Submissions

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Submission Preparation Checklist

As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.
  • IMPORTANT: IN ORDER TO SUBMIT, YOU MUST REGISTER WITH DSJ. THE REGISTER BUTTON IS DISABLED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE EMAIL dsjadulteducation@gmail.com and request a user name and password.
  • Reviewed Section Guidelines
  • Blinded Manuscript (if required)
  • Conforms to APA 7
  • Cover Page
  • Authors must have an online account before they can submit a manscript for review. Please email DSJ Editors for the online account registration and access, or Managing Editor, Bryndle L. Bottoms (bbottom3@uncc.edu)

  • Image & Bio
  • Written permissions for Copyrighted Material

Author Guidelines

DSJ seeks to publish manuscripts focused on issues of equity, diversity and social justice in adult education. Scholarly work that pushes the boundaries of theory and practice, and engages alternative voices in adult education is encouraged. Manuscripts that highlight social in/action, equity issues, and creative strategies for promoting social justice through adult education are also welcomed.

All manuscript submissions must be in Microsoft Word, Times New Roman 12-pt font, double-spaced with one-inch margins and numbered pages. Each submission must conform to the most recent edition (7th) of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

A cover page must be submitted as a separate supplementary file. It should include

  • title of manuscript
  • all authors' names, affiliations, 2 line bio, and contact information for the lead author
  • indication of submission type
  • declaration that the manuscript is original and has not been published before in part or whole
  • declaration that the manuscript is not currently under review by another journal or publishing outlet
  • declaration that all authors approve and agree to submit the manuscript to this journal
  • disclosure of competing interests if applicable (a financial, commercial, legal, or affiliation -professional, organizational - that could influence your research)
  • acknowledgement of financial support with grant numbers (if applicable, must be included in the main text)
  • suggestions for potential reviewers with contact information (must have earned doctorate in related area)

Submission should also include 

  • photo of each author must also be submitted as a jpeg file (size:130x500 pixels; approximately 1mb). To ensure a blind peer review, the photo file must also be uploaded separately as an image supplementary file. Photos larger than specified cannot be loaded into the system. Alternatively, you may also embed your photo within a word document for submission which must also be uploaded separately as a supplmentary file. You may submit this after the manuscript has been accepted for publication.

To facilitate the double-blind review process for full-length manuscripts,

  • the author's name must be removed from the main text, the in-text citations, the reference list, and any running heads.
  • Please replace the author's name with Author. If there are multiple authors, please use Author1, Author2, etc. and any identifying information such as name of publication, issue of publication, etc. from the reference list
  • Remove any identifying metadata from Microsoft Word Files
    • How to Remove Metadata from Microsoft Word Files
      1. Select the File menu tab and then select Info , if necessary.
      2. Select Check for Issues and then select Inspect Document .
      3. In the Document Inspector dialog box, check the boxes to inspect for certain data and then click Inspect .
      4. In the results, select Remove All to remove any found data.
  • If the author's name(s) is not removed, the manuscript will be returned without review.

DSJ accepts multiple types of submissions. Text based manuscripts should have well-formulated arguments, have solid conceptual and/or empirical bases, and be well-organized. Manuscripts are expected to contribute in a significant way to the advancement of social justice in adult education.

 

Articles

Full-length manuscripts can be theoretical, empirical research-based, or practice/policy-based. Each must address how the work informs social justice in adult education. The application can be in any adult education context: workplace, higher education, community, formal, informal, nonformal, etc.

Note: DSJ accepts

  • original empirical research-based articles that use historical, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methodologies. Clear exposition of the research purpose, hypothesis/research questions, methods, results/findings, and implications are expected.
  • Theoretical articles should clearly identify the issue, provide a rigorous analysis of the literature, and well-formulated arguments.
  • Practice-based/policy based manuscripts are expected to outline the social context and application of theory or research to practice. These can take the form of case studies or case stories.

All full-length manuscripts should conform to the following general structure:

  • Cover Page
  • Abstract (not to exceed 150 words)
  • Keywords (no more than 5)
  • Denotation of manuscript category (theoretical, empirical research-based, practice, policy)
  • Body of Manuscript (5000-7000; includes references, tables, figures, acknowledgments, appendices)
  • Acknowledgments (if any, ie financial support, written copyright permissions, IRB approval)
  • References (included in the word count)
  • Appendices (if any)
  • Manuscripts are double-blind peer-reviewed. Please remove all identifying author information from the text and references. Please submit the cover page and image file separately as supplementary files.

