegelman, N., Rigobon, V. M., Kearns, D. M., Rueckl, J. G., & Compton, D. L. (2022). Unpacking the unique relationship between set for variability and word reading development: Examining word- and child-level predictors of performance. Journal of Educational Psychology, 114(6), 1242–1256. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000696
Preprint Article
Latimier, A., Peyre, H., & Ramus, F. (2020). A meta–analytic review of the benefit of spacing out retrieval practice episodes on retention. PsyArXiv. https://psyarxiv.com/kzy7u/
Book
Kaufman, K. A., Glass, C. R., & Pineau, T. R. (2018). Mindful sport performance enhancement: Mental training for athletes and coaches. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000048-000
Chapter within an edited book
Zeleke, W. A., Hughes, T. L., & Drozda, N. (2020). Home–school collaboration to promote mindbody health. In C. Maykel & M. A. Bray (Eds.), Promoting mind–body health in schools: Interventions for mental health professionals (pp. 11–26). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000157-002
Print Newspaper Article
Reynolds, G. (2019, April 9). Different strokes for athletic hearts. The New York Times, D4.
Print Popular Magazine ArticleNicholl, K. (2020, May). A royal spark. Vanity Fair, 62(5), 56–65, 100.
Online Newspaper Article
Roberts, S. (2020, April 9). Early string ties us to Neanderthals. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/science/neanderthals-fiber-string-math.html
Popular Magazine Article - Web publication
Thomson, J. (2022, September 8). Massive, strange white structures appear on Utah's Great Salt Lake. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/mysterious-mounds-great-salt-lake-utah-explainedmirabilite-1741151
Online dictionary entry
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Internet addiction. In APA dictionary of psychology. Retrieved April 24, 2022, from https://dictionary.apa.org/internet-addiction
Conference Session
Davidson, R. J. (2019, August 8–11). Well-being is a skill [Conference session]. APA 2019 Convention, Chicago, IL, United States. https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/a5ea5d51/files/uploaded/APA2019_ Program_190708.pdf
Blog Post
Rutledge, P. (2019, March 11). The upside of social media. The Media Psychology Blog. https://www.pamelarutledge.com/2019/03/11/the-upside-of-social-media/
Webpage
Chandler, N. (2020, April 9). What's the difference between Sasquatch and Bigfoot? howstuffworks. https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/sasquatch-bigfootdifference.htm
Webpage on a News Website
Machado, J., & Turner, K. (2020, March 7). The future of feminism. Vox. https://www.vox.com/ identities/2020/3/7/21163193/international-womens-day-2020
Webpage With a Retrieval Date
Center for Systems Science and Engineering. (2020, May 6). COVID-19 dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, Coronavirus Resource Center. Retrieved May 6, 2020, from https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Other details to note:
• For all other examples see the APA 7th Edition Style Guide and checklist.
• The reference list should contain all work cited within the text of your paper. The exception is personal communications which are cited in your paper yet not included in the reference list.
• If you read a source during the preparate of your paper but do not end up citing it, do not include it in the reference list.
• The reference list should be ordered alphabetically, by the first letter of the authors' last name(s).
• Include the author's first and middle initials, do not write out first or middle names.
• Where a preprint has subsequently become available as a peer-reviewed publication, the formal publication should be used as the reference. If there are preprints that are central to your work or that cover crucial developments in the topic, but are not yet formally published, these may be referenced.
• Include a DOI or URL at the end of the reference for any work that has one.
o Do not include both a DOI and a URL in a reference entry.
o If a work has both a DOI and a URL, include only the DOI.
o Copy and paste the DOI or URL directly from your web browser.
o Do not add a full-stop after the DOI or URL. BEFORE YOU SUBMIT Ethics in publishing
Please see Elsevier's information on ethics in publishing in addition to the information below. Submission declaration and verification
Submission of an article implies that the work described has not been published previously (except in the form of an abstract, a published lecture or academic thesis, see 'Multiple, redundant or concurrent publication' for more information), that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, that its publication is approved by all authors and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, including electronically without the written consent of the copyright-holder. To verify compliance, your article may be checked by Crossref Similarity Check and other originality or duplicate checking software. Author Agreement Statement
A statement must be included to certify that all authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript being submitted. They warrant that the article is the authors' original work, has not received prior publication and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. This can be included within the text of the covering letter or uploaded as a separate statement. Changes to authorship
Authors are expected to consider carefully the list and order of authors before submitting their manuscript and provide the definitive list of authors at the time of the original submission. Any addition, deletion or rearrangement of author names in the authorship list should be made only before the manuscript has been accepted and only if approved by the journal Editor. To request such a change, the Editor must receive the following from the corresponding author: (a) the reason for the change in author list and (b) written confirmation (e-mail, letter) from all authors that they agree with the addition, removal or rearrangement. In the case of addition or removal of authors, this includes confirmation from the author being added or removed.
Only in exceptional circumstances will the Editor consider the addition, deletion or rearrangement of authors after the manuscript has been accepted. While the Editor considers the request, publication of the manuscript will be suspended. If the manuscript has already been published in an online issue, any requests approved by the Editor will result in a corrigendum. Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing
The below guidance only refers to the writing process, and not to the use of AI tools to analyse and draw insights from data as part of the research process.
