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Affective Science - *CLOSED* Call for Papers: Structural Racism and Affective Science


Guest Editor:    

Lasana Harris, Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, UK


Theme of the Special Issue:

The recent wave of social unrest in response to the killing of George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and others has thrust structural racism into the spotlight. During this moment, we can all reflect on the fact that discriminatory behavior still exists towards people of African, Latinx, and Asian descent in many countries.  In light of these facts, we have focused this special issue on structural racism and affective science.

We invite theoretical and opinion papers, literature reviews/meta-analysis, and empirical papers that (1) reimagine how the scientific process might work in affective science to reduce structural racism and (2) examine the associations between structural racism and affective processes.

In terms of reducing structural racism in affective science, we are interested in changes that could be made to any part of our scientific processes, from student recruitment and retention, and career mentorship to participant selection, research questioning and hypothesis testing, paradigm selection, operationalisation, statistical analysis, peer reviewing, and publication.  In terms of examining the associations between structural racism and affective processes, we are interested in papers that examine both directions of influence.  Thus, for example, we welcome research on the affective states that foster structural racism, the role that affect plays in reducing racism, and affective consequences for those who encounter structural racism chronically in their lives.

We welcome contributions from multiple disciplines and interdisciplinary collaborations including – but not limited to – psychology (social, political, developmental, cultural, cognitive, psycholinguistics, etc.), political science, philosophy, economics, sociology, evolutionary anthropology, communication science, computer science, and neuroscience. At Affective Science, affective processes are broadly construed, and include emotion, mood, stress, motivation, reward processes, and affective evaluations.

  • Specifications for theoretical/opinion articles: limit to 4,000 words (including all main text, any footnotes, and acknowledgements). Abstract to be no longer than 150 words. There are no limits on figures, tables, or references.
  • Specifications for meta-analysis/literature review articles: limit to 2,000 words (including all introductory and discussion material in the main text, any footnotes, and acknowledgements). Abstract to be no longer than 150 words. Method and Results have no word limits for meta-analