As each issue of ABS is a special issue organized by a guest editor on a single topic, we do not accept individual or unsolicited submissions. Do not contact us unless you have a proposal for a complete issue.
The prospectus for an American Behavioral Scientist special issue focuses the issue editor's thoughts and helps to guide the journal's editorial board and publisher as to whether to commission the issue. A prospectus emphasizes the rationale: why the issue is being developed and for what target readership.
Typically, each volume consists of a preface/introduction and 6 to 8 articles for an average volume length of approximately 200-220 double-spaced manuscript pages, or 50,000 to 52,000 words (including all references, notes, abstracts, and biographical sketches).
Please divide your prospectus into the following three categories: "About the Project," "About the Market," and "The Outline." Please keep the first two areas separate from each other in the prospectus, as the two-part format will make it easier for us to understand your intentions. Please be sure to include a preliminary timeline.
Your prospectus for an ABS issue should be sent via e-mail to Laura A. Lawrie, Managing Editor, American Behavioral Scientist, e-mail laura.lawrie@sagepub.com, for circulation to members of the ABS Editorial Board, who will review it anonymously. Please contact the Managing Editor for further information.
All issues of ABS undergo a double-anonymize peer review process, managed by the guest editors. Guest editors have responsibility for liaison with contributors and peer reviewers during this process. If a guest editor has contributed an article to the issue, it should be reviewed by a coeditor or a third independent party. Guest editors will keep in close contact with the Managing Editor throughout the issue preparation process, informing the Managing Editor of any problems or delays in schedule. When all of the papers are ready for publication following peer review and revisions, the guest editors should contact the Managing Editor for instructions on how to submit their issue. Please note that we request that guest editors wait until all articles are complete and ready for publication before submitting their issue.