Author guidelines

File format

Submit your manuscript as a .docx file. We convert the file automatically into the typeset article, so the way you structure the document matters more than how it looks.

• Use Word's built-in Heading 1, Heading 2 and Heading 3 styles for section headings. Do not create headings by making text bold and large — the converter cannot see that.
• Put the abstract under a heading called Abstract.
• Begin your keyword line with Keywords:, separating terms with commas or semicolons.
• Put the reference list under a heading called References. Everything after that heading is treated as a reference, one per paragraph.
• Embed figures in the document at roughly the position you want them. We will extract them automatically.
• Use Word's table tool for tables. Tables drawn with tabs or spaces will not survive conversion.

Structure

We do not mandate a fixed structure, but most research articles benefit from something close to: introduction; related work or theoretical framing; methods; findings; discussion; limitations; conclusion.

Word limits

References

Use APA 7th edition. Include a DOI for every reference that has one — we link them automatically, and it measurably improves the discoverability of both your article and the work you cite.

Anonymisation

We use double-anonymous review. Please remove author names from the manuscript file and from its document properties, and refer to your own prior work in the third person. Author details are collected separately in the submission form and are never shown to reviewers.

Language

We publish in English and accept either British or American spelling, used consistently. We do not reject papers for non-native phrasing; if a paper is accepted and needs language work, our copyeditors will do it.

Data and code

Where the research involves data or code that could reasonably be shared, we expect it to be deposited in a recognised repository and cited in the article. Where it cannot be shared, say so and say why in the data availability statement.

Use of generative AI

Disclose any use of generative AI tools in preparing the manuscript, including the tool and what it was used for. AI systems cannot be listed as authors, because they cannot take responsibility for the work.