SSM Publication Guidelines

Manuscript Criteria

Select the following categories to learn more about the review manuscript guidelines before submitting your manuscript;

Evaluation Studies Classroom Scholarship Conceptual Theoretical Design Research   Research

 

General Guidelines

Address for Submission Circulation Data Publication Guidelines Review Information
Manuscript Topics Publication Fees Manuscript Preparation Review Criteria
Accepted Manuscripts Guidelines Manuscript Guidelines/Comments

Address for Submission of Manuscript

Authors: Editorship of SSMJ has moved to Texas A&M University.  Please send new manuscripts to:
 
Heather Lee, Managing Editor
TAMU 4232
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843
 
Reviewers: For manuscripts sent from the Oregon State University offices (numbers up to 3322), please continue to use the forms on this site to send reviews. Manuscripts sent from the new offices will contain instructions for sending reviews in the future.

Circulation Data

Reader:  K-graduate leaders and teacher educators
Frequency of issue:  8 Times/Year
Copies per issue:  3001-4000
Sponsorship:  Professional organization

Publication Guidelines

Manuscript length:  6-25 pages, including references
Copies required:  Five
 

Review Information

Type of review: Blind review
No. of external reviewers: Three
No. of in-house reviewers: Up to three
Editor considers recommendation of reviewers: Yes
Time to review: 3-4 months
Reviewer's comments: Yes
Invited articles: 5% or less

Manuscript Topics

Science, mathematics, and connections between mathematics and science for grades K-graduate and teacher education, especially science and mathematics education articles that deal with assessment, attitudes, beliefs, curriculum, equity, research, translating research into practice, learning theory, alternative conceptions, philosophy and history of science, sociocultural issues, special populations, technology, nontraditional forms of instruction, and science/technology/society.

Manuscript Guidelines/Comments

Membership.
The membership provides a one-year subscription to the journal. Click hereto get more information about SSMA Membership.
 
Submission.
All manuscripts should be submitted to the listed address and are subject to a review process. Manuscripts should not have been previously published nor be under consideration for publication in any other journal.
 
Source of Publication Guidelines.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 4th Edition

Fees Charged to Publish.

At least one author of any feature article must be members of the School Science and Mathematics Association or pay an equivalent review and publication fee at the time of acceptance of the article. Members pay no publication fee.

Manuscript Preparation

When submitting manuscripts, include the following:
  1. A cover letter stating the title of the manuscript and complete postal and e-mail address, and phone and fax numbers of the lead author (or other author to be contacted regarding manuscript production).
  2. Five copies of the manuscript prepared according to the 4th Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, typed double-spaced using a 12-point or larger font, and printed on 8 1/2- by 11-inch paper.
  3. An abstract on a separate page (include five copies and staple one to each copy of the manuscript).
  4. One title page that includes title of the manuscript, names of all authors, contact author's fax and phone numbers, and complete postal and e-mail addresses for all authors. This is the only place the author's (authors') name(s) should appear on the manuscript. To maintain anonymity of the author(s), author(s) citing their own work should cite as follows:

    5. In text: Author (1989) found...
    On reference list: Author (date). Journal Title.
    (Do not include title of article or volume and page #)
  5. Graphics submitted as publication-ready copy on white paper with black ink. Use no larger than 8-point font for text on figures; use no larger than 11-point font for tables. If possible, figures and tables should be no wider than 3.25 inches to fit one column. Otherwise, tables and figures should be no wider than 6.75 inches.
  6. Manuscripts containing computer programs must be accompanied by a disk containing the program and documentation on how to use it.

Review Criteria

Manuscripts submitted for review will be evaluated on the following:

 

School Science and Mathematics welcomes articles of all types related to the teaching and learning of science and mathematics. Such articles would include, but are not limited to evaluation studies, classroom scholarship, design research, research on teaching and learning, or theoretical/conceptual analysis. Reviewers will apply the following evaluation guidelines, as appropriate, to manuscripts being submitted for publication. Please see the description of the different types of manuscripts for further information about how the manuscript categories have been conceived.

