last updated:
04/20/2009
An official journal of the International Association for Relationship Research
Published by Blackwell
Information for Authors
Manuscript Submission and Review:
Beginning June 1, 2008, PR will receive all new manuscript submissions through a web-based system called Manuscript Central operated by ScholarOne. Authors should enter the site at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/pere and register with the system, at which point a login ID and password will be emailed to authors to access the system (including future manuscript submissions and revised manuscripts). Manuscripts can then be uploaded through an easy, step-by-step process (full instructions for uploading files are provided on the website). The Manuscript Central system also serves as the center for editorial staff to communicate with authors, editors, and reviewers electronically throughout the review process. After receiving a submission, the Editor will inform the author whether he or one of the Associate Editors will serve as action editor for the manuscript. Manuscripts will generally be reviewed by three scholars, at least one of whom is a member of the editorial board. Because the International Association for Relationship Research is committed to the mentoring and education of new scholars who are choosing to study relationship issues, a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, or non-tenure track faculty member may, at the discretion of the action editor, be included as one of the three reviewers. If you would like to discuss your paper prior to submission, or seek advice on the submission process please contact the Editor, Dr. Lorne Campbell, at the following email address: lcampb23@uwo.ca. Initial editorial decisions will generally be made within three months of receiving the manuscript.
Manuscript Preparation and Style:
Submissions should be written in English and follow APA style guidelines (see Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition, or www.apastyle.org). The entire manuscript should be double-spaced and typed in a 12-point font with 1 inch (2.54 cm) margins all around. Pages should be numbered consecutively starting with the title page and include a page header, and paragraphs should be indented 5-characters. Words should not be hyphenated at the ends of lines, text should be left justified, and endnotes should be numbered consecutively and used sparingly. Paragraphs should be longer than a single sentence, levels of headings appropriate and consistent, abbreviations explained the first time they are used, Greek symbols identified, and non-Greek symbols displayed in italics. Authors should take care to use unbiased language.
When initially submitted, the title page should include a title (no longer than 12 words), a running head, and the author’s names and institutional affiliations. The abstract, which should start on a separate page, should be no longer than 120 words. The author’s note should include all authors’ complete departmental affiliations, changes of affiliation since the manuscript was written (if any), any other information (e.g., acknowledgements, credits, grant support), and contact information for all three authors. The text of the manuscript should be followed by the references (starting on a separate page), appendices (if any), footnotes (listed together on a separate page), tables (each on a separate page), figure captions (all on one page), and figures (each on a separate page), respectively.
Bibliographic citations in the text should include the names of authors and year of publication. Where authors’ names are included in parentheses, they should be joined by an ampersand (e.g., Branje, van Lieshout, van Aken, 2005; Cate, Levin, & Richmond, 2002; Frijns, Finkenauer, Vermulst, & Engels, 2005; Solomon, Knobloch, & Fitzpatrick, 2004). After the first citation of works with more than two authors, only the name of the first author should be included (e.g., Mikulincer et al., 2005). Where actual quotations are used, page references must be included in the citation (e.g., Boon & McLeod, 2001, p. 464). Where more than one citation is used, citations must be in alphabetical order by first author (see earlier example). Every reference cited in the text must be included in the reference list; every reference in the reference list must also be cited in the text. Examples of reference styling are:
Journal
Blieszner, R. (2006). A lifetime of caring: Close relationships in old age. Personal
Relationships, 13, 1–18.
Book
Bedford, V. H., & Turner, B. F. (Eds.). (2006). Men in relationships: A new look from a
Chapter in an Edited Book
Ueno, K., & Adams, R. G. (2006). Adult friendship: A decade review. In P. Noller & J.
Tables must appear as a set, each double-spaced on a separate sheet, numbered consecutively with an Arabic numeral and given an italicized short title (e.g., Table 3. Marital Outcomes for Premarital Cohabitors and Noncohabitors). Every column must have a heading and all vertical rules should be omitted where possible. All tables must be cited in the text.
Each figure must be numbered consecutively with an Arabic numeral and must include a brief title (e.g., Figure 1. Knowledge Structures and the Development of Relationships). Titles must be doublespaced and included together on a separate sheet preceding the figures themselves. All tables and details must be clearly printed and large enough to remain legible at a 50% reduction. All figures must be cited in the text.
In addition to following APA style guidelines, authors should prepare their manuscript in keeping with Personal Relationships’ editorial philosophy. They should explain discipline-specific concepts and theories adequately enough for scholars from other disciplines to understand them, avoid idioms not universally understood, mention the country where the study was conducted, describe the context in which the study was conducted or the characteristics of the population from which the sample was drawn, justify the use of a convenience sample, and properly limit generalization. In addition to a discussion of the implications of their findings for theory and future research, authors should comment on any practical implications of the reported findings. In their discussion of the limitations of their study design, authors should take care to speculate about how the context in which the study was conducted or the population studied might have affected results.
Copyright and Originality:
It is a condition of publication that all manuscripts submitted to Personal Relationships have not been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere either in English or in any other language. All authors must sign the Transfer of Copyright Agreement, available from the Editor, before an article can be published. Government authors whose articles were created in the course of their employment must certify to that fact in lieu of copyright transfer. Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission from the copyright owners to reprint any previously published material included in their articles.
Copyediting and Page Proofs:
The publisher reserves the right to copyedit manuscripts to conform to journal style. The lead author will also receive page proofs for correction of typographical errors only. No rewriting of the original manuscript is allowed in the page proof stage. Authors must return proofs to the proofreader within eight days of receipt, or approval will be assumed.
Gratis Copies
The lead author will receive three gratis copies of the issue in which his or her article was published.