Where authors use generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process, authors should only use these technologies to improve readability and language. Applying the technology should be done with human oversight and control, and authors should carefully review and edit the result, as AI can generate authoritative-sounding output that can be incorrect, incomplete or biased. AI and AI-assisted technologies should not be listed as an author or co-author, or be cited as an author. Authorship implies responsibilities and tasks that can only be attributed to and performed by humans, as outlined in Elsevier’s AI policy for authors.
Authors should disclose in their manuscript the use of AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process by following the instructions below. A statement will appear in the published work. Please note that authors are ultimately responsible and accountable for the contents of the work.
Disclosure instructions
Authors must disclose the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process by adding a statement at the end of their manuscript in the core manuscript file, before the References list. The statement should be placed in a new section entitled ‘Declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process’.
Statement: During the preparation of this work the author(s) used [NAME TOOL / SERVICE] in order to [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication.
This declaration does not apply to the use of basic tools for checking grammar, spelling, references etc. If there is nothing to disclose, there is no need to add a statement.
Declaration of Competing Interest statementAll authors must complete and attach a file named "A Declaration of Interest Statement" (sometimes called a Disclosure Statement). This should be provided, even if the authors have no competing interests to declare.
This statement is a notification from the author that there is no financial/personal interest or belief that could affect their objectivity, or if there is, stating the source and nature of that potential conflict. To prevent ambiguity, authors must state explicitly whether potential competing interests do or do not exist, disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work. Examples of potential conflicts of interest include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications/ registrations, and grants or other funding. For further details see the Competing Interests Factsheet.
• For more details, please see https://declarations.elsevier.com/home
• Upload the statement to the submission system at the Attach/Upload Files step.
Note: Please do not convert the .docx template to another file type. Author signatures are not required. If there are no interests to declare, please choose the first option in the template.
Studies in humans and animalsIf the work involves the use of human subjects, the author should ensure that the work described has been carried out in accordance with The Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki) for experiments involving humans. The manuscript should be in line with the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals and aim for the inclusion of representative human populations (sex, age and ethnicity) as per those recommendations. The terms sex and gender should be used correctly.
Authors must include a statement in the manuscript that informed consent was obtained for experimentation with human subjects. The privacy rights of human subjects must always be observed.
All animal experiments should comply with the ARRIVE guidelines and should be carried out in accordance with the U.K. Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986 and associated guidelines, EU Directive 2010/63/EU for animal experiments, or the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the authors should clearly indicate in the manuscript that such guidelines have been followed. The sex of animals must be indicated, and where appropriate, the influence (or association) of sex on the results of the study.
PreprintsPlease note that preprints can be shared anywhere at any time, in line with Elsevier's sharing policy. Sharing your preprints e.g. on a preprint server will not count as prior publication (see 'Multiple, redundant or concurrent publication' for more information). Preprint posting on SSRN
In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service. Preprints provide early registration and dissemination of your research, which facilitates early citations and collaboration.
During submission to Editorial Manager, you can choose to release your manuscript publicly as a preprint on the preprint server SSRN once it enters peer-review with the journal. Your choice will have no effect on the editorial process or outcome with the journal. Please note that the corresponding author is expected to seek approval from all co-authors before agreeing to release the manuscript publicly on SSRN.
You will be notified via email when your preprint is posted online and a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is assigned. Your preprint will remain globally available free to read whether the journal accepts or rejects your manuscript.
For more information about posting to SSRN, please consult the SSRN Terms of Use and FAQs.
First LookPlease note: posted preprints for this journal will appear in a dedicated journal-branded First Look space on SSRN. Author rights
As an author you (or your employer or institution) have certain rights to reuse your work. Elsevier supports responsible sharing. Find out how you can share your research published in Elsevier journals. Copyright
Upon acceptance of an article, authors will be asked to complete a 'License Agreement' (see more information on this). Permitted third party reuse of open access articles is determined by the author's choice of user license.
Author rights
As an author you (or your employer or institution) have certain rights to reuse your work. More information.
Please visit our Open Access page for more information about open access publishing in this journal. SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
Before submitting your work, check all of the following: Check
Ensure that:
• One author has been designated as the corresponding author, with full-contact details available: Full postal address at their institution, E-mail address.
• All journal policies detailed in this guide have been reviewed.
• The journals Guide for Authors has been read and followed carefully.
• All files have been spell checked and grammar checked and use either British or US English (either one consistently, throughout).
• A list of potential referees and their contact details has been collated (ready to enter into the online submission form).
• Permission has been obtained for use of copyrighted material from other sources (such as images), including sources from the internet.
• All authors have consented to the submission of the manuscript.
• All files (detailed below) have been prepared and saved separately, with appropriate file names. Prepare files
Prepare the following files to be uploaded:
Covering letter (optional)
A formal letter introducing yourself and your work to be submitted. A cover letter is required for resubmissions.
