Society for the Study of Social Problems

Social Problems Journal
preparing manuscripts
cover page
abstract
footnotes
tables
figures
symbols
citations in text
references following text

Preparing Manuscripts For Social Problems
Papers should be a maximum of 35 pages (approximately 10,000 words) plus references, tables, etc.  Submit five single-sided copies plus a PC-compatible electronic file.  Manuscripts will not be returned.  All copy should be typed in 12 point font and double spaced (including indented quotations, notes, and references) on 81/2 by 11 inch white paper.  Pages must be numbered consecutively, including references.  Leave one inch margins.  Avoid the generic use of male nouns or pronouns.

For anonymity in the review process, authors' names should appear only on a separate cover page. Remove all other identifying material (e.g., self-identifying references to previous work, self-identifying footnotes) from four of the five copies submitted. Papers that do not meet these requirements will be returned without review to the author.

After acceptance, agreement must be reached between author and editor on all matters concerning the ms. before it goes to the printer. Authors will receive page proofs, but only printer errors may be changed at that time.

Cover Page
Attach a cover page showing authorship,institutional affiliation, address, and e-mail address of corresponding author. Include any acknowledgments at the bottom of the page.

Abstract
Include a short summary of the problem, procedures, and findings.

Footnotes
Avoid footnotes if possible by incorporating footnote information into the text. When absolutely necessary, they should be numbered consecutively and attached as a section titled "Notes."

Tables
Type each table on a separate page and append at the end of the manuscript. Insert a location note at the appropriate place in the text (e.g., Table 1 about here).

Figures
Figures should suitable for clear photoreproducibility. Retain the originals (for transmission to editor upon acceptance) and append copies at the end of the manuscript.

Symbols
Clarify symbols with notes in the margin. Encircle the notes to show they are not intended for printing.

Citations In Text
1. Authors' names and publication dates used in the text should be enclosed by parentheses. Cite pages only 
    in the case of a direct quotation, as shown below.
2. Alphabetize multiple references. Separate with semicolons.
3. For dual or triple authorship, give all last names; for more than three authors, use "et al." (but include all
    names in the references following the text).
4. For authors with more than one citation in the same year, designate by "a," "b," etc.

EXAMPLES

1. Gubrium (1993) suggests that "life narratives are not personality profiles" (p. 15).

2. . . . in various related projects (Berbrier 2000; Lowney 1998; Marvasti 2003).

3. . . . (Miller et al. 2002; Spencer and McKinney 1997).

4. . . . (Hondagneu-Sotelo 2001a, 2001b)

References Following Text
List all sources alphabetically by author, and within author chronologically by year of publication, in a section entitled "References," following the main text. Please use referencing conventions established in the ASA Style Guide, 2nd ed. (1997). Examples appear in February and August issues of the American Sociological Review.

EXAMPLES

Jenness, Valerie. 1999. "Managing Differences and Making Legislation." Social Problems 46:548-71.

Schmid, Thomas J. and Richard S. Jones. 1990. "Experiential Orientations to the Prison Experience." Perspectives on Social Problems 2:189-210.

Emerson, Robert M. and Melvin Pollner. 2001. "Difference and Dialogue." Pp. 177-89 in Qualitative Research Methods, edited by D. Weinberg. Malden, MA: Blackwell.

Loseke, Donileen R. and Spencer Cahill. Forthcoming. "Publishing Qualitative Manuscripts." In Qualitative Research Practice, edited by C. Seale, G. Gobo, J. Gubrium, and D. Silverman. London: Sage.

See the University of California's Social Problems web page for more information.