Fundamental Principles for Preparing
Psychology Journal Articles[1]
Harry F. Harlow (1958)[2]
University of Wisconsin
First published in Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 55, 893-896.
As retiring Editor of theJournal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, I feel that I have one remaining responsibility to my psychological colleagues. Having passed judgment on about 2,500 original manuscripts and almost as many revisions in my 12 years as Editor, I believe I should bequeath to posterity some principles of scientific reporting that I have formulated only through countless
COVERING LETTER
In plotting the publication of a manuscript the prospective author should think first about the covering letter. It is an unforgivable error to write, "I am submitting a manuscript for your consideration...." This evasive method gets you nowhere with editors. Even if the nondirective technique works with many patients, there are some sick people who are best approached using positive pressures.
There are a number of general principles underlying a good covering letter, and they can be illustrated by example. I offer the following:
DEAR HARRY:
I am submitting the manuscript, "Creative Thinking by Paramecia," for publication inJCPP. My chairman has assured me that upon acceptance of this manuscript he will recommend me for promotion to associate professor. Two recipients of the Distinguished Psychologist Award have reviewed this paper and recommend it highly.
I am pleased to see that you are one of the candidates for President of the American Psychological Association. As you know, I have nominated you for many years and will probably give you my support in the future.
Because of the unusual significance of these researches, I would like early publication, which I will finance from my National Institute of Mental Health grant.
Warm regards,
JOHN HOPEFUL
Assistant Professor
The battle is now half won. You will get a fair shake.
INTRODUCTION