Title page (with author details)
This should be one page and have:
• The title of the manuscript
• The name, affiliation, institutional address and email for each author
• The corresponding author should be indicated
• Do not include any other information
Highlights or Graphical Abstract (optional)
Explained above. Also see: Highlights and Visual abstract
Author Agreement statement
See above for details
Author contributions "CRediT Author Statement"
See above for details
Declaration of Interest Statement
All submissions must contain a completed declaration of competing interest statement. For further information see the "Ethics" section above
Manuscript (without author details)
Note: This file should not include any identifying information, such as the authors' names or affiliations. Please double check this before uploading. The entire file should be no longer than 8,000 words (unless you have prior, written permission from the editor).
Include:
• Manuscript title
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Main text (on a new page)
• Acknowledgements
• Funding declaration
• Statement of informed consent (required if the study involved human subjects)
• Figures (optional): indicate clearly if colour should be used for any figures in print. Imbed these within the main text or place them at the end
• Tables (optional): Imbed these within the main text or place them at the end
• References (on a new page)
Supplemental files (optional)
• Upload any appendices as a separate file under "Supplementary Material"
• Ensure these are also anonymous
• These do not count towards the submission word count.
When uploading:
• Ensure that during the upload process, the correct file name is selected from the drop-down list and written into the file name box
• Once all files are uploaded, rearrange these in the correct order, as to be read (as listed above)
• Download and check the final, generated PDF before clicking on "submit"
• We do not require an author biography or any additional information aside from what is listed above
• For more information, please see: Elsevier submission guide
• For technical difficulties during submission, please contact Elsevier author support ASSESSMENT PROCESS Initial assessment
All contributions will be initially assessed by the managing editor for suitability for the journal. At this stage, basic checks are made, in relation to the fit of the topic, adherence to word count, plagiarism, and a check that all files are present and correct. To avoid unnecessary errors, you are strongly advised to use the 'spell-check' and 'grammar-check' functions of your word processor (using either British or US English) before submitting. Plagiarism check
Please note that all submissions to SSHO undergo a plagiarism check using iThenticate. Manuscripts found to have committed plagiarism will be rejected without right to resubmit. Please consult: Factsheet: referencing and avoiding plagiarism and Webinar: what is plagiarism and how to avoid it to ensure the meaning of plagiarism is correctly and fully understood. Peer review
Our default model is double-blind review. After the initial checks, papers deemed suitable are then passed to the relevant subject editor for further assessment, after which they are typically sent to a minimum of two independent expert reviewers, sometimes three, to assess the quality of the paper. The peer review process is anonymous, therefore please ensure your manuscript is submitted correctly (see above).
Referees are either members of our editorial board or external peer reviewers, chosen for their relevant expertise. The Editor is responsible for the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of articles. The Editor's decision is final.
AFTER ACCEPTANCE ProofsOne set of page proofs (as PDF files) will be sent by e-mail to the corresponding author (if we do not have an e-mail address then paper proofs will be sent by post) or a link will be provided in the e-mail so that authors can download the files themselves. To ensure a fast publication process of the article, we kindly ask authors to provide us with their proof corrections within two days. Elsevier now provides authors with PDF proofs which can be annotated; for this you will need to download the free Adobe Reader, version 9 (or higher). Instructions on how to annotate PDF files will accompany the proofs (also given online). The exact system requirements are given at the Adobe site.
If you do not wish to use the PDF annotations function, you may list the corrections (including replies to the Query Form) and return them to Elsevier in an e-mail. Please list your corrections quoting line number. If, for any reason, this is not possible, then mark the corrections and any other comments (including replies to the Query Form) on a printout of your proof and scan the pages and return via e-mail. Please use this proof only for checking the typesetting, editing, completeness and correctness of the text, tables and figures. Significant changes to the article as accepted for publication will only be considered at this stage with permission from the Editor. We will do everything possible to get your article published quickly and accurately. It is important to ensure that all corrections are sent back to us in one communication: please check carefully before replying, as inclusion of any subsequent corrections cannot be guaranteed. Proofreading is solely your responsibility. Offprints
The corresponding author, at no cost, will be provided with a PDF file of the article via e-mail (the PDF file is a watermarked version of the published article and includes a cover sheet with the journal cover image and a disclaimer outlining the terms and conditions of use). For an extra charge, paper offprints can be ordered via the offprint order form which is sent once the article is accepted for publication. AUTHOR ENQUIRIES
If you need help at any stage of the manuscript preparation, submission or assessment process, Visit the Elsevier Support Center. Here you will find everything from Frequently Asked Questions, guidance on how to submit and ways to get in touch. You can also check the status of your submitted article at any time or find out when your accepted article will be published. Please use this function rather than contacting specific editors. Author contributions
For transparency, we require corresponding authors to provide co-author contributions to the manuscript using the relevant CRediT roles. The CRediT taxonomy includes 14 different roles describing each contributor’s specific contribution to the scholarly output. The roles are: Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Funding acquisition; Investigation; Methodology; Project administration; Resources; Software; Supervision; Validation; Visualization; Roles/Writing - original draft; and Writing - review & editing. Note that not all roles may apply to every manuscript, and authors may have contributed through multiple roles. More details and an example.