 

The following criteria will be used by reviewers in evaluating the appropriateness of manuscripts for publication in School Science and Mathematics:

 

For All Manuscripts

  1. Does the manuscript address issues related to the teaching and learning of mathematics and/or science?

  2. Is the topic of current interest to science and/or mathematics educators or does it raise important issues that have yet to be considered by the education community?

  3. Does the manuscript address a question or concern of educational importance?

  4. Does the author make clear near the beginning  the type of paper being presented, e.g. theoretical/conceptual, research, evaluation, etc.?

  5. Has the author described his/her background in sufficient detail so that the reader can discern the personal perspective that may have influenced data interpretation?

  6. Does the author integrate of previous scholarship, research and/or policy reports related to the paper’s topic?

  7. Are the main ideas presented in a logically organized and consistent manner?

  8. Are the author’s interpretations of literature and/or data valid?

  9. Are the author’s arguments and conclusions consistent with the relevant literature?

 

 For Empirically-based Manuscripts

 

  1. Are the sample(s) or individual subjects adequately described (e.g., selection, size, other important characteristics)? 

  2. Are the research design and important procedures clearly described? 

  3. Are the research design and procedures appropriate for answering the stated research questions?

  4. Is the following indicated for each data collection instrument or procedure (where appropriate)?

a)      name of measure

b)      appropriate for grade or age level of use

c)      reliability or inter-rater/observer agreement

d)      validity

  1. Are statistical procedures and statistical values clearly reported (where appropriate)?

  2. For qualitative data, are representative quotations, sample documents, etc. clearly reported in support of the author' assertions?

  3. Were appropriate data analysis procedures used for the particular questions being asked? (e.g., statistical procedure, unit of analysis, discourse analysis, constant comparative, analytical induction)

  4. Are the results clearly reported and appropriately linked to the problem being investigated?

  5. Do the research design and results permit the author's conclusions?

  6. Are there alternative explanations for the results that the author has not addressed?

  7. Has generalizability been adequately addressed where appropriate?

Guidelines for Accepted Manuscripts

MANUSCRIPTS NOT CONFORMING TO THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE RETURNED TO THE AUTHOR FOR ADDITIONAL REVISION.
  1. This journal follows the style of the Fourth Edition of the Manual of the American Psychological Association. All line spacing, numbers, statistics, variables, headings, lists, citations, references, appendixes, and figure and table placement must conform to APA style, with the exceptions listed under item 4 and 5.
  2. In business communications, the common practice is to insert two spaces between sentences. For your SSM publication, place only one space after a period at the end of a sentence. You may use the Find-and-Replace function on your word processing software to delete the extra spaces.
  3. Indent the first line of each new paragraph. Indent quotes and numbered or bulleted lists using the paragraph formatting commands in your software program. Place hard returns ONLY at the END of a paragraph or listed item.
  4. Tables contain data in columns and rows. Figures are illustrations, such as charts, graphs, photographs, or drawings. Everything else (questionnaires, instructions, lists, interviews, tests, etc.) should be labeled an appendix. Tables, figures, and appendixes must be submitted as publication-ready copy on white paper with black ink. For publication in the journal, the first preference is for tables, figures, and appendixes to fit within one 3.25" column. However, tables, figures, and appendixes too large for a single-column format must be no wider than 6 3/4". Text should be no smaller than 8 point and no larger than 11 points. We prefer text in a Times New Roman or similar serif font. Tables are formatted differently from APA style, in that all borders, grids, and lines should be removed. Captions should go at the TOP for figures, tables, and appendixes. Please include everything on the disk with your manuscript if possible. Sometimes, we can use the electronic version.
  5. Use italics rather than underlining variables, statistical symbols, and names of publications.
  6. As in APA, indent the first line of each entry in the reference list using a hard tab command. No hanging indents, please. Place a hard return ONLY at the end of each reference entry.
  7. Do not use two hyphens for dashes if you can avoid it. To insert em dashes in your document using Microsoft Word, select Insert from the menu, then select Symbol. In WordPerfect, select Insert and Character. For documents saved in ASCII format, your only option is to use two hyphens.
  8. Return two printed copies of the revised manuscript, including a title page stating the name of the manuscript and the author's complete mailing address, including fax and email addresses for all authors.
DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, AND YOUR MANUSCRIPT WILL BE PUBLISHED MORE QUICKLY!