Guide for Authors

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All new manuscripts muct be submitted through Early Childhood Research Quarterly online submission and review website (http://ees.elsevier.com/ecrq/). Authors are requested to submit the text, tables, and artwork in electronic form to this address. Authors are encouraged (but not required) to include a short list of potential reviewers for their manuscript, with complete contact information.

Submission items include a cover letter, suggested reviewers, the manuscript (including title page, abstract, manuscript text, references, and table/figure legends), tables, and figures. Revised manuscripts should also be accompanied by a unique file (separate from the covering letter( with responses to reviewers' comments. The preferred order of files is as follows: cover letter, suggested reviewers, response to reviews (revised manuscripts only), manuscript files(s), table(s), figure(s). Files should be labeled with appropriate and descriptive file names (e.g., SmithText.doc, Fig1.eps, Table3.doc). Upload text, tables and graphics as separate files. Do not import figures or tables into the text document. For in-depth information about submitting electronic artwork visit http://authors.elsevier.com/artwork.

Authors who are unable to provide an electronic version or have other circumstances that prevent online submission muct contact the Editorial Office ERCQ@gmu.edu, prior to submission to discuss alternate options. The publisher and Editors regret that they are not able to consider submissions that do not follow these procedures.

Manuscripts are accepted for review with the understanding that the same work has not been and will not be published nor is presently submitted elsewhere, and that all persons listed as authors have given their approval for the submission of the paper; further, that any person cited as a source of personal communication has approved such citation. Written authorization may be required at the Editor's discretion. Articles and other material published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly represent the opinions of the authors and should not be construed to reflect the opinions of the Editor, the Publisher, or the Sponsor.

Authors submitting a manuscript do so on the understanding that, if it is accepted for publication, copyright in the article, including the right to reproduce the article in all forms and media, shall be assigned exclusively to the Publisher. The Publisher will not refuse any reasonable request by the author for permission to reproduce any of his or her contributions to the Quarterly. Responsibility for the accuracy of material in the manuscript, including appropriate reference to related work, lies entirely with the authors.

In submitting a manuscript, please keep in mind the following:

1. Manuscript Preparation. Manuscripts should be word processed, double-spaced, in 12-point font with one-inch margins on all sides. Articles should be concise and in English. Page 1 should contain the article title, author(s), affiliation(s), title, and the name, telephone number, email and complete mailing address of the author to whom correspondence should be sent. Page 2 should contain a short abstract. Authors should ensure that identifying information is provided on the first page only.

2. Style. The style guidelines of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed., 2001) should be followed. Headings, tables and reference lists should conform to APA Style.

3. Reporting Results. Authors should provide information about the magnitude of effects (e.g., effect sizes, beta) as well as the significance level for all significant results.

4. Review. Since the manuscripts are submitted for blind review, all identifying information should be removed from the body of the paper.

5. Tables and Figures. Tables and figures should be completely understandable independent of the text. Each table and figure must be mentioned in the text, given a title, and consecutively numbered with Arabic. Authors must provide good-quality orginals of all figures, to be directly reproduced for publicationb. Orginals must be legible after reduction to a maximum size of 4 1/2 inches wide by 7 1/2 inches high. Graphs and charts must be professionally prepared and may be submitted as original black ink drawings or as sharp black-and-white photographic reproductions. Color originals, which will be published in black and white, are discouraged.

6. Footnotes. Footnotes should be used sparingly and indicated by consecutive numbers in the text. Footnotes will appear as numbers notes after the text. Acknowledgements, grant number, or other credits should be given separately.

7. References. All sources cited in the text must be included in the reference list. Citations and references should follow the guidelines in the APA Publication Manual.

Austin, G. R. (1972) Early childhood education: An international perspective. New York: Academic.

Bruner, J.S. (1972) The nature and uses of immaturity. American Psychologist, 27, 687-708.

Denemark, G., & Nutter, N. (1984), The case for extended programs of initial teacher preparation, In L. G. Katz & J.

D. Kagan, J., Reznick, S. J., & Snidman N. (1984 April) Behavioral inhibition in the early years. Paper presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies, New York.

Williams, D. L., Jr (1984). Parent involvement in education: What a survey reveals. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 253 327)

8. Permissions. Copies of any letters granting permission to reproduce illustrations, tables, or lengthy quoted passages should be included with the manuscript.

9. Corrections. Authors are expected to correct and return page proofs to the Editor within a week of receipt. Authors are responsible for the cost of changes, additions, or corrections other than printer' or publisher's errors, although the Publisher may waive such charges.

10. Complimentary Offprints. The lead authors will receive 50 free offprints. Additional offprints can be ordered when page proofs are returned (an offprint order from will be included with the instructions for correction of proofs).

Author Enquiries

Authors can also keep a track on the progress of their accepted article, and set up e-mail alerts informing them of changes to their manuscript's status, by using the "Track a Paper" feature of Elsevier's http://authors.elsevier.com/TrackPaper.html.

For specific enquiries on the preparation of electronic artwork, consult http://www.elsevier.com/locate/authorartwork/ Full details of electronic submission and formats can be obtained from http://www.elsevier.com/authors

Contact details for questions arising after acceptance of an article, especially those relating to proofs, are provided when an article is accepted for publication.