Aims & Scope
Core Research Domains (Tier 1)
Behavioral Theory & Mechanisms
- Behavioral models and theoretical frameworks
- Learning theory and conditioning processes
- Behavioral reinforcement mechanisms
- Habit formation and behavior change
- Behavioral economics and decision-making
- Applied behavior analysis methodologies
Cognitive Processes & Assessment
- Cognitive assessment and measurement validation
- Attention, memory, and executive function
- Cognitive bias and information processing
- Metacognition and self-regulation
- Cognitive development across lifespan
- Psychometric properties of cognitive measures
Social Behavior & Interaction
- Social cognition and interpersonal behavior
- Group dynamics and collective behavior
- Social influence and persuasion mechanisms
- Prosocial and antisocial behavior patterns
- Communication patterns and social skills
- Cultural influences on behavior
Measurement & Methodology
- Behavioral assessment instrument development
- Psychometric validation studies
- Observational coding systems
- Ecological momentary assessment methods
- Behavioral data analytics and modeling
- Cross-cultural measurement equivalence
Secondary Focus Areas (Tier 2)
Behavioral Neuroscience
Neural substrates of behavior, brain-behavior relationships, neuroimaging studies of cognitive and behavioral processes, psychophysiological correlates of behavior
Developmental Behavioral Science
Behavioral development across lifespan, developmental trajectories of cognitive processes, age-related changes in behavior patterns, longitudinal behavioral studies
Health Behavior Research
Health-related behavior patterns, behavioral risk factors, health behavior change mechanisms, preventive behavior models (research focus, not clinical intervention)
Computational Behavioral Science
Computational modeling of behavior, machine learning applications in behavioral prediction, algorithmic analysis of behavioral data, AI-driven behavioral pattern recognition
Organizational Behavior
Workplace behavior patterns, organizational psychology research, team dynamics and collaboration, leadership behavior analysis, workplace motivation mechanisms
Environmental Behavior
Environmental influences on behavior, ecological psychology, place-behavior relationships, environmental stressors and behavioral responses, sustainability behaviors
Emerging Research Areas (Tier 3)
Explicitly Out of Scope
We Do NOT Consider
- Clinical Treatment Protocols & Therapeutic Interventions Papers describing therapy techniques, treatment manuals, clinical intervention protocols, or therapeutic outcomes. Rationale: Our focus is behavioral science research, not clinical practice guidelines.
- Patient Case Studies & Clinical Case Reports Individual patient cases, clinical observations, treatment response narratives, or diagnostic case descriptions. Rationale: We publish population-level behavioral research, not individual clinical documentation.
- Clinical Diagnosis & Psychopathology Classification Papers focused on diagnostic criteria, clinical assessment for diagnosis, symptom classification, or disorder taxonomy. Rationale: Our scope is behavioral mechanisms, not clinical nosology.
- Counseling Techniques & Psychotherapy Methods Papers describing counseling approaches, psychotherapy modalities, therapeutic relationship dynamics, or clinical supervision methods. Rationale: We focus on behavioral science, not counseling practice.
- Psychiatric Medication & Pharmacotherapy Papers on psychiatric medications, pharmacological treatments, drug efficacy studies, or medication management. Rationale: Outside behavioral science scope; better suited for pharmacology or psychiatry journals.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Expedited Review
- Original Research Articles (empirical studies)
- Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
- Methodological Innovations
- Measurement Validation Studies
- Registered Reports (Stage 1 & 2)
Regular Review Timeline
- Short Communications (brief reports)
- Data Notes & Replication Studies
- Theoretical & Conceptual Papers
- Research Perspectives
- Commentary on Published Research
Selective Acceptance
- Opinion Pieces (must be data-informed)
- Book Reviews (by invitation only)
- Conference Reports (exceptional cases)
- Letters to Editor (substantive only)
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
All submissions must follow appropriate reporting standards based on study design.
Data Transparency
Authors must provide data availability statements. Open data sharing is strongly encouraged. Repositories: OSF, Figshare, Dryad, or discipline-specific archives.
Ethics Approval
Human research requires IRB/ethics committee approval. Animal research must follow institutional and national guidelines. Ethics statement mandatory in manuscript.
Preprint Policy
Preprints on recognized servers (PsyArXiv, bioRxiv, OSF Preprints) are welcomed. Does not affect consideration. Must be disclosed at submission.
Conflict of Interest
All authors must disclose financial and non-financial conflicts. Funding sources must be acknowledged. Industry relationships must be transparent.
Authorship Criteria
Must meet ICMJE criteria: substantial contributions to conception/design/analysis, drafting/revising critically, final approval, accountability for accuracy.
Editorial Decision Metrics
Ready to Submit Your Research?
If your research advances scientific understanding of behavioral mechanisms, cognitive processes, or psychological measurement, we invite you to submit. Review our author guidelines for formatting requirements and submission procedures.
