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Tips for Authors

Considering submitting a proposal to JPUR?

If you are considering submitting a proposal for a paper to JPUR for consideration, see the Journal's Policies page for information about how to format your proposal, how to submit it, the two publication opportunities in JPUR, and your rights as an author. The Journal's FAQ provides answers to common questions for faculty advisors and student authors.

Each academic year, there are two deadlines for submissions to the annual volume: the fall deadline is November 15; the spring deadline is February 15. Submissions received after these deadlines will be considered for the following evaluation period.

The Proposal

The proposal should introduce the subject of the research and the contribution it makes to the wider world of knowledge. When submitting your proposal, you will be asked for the following elements:

  • 1. In 150 words or fewer, explain the research or creative question(s) that drive your project as well as the stakes of the project (i.e., what is the impact/significance/interest of the project or what problem will it address?).
  • 2. In 150 words or fewer, describe how you will answer the research or creative question(s).
  • 3. In 150 words or fewer, what new knowledge do you hope to create (or have you created) through this project? That is, what new ideas, concepts, devices, technologies, analyses, data sets, designs, performances, verse, arguments, and so forth arise from this work? One possible way to articulate the new knowledge that you hope to create is to indicate the state of the field and the critical gaps in the field that this project fills.
  • 4. In 50 words or fewer, explain the individual contribution you expect to make or have made toward the research or creative project (especially important in collaborative work). That is, what is your role in this research project (e.g., did you lead it/are you PI; did you participate in a faculty mentor’s existing research project)? How did the research project start (e.g., internship, class, lab)? Please explain.
  • 5. In addition to answering these four mandatory questions, you may also submit an abstract of your research similar to what you would provide for a conference proposal or paper submission (250 words maximum). This is OPTIONAL and is NOT required for your JPUR submission to be considered complete..

Also realize that reviewers are looking for articles that are interesting and can be read to entertain. This being said, your proposal should also try to reflect the tone, while also presenting the facts.

Your proposal was accepted. Now what?

Components Required

If accepted for publication, these are the guidelines for the different materials you will submit by April 15 (snapshots) or April 30 (articles).

The information and links below provide tips and resources that can assist you in writing and proofreading your paper. Also, review the differences between full articles and research snapshots on the Policies page so you can best meet the formatting requirements for the type of publication you have been invited to submit.

While writing, keep in mind that the audiences for JPUR articles are peers who are students in a different field of study. Therefore, the language used in these articles should not be laden with jargon or technical language, but explained in terms as if you were teaching someone about the subject matter.

Writing a Scientific Paper

Visit this site to learn more about sections to include with examples.

Your Scientific Paper: Do's & Don'ts:

Include Avoid
Abstract Purpose
Research Problem
Your Approach
Results
Implications of Your Research 		More than 500 Words
Introduction Problem Investigated (Including Past Research)
Purpose of Research (What's unique to your study?) 		Personal Reasons for Conducting Study
Methodology Description of Participants
Data Collection Protocol
Data Analysis Techniques
Materials Used 		Vague Information
Redundant Information
Results Data Cleaning Processes (Outliers, Missing Values, etc.)
Statistical Analyses
Results That Relate to Research Questions 		Raw Data
Redundancy
Discussion \ Interpretation of Data
Methodology
Conclusion Objective Interpretation of Findings
Discussion 		Too Much Background Information
Abbreviations and/or Colloquial Language

APA Style

JPUR uses the American Psychological Association (APA) style for writing and for citing works.

For Writing Help

Purdue's Writing Lab provides one-on-one tutoring. Their website has a wealth of useful information related to citing and writing.

For Research Help

The Purdue Libraries can provide help with finding resources for your research online 24/7. You can consult with a librarian who specializes in your subject area.

Summer Research Opportunities

If you are an undergraduate interested in doing research, a good place to start may be a summer research program.