Reflections

Reflection essays on contemporary or historical issues related to equity and social justice in adult education should include the following:

  • Cover page
  • Identification of equity and social justice issues.
  • Clear exposition of the relation of the issue to adult education, including relevant literature as appropriate.
  • Acknowledgments (if any, ie financial support, written copyright permissions, IRB approval)
  • Reflections should be between 1200-3500 words.
  • Reflections are peer-reviewed.
  • Dialogue through prose is encouraged. Readers are welcome to develop reflection essays in response to the previously published full-length articles, reflections, or arts-based work.

Note: Reflection essays generally will be by invitation of the editors, but unsolicited reflection essays and responses which are reflections on previously published articles, essays, or arts-based work in the journal are also encouraged. Essays that examine the field of adult education from historical, sociological, and critical perspectives are encouraged as well as reflective commentaries on contemporary issues related to equity and social justice that clearly articulate the relationship to adult education. Essays that focus on highlighting the role adult education practice and theory might play in the future of social justice, both internationally and within the United States, are also sought. Reflection essays may include interviews with prominent adult educators in the field. Reflection essays may take the form of personal narrative, autoethnography, or expository essay. Arts-based submissions are also welcomed as a basis for reflection (photography, artwork, images, etc).

The Practice of Freedom

Practice of Freedom showcases the arts-based work (visual art, poetry, photography, artwork, images, poetry, Spoken Word, etc.) of locally, nationally, and internationally recognized artists, scholars, and practitioners whose work reflects the scope and mission of the journal.  The contributions are intended to both inspire and provoke reflection on how social justice operates in and shapes the field of adult education. Submissions are peer reviewed.

Please include:

  • Cover page
  • An artist's statement should accompany the arts-based work (50-250 words).
  • A brief description - two to three sentences describing the relevance to social justice may also be requested.
  • Non-text material may be submitted as a pdf.
  • Include acknowledgments (if any, ie financial support, written copyright permissions, IRB approval)

Book Review & Resources

Book reviews and resources related to equity and social justice in adult education should include the following:

  • Book reviews should be between 500-700 words.
    • Cover page
    • Full citation information for the book/resource.
    • A summary that provides a clear connection to adult education and social justice.
    • Book reviews are peer-reviewed.
    • The book review segment: Book review submission guidelines are as follows: 1) book must be a recent publication (3 years or less) or can be a review of a book that is considered a classic that highlights issues related to equity, diversity, or social justice in or related to adult education; 2) review offers an analytical critique of the book's content; 3) review is no more than 500-700 words; 4) review includes full citation information in APA 7 format. Books from other fields will be considered as long as the relevance to adult education is emphasized. If two reviews of the same book offer different perspectives that enhance the prospective reader's knowledge of the book, they will both be considered for publication though not within the same journal issue.
    • Include acknowledgments (if any, ie financial support, written copyright permissions, IRB approval)
  • Resources in practice should be between 1200-3000 words,
    • Cover Page
    • This is exclusive of the resource itself which might be a syllabus, guidelines for faciliating an activity, examples etc.
    • The description should explain the connection between adult education and social justice.
    • Resources in practice are peer-reviewed
    • The resources segment takes into consideration the various media in which social justice is taught, learned, and practiced. Consequently, we seek to include manuals, CDs, YouTube videos, visual arts imagery, blogs, links to websites, curriculum resources i.e. syllabi and other resources that promote discussion as well as strategies for and opportunities to engage with social justice activism, teaching, and research. In line with our international perspective, non-English language books and resources from other countries will be considered. Resources submission guidelines are as follows:  For a resource that is being recommended ie a film, podcast but not being described in terms of how it may be used in practice - 1) A brief description - two to three sentences describing the entry and its relevance to social justice. If an entry is considered of great relevance or attention or if a fuller description is required, it will be spotlighted with a longer description that will be requested by the editorial team. 2) full citation information in APA 7 format (when applicable). For a resource that is being described in terms of how to use and faciliate through practice - 1) a fuller description with theoretical foundations is required ( up to 3000 words). 2) A link to or examples from the resource should be included. 
    • Include acknowledgments (if any, ie financial support, written copyright permissions, IRB approval)

Note: Submissions for the book reviews and resources segment will be primarily by solicitation of the Book Review and Resources editor; however, unsolicited submissions that meet the book and resource review submission guidelines will be considered.

Copyright Notice

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

a. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

b. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

c. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

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