About
Aims & Scope
The aims of the journal, its subject coverage, and the types of article considered for publication.
Aims
Applied Social Science Research publishes empirical, theoretical and policy-oriented scholarship that addresses real-world social questions. The journal brings together research from across the social sciences, valuing methodological rigour, contextual depth and findings that inform practice and public policy. Manuscripts are evaluated through double-blind peer review and published open access.
Empirical, theoretical and policy-oriented research on the social questions of a changing world.
Scope
The journal publishes research across the following areas, and welcomes work that connects them.
- 01Sociology and social change
- 02Economics, development and inequality
- 03Education, learning and educational policy
- 04Psychology and behavioural science
- 05Public policy, governance and law
- 06Management, organisations and the world of work
- 07Media, communication and digital society
- 08Gender, equity and social inclusion
- 09Health and society
- 10Environment, sustainability and climate adaptation
- 11Migration, urbanisation and demography
- 12Research methods in the social sciences
Research domains
Each submission is classified under one of the journal’s 13 research domains, which also guide the selection of editors and reviewers.
- Sociology
- Economics & Development Studies
- Education
- Psychology & Behavioural Science
- Public Policy & Governance
- Law & Society
- Management & Organisation Studies
- Media, Communication & Digital Society
- Gender, Equity & Inclusion
- Health & Society
- Environment & Sustainability
- Migration, Urbanisation & Demography
- Social Research Methods
Article types
The journal considers 5 types of contribution:
- Research Article
- Review Article
- Short Paper
- Case Study
- Letter to the Editor
Criteria for publication
Reviewers assess every manuscript against the journal’s 10 published criteria:
- Originality and novelty
- Significance and impact
- Technical soundness
- Methodology and experimental design
- Literature review and referencing
- Clarity, structure and language
- Quality of figures and tables
- Statistical and analytical validity
- Conclusions supported by results
- Relevance to the journal's scope