Preparing Manuscripts for Social Problems

The quarterly journal, Social Problems, brings to the fore influential sociological findings and theories that have the ability to help us both better understand--and better deal with--our complex social environment. Papers are limited to a maximum of 35 pages (approx. 10,000 words) including references. Extra material including tables, figures, photos, appendices, etc., should be kept to a minimum.

Submissions should be uploaded to: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/socpro. Please direct questions to Annulla Linders and Earl Wright II at socialproblems@uc.edu. All manuscripts should be typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double-spaced (including indented quotes and references) on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch document. Remove page numbers (ScholarOne Manuscript Central adds the page numbers automatically). Avoid the generic use of male nouns or pronouns.

To ensure anonymity in the review process, remove all identifying material from your manuscript. This includes: authors' names, institutional affiliations, and contact information, self-identifying references to previous work, self-identifying footnotes, and acknowledgements. Papers that do not meet these requirements will be returned without review to the author.

Please note that it is our policy to decide manuscripts after one round of review. Accordingly, revised manuscripts are either rejected or conditionally accepted. In other words, we do not invite what are commonly called "second R&Rs." Our initial internal review process generally takes 2-3 weeks. If the manuscript is sent for external review, our external review process averages 3 months. Please keep in mind that this estimate is subject to the processing of a large volume of submissions, reviewer lag time and the number of editorial decisions awaiting final disposition. After acceptance, agreement must be reached between author and editor on all matters concerning the manuscript before it goes to the printer. Authors will receive page proofs, but only printer errors may be changed at that time.

Additionally, note that there is a non-refundable manuscript submission fee of $25, which can be paid either electronically (at the end of the online submission process) or by check. Kindly note that payment of the $25 processing fee does not guarantee the paper will be sent out for external review. Consideration of the manuscript cannot proceed until payment is received. To pay by check or money order, please make it payable to SSSP and mail to:

Annulla Linders, Co-editor
Department of Sociology
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0378
513-556-4710

Social Problems welcomes manuscript submissions from SSSP members as well as non-members.  Click here for additional instructions for authors.