Why should I submit my manuscript to the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine?
How do I know if Archives is an appropriate forum for my work?
What are the main components of the abstract that I must include?
How should I structure my manuscript?
What are the different types of articles that Archives publishes?
How long should my manuscript be?
How should I present P values and other statistics?
Are there limits on the number of references that I can include?
Where should I list sources of funding for my research?
What are the special guidelines for citing other articles or for citing books or Web sources?
Should I suggest reviewers for my manuscript?
What about IRB (institutional review board) approval for my study?
If I report the race/ethnicity of participants in my manuscript, how should I do so?
What if I have a question that is not answered here or in the Instructions for Authors?
Why should I submit my manuscript to the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine?
The Archives is a leading medical journal that publishes high-quality, timely, rigorously conducted research and commentary regarding children and children's health care. Articles cover a broad range of clinical topics and research approaches. The overarching goal of the journal is to provide clinicians, researchers, and the public with an open forum for dialogue on a full range of clinical, scientific, advocacy, and humanistic issues relevant to the care of pediatric patients from infancy through young adulthood. See "Why Publish in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine?"
How do I know if Archives is an appropriate forum for my work?
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine publishes manuscripts that address research questions that are consequential. Is the knowledge gained apt to improve pediatric health care? Articles in the Archives furnish new knowledge or unique interpretations of existing knowledge that appropriately address the posed questions. Papers written in clear English, without jargon, will have a better chance of success.
Archives does not publish articles that have been published elsewhere, or that contain data published elsewhere. If authors have published similar work elsewhere, they must submit a copy of the possible duplicative work along with their manuscript. For more information, see Rivara FP, Christakis DA, Cummings P. Duplicate publication. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158(9):926.
What are the main components of the abstract that I must include?
For most articles that require an abstract, we require a structured abstract with specific components. Please follow the link below for more information, or download the article by Cummings et al on how to write an abstract. For more information, see Cummings P, Rivara FP, Koepsell TD. Writing informative abstracts for journal articles. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158(11):1086-1088. Also, see "Manuscript Preparation and Submission Requirements" in the Instructions for Authors.
How should I structure my manuscript?
Your manuscript should follow standard formats for the types of articles exemplified by the articles currently published in the Archives. Follow the link below for basic information about the specific article types. You may also want to consult the article on how to write for Archives: Rivara FP, Cummings P. Writing for publication in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155(10):1090-1092. Also, see "Categories of Articles" in the Instructions for Authors.
What are the different types of articles that Archives publishes?
The Archives publishes many different kinds of articles. Consult the information about the article format that best suits your work. See "Categories of Articles" in the Instructions for Authors.
How long should my manuscript be?
The length of your manuscript depends on its format and the type of research. Articles longer than the specified length will be returned to the authors without review. Please keep in mind: The briefer the paper, the better its chances of acceptance. Often, introductions and discussions can be cut back without affecting the quality of the paper. See "Categories of Articles" in the Instructions for Authors.
How should I present P values and other statistics?
In general, we prefer clear presentation of statistics, with the use of point estimates such as mean differences, relative risks, or odds ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals rather than P values. For specific guidance, see the following article: Cummings P, Rivara FP. Reporting statistical information in medical journal articles. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003;157(4):321-324. Also, see "Manuscript Preparation and Submission Requirements" in the Instructions for Authors.
Are there limits on the number of references that I can include?
Yes, there are limits on the specific number of references that Archives permits for certain article types. Please follow the link below for more information about limits on references for specific types of articles. See "Categories of Articles" in the Instructions for Authors.
Where should I list sources of funding for my research?
Funding sources, and the role of each funding source in elements of the research, should be listed in the acknowledgments section at the end of the manuscript. Please see "Funding/Support and Role of the Sponsor" under "Editorial Policies" in the Instructions for Authors.
What are the special guidelines for citing other articles or for citing books or Web sources?
The journal follows the style described in the AMA Manual of Style, 10th edition. Please see "References" under "Manuscript Preparation and Submission Requirements" in the Instructions for Authors.
Should I suggest reviewers for my manuscript?
As part of the online manuscript submission process, you will be requested to suggest reviewers for your work. The editors strongly encourage you to suggest potential reviewers, as that may help move the review process along more quickly. Please do not suggest reviewers from your own institution; these will not be used. Suggesting reviewers will neither help nor hurt the changes of your manuscript being accepted for publication.
What about IRB (institutional review board) approval for my study?
Matters involving IRB approval of studies involving data derived from humans or animals must be included in the "Methods" section. For more information, please see "Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval" under "Editorial Policies" in the Instructions for Authors.
If I report the race/ethnicity of participants in my manuscript, how should I do so?
The editors of Archives expect that authors will explain why race or ethnicity was assessed in the study. For more details, please see the following 2 references: Rivara FP, Finberg L. Use of the terms race and ethnicity. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155(2):119 and Winker MA. Measuring race and ethnicity: why and how? JAMA. 2004;292(13):1612-1614.
What if I have a question that is not answered here or in the Instructions for Authors?
The editor of Archives welcomes inquiries from authors about potential submissions. If you have unanswered questions or are uncertain about specific journal policies, please write to us at archpediatrics{at}jama-archives.org or see "Editorial Office Contact Information" in the Instructions for Authors.