Aims and Scope

Media Psychology is an interdisciplinary journal devoted to publishing theoretically-oriented empirical research that is at the intersection of psychology and media communication. These topics include media uses, processes, and effects. Such research is already well represented in mainstream journals in psychology and communication, but its publication is dispersed across many sources. Therefore, scholars working on common issues and problems in various disciplines often cannot fully utilize the contributions of kindred spirits in cognate disciplines. By providing a high-quality, common publication outlet for psychologists, communication researchers, human developmental specialists, and other scholars who are interested in the psychological antecedents and consequences of communicating via mass media (television), telecommunications media (computer networks), and personal media (multimedia), potentially fertile cross-disciplinary work can flourish. Although most of the published articles will report original empirical research that bridges media communication and psychology, state-of-the-art reviews and meta-analyses that provide a major synthesis of primary research findings in a pivotal area will be considered. Studies of messages using single exemplars must include justification for the message selection and implications for generalizability. Manuscripts will be judged by the degree to which they contribute to theory and advance the body of knowledge about the psychology of uses, processes, or effects of the media.

Submission of Manuscripts

Media Psychology uses an online submission and review system, Editorial Manager, through which authors submit manuscripts and track their progress up until acceptance for publication. Authors will enter pertinent information into the system and submit the following files: (a) Cover letter file, containing any comments to the editor. (b) Manuscript file, containing the entire text of the article, including title page, abstract, all text, references, footnotes, and appendixes. (c) Figures and tables, which may be submitted either as separate files or as part of the aforementioned manuscript file. Please log on to http://www.editorialmanager.com/mep for information and instructions regarding registration and manuscript submission.

Manuscripts should be prepared according to the guidelines in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). To facilitate blind review, authors' names and affiliations should not appear on the title page or elsewhere in the manuscript file. (They can be keyed into the system and placed on a separate page in the cover letter file.) Authors are responsible for all statements made in their work and for obtaining permission from copyright owners to reprint or adapt a table or figure or to reprint quotations from one source exceeding the limits of fair use. Authors should write to both the author(s) and the publisher of such material to request nonexclusive world rights in all languages for use in the article and in future editions of it.

In a cover letter, authors should state that (a) the findings reported in the manuscript have not been published previously, (b) the manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration elsewhere, and (c) they have complied with the American Psychological Association's ethical standards in the treatment of any participants in the work being reported. The cover letter should also include the addresses, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses of all authors of the manuscript.

Formatting and Presentation of Manuscripts

The manuscript should include a single-paragraph abstract of no more than 200 words. The text of the manuscript should generally be no longer than 25 pages of text (approximately 8000 words), with additional materials (references, tables, figures, and other supporting materials) no longer than an additional 10 pages (using 12-point Times New Roman font and 1” margins). Consideration will be given to longer manuscripts if it is clear that the author(s) have made every effort to be succinct, but that more room is needed to present complex explanations or critical data.

Papers presenting statistical analyses should include measures of variability for all measures of central tendency reported, provide effect sizes for all significant effects, and provide evidence of measurement reliability and validity.

We encourage submissions from authors in all parts of the world, though all papers are to be written in English. To insure that problems associated with English-language usage do not interfere with reviewers' evaluation of the substantive content of submitted manuscripts, we respectfully ask that our international authors consider seeking the advice of native English speakers in the preparation of their manuscripts.

Illustrations

Illustrations submitted (line drawings, halftones, photos, photomicrographs, etc.) should be clean originals or digital files. Digital files are recommended for highest quality reproduction and should follow these guidelines:

• 300 dpi or higher
• sized to fit on journal page
• EPS, TIFF, or PSD format only
• submitted as separate files, not embedded in text files

Color illustrations will be considered for publication; however, the author will be required to bear the full cost involved in their printing and publication. The charge for the first figure is $900.00. Subsequent figures, totaling no more than 4 text pages, are $450.00 each. Good-quality color prints should be provided in their final size. Figures needing reduction or enlargement will be charged an additional 25 percent. The publisher has the right to refuse publication of any artwork deemed unacceptable.

References

In-text references and reference lists should be prepared in accordance with the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Examples:

Journal: Tsai, M., & Wagner, N. N. (1978). Therapy groups for women sexually molested as children. Archives of Sexual Behaviour, 7(6), 417-427.
Book: Millman, M. (1980). Such a pretty face. New York: W. W. Norton.
Contribution to a Book: Hartley, J. T., & Walsh, D. A. (1980). Contemporary issues in adult development of learning. In L. W. Poon (Ed.), Ageing in the 1980s (pp. 239-252). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Proofs and Reprints

Page proofs are sent to the designated author using Taylor & Francis' Central Article Tracking System (CATS). They must be carefully checked and returned within 48 hours of receipt. Reprints of individual articles are available for order at the time authors review page proofs. A discount on reprints is available to authors who order before print publication.