Author Guidelines
Research Articles - longer papers, providing a clear rationale for the study within the body of published research or policy, an overview of the research methodology adopted, a presentation of findings, and a discussion of those findings in relation to existing knowledge (maximum of 7000 words).
A research article should include an abstract (150-200 words); up to five keywords; an introduction; methodology; findings; discussion; and conclusions, as a main structure.
Reflection Pieces – a short and thought provoking piece responding to current and key issues (maximum of 1500 words). A reflection piece is a highly focused reflective text rather than a report about something.
Case Studies - typically discussing practice and the application of theory via case studies (maximum of 3000 words).
Book reviews - These are only by invitation and should not exceed the 500 words.
*wordcount is inclusive of reference list, tables, illustrations and figures.
All submissions should follow the Harvard Referecning Style Guide, as follows:
A BOOK WITH ONE AUTHOR:
Citation order:Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title of book in italics. Edition number if relevant. Place of publication: Publisher.
Example:In-text citation:Thompson (2016, p.39) defines assessment as…
Reference list:Thompson, N. (2016) The professional social worker: meeting the challenge. 2ndedn. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
A BOOK WITH TWO OR THREE AUTHORS:
Citation order:Surname, Initial., Surname, Initial. and Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title of book in italics. Edition number if relevant. Place of publication: Publisher.
Example: In-text citation:Beesley, Watts and Harrison (2018) argue that communication skills…
Reference list:Beesley, P., Watts, M. and Harrison, M. (2018) Developing your communication skills in social work. London: Sage.
AN EDITED BOOK:
Citation order:Surname, Initial. (ed.) (Year of publication) Title of book in italics. Edition number if relevant. Place of publication: Publisher.
Example:In-text citation: There are various challenges when working with adults (Koubel, 2013)
Reference list: Koubel, G. (ed.) (2013) Social work with adults. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
A CHAPTER OR SECTION IN AN EDITED BOOK:
Citation order:Surname, Initial. [chapter author] (Year of publication) ‘Title of chapter or section in single quotations’ in Surname, Initial. [overall book editor] (ed.) Title of book in italics. Place of Publication: Publisher, page numbers.
Example:In-text citation: Elvidge (2013, p.46) suggests that vulnerable adults can be identified by…
Reference list: Elvidge, F. (2013) ‘Empowering and safeguarding vulnerable adults’ in Koubel, G. (ed.) Social work with adults. Maidenhead: Open University Press, pp. 41-60.
A JOURNAL ARTICLE:
Citation order:Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) ‘Title of article in single quotations’, Title of journal in italics, Volume number (Issue number in brackets), page numbers.
Example: In-text citation:Small, Pavlova and Sharma (2017) discuss cultural competencies…
Reference list:Small, E., Pavlova Nikolova, S. and Sharma, B. (2017) ‘Cultural competency in the global setting: are social work students prepared to serve in a culturally diverse world?’, British Journal of Social Work, 47(3), pp.666-682.
-You do not need to link to a webpage for online journal articles. However, if there is a doi (digital object identifier), which acts as permanent link to an article, then you may wish to add that at the end of the reference after the page numbers as follows:
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcw050
A WEBPAGE WITH AN AUTHOR OR ORGANISATION AUTHOR
Citation order: Surname, Initial. OR organisation. (Year of publication or lasted updated) Title of webpage in italics. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
Example:In-text citation: Barnard (2018) discusses the impact of poverty on UK families…
Reference list: Barnard, H. (2018) Poverty is taking a hold on UK families – what can we do?Available at: https://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/poverty-taking-hold-families-what-can-we-do(Accessed: 17 July 2018)
TIP!If there is no date available you should use (no date) to indicate this.
A GOVERNMENT POLICY OR PUBLICATION:
Citation order: Name of government department (Year of publication) Title in italics. Place of publication: publisher [if available] OR Available at: URL (Accessed: date) [if online]
Example:In-text citation: In a recent examination of adult social care the Department of Health & Social Care (2018) set out…
Reference list: Department of Health & Social Care (2018) Adult Social Care: Quality matters. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643716/Adult_Social_Care_-_Quality_Matters.pdf(Accessed: 16 May 2018)
OTHER ORGANISATIONS' POLCIIES OR PUBLICATIONS:
Citation order: Surname, Initial. OR Organisation (Year of publication)Title in italics. Place of publication: publisher OR Available at: URL (Accessed: date) [if online]
Example:In-text citation: Research conducted by Cafcass and Women’s Aid (2018) found that…
Reference list: Cafcass and Women’s Aid (2018) Allegations of domestic abuse in child contact cases. Available at: https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/download/3823/(Accessed: 23 February 2018)
LAW REPORTS/CASES - NEUTRAL CITATION:
Citation order: ‘Name of parties involved in case’ (Year) Court, case number. Databases or website in italics[Online]. Available at: URL (Accessed: date)
Example:In-text citation: In the case of ‘CM v FC’ (2017) a decision was made…
Reference list: 'CM v FC' (2017) England and Wales High Court (Family Division) Decisions, case 1104. BAILII[Online]. Available at: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2017/1104.html(Accessed: 13th August 2018).
FOUR OR MORE AUTHORS:
You should always list all of the authors in the reference list, even if there are a lot of them. However, when there are four or more authors you are allowed to use et al. as an abbreviation in your in-text citation. This is applied across all types of references.
Example:In-text citation:Scourfield et al. (2012) presented their findings on…
Reference list:Scourfield, J., Tolman, R., Maxwell, N., Holland, S., Bullock, A. and Sloan, L. (2012) ‘Results of a training course for social workers on engaging fathers in child protection’, Children & Youth Services Review, 34(8), pp.1425-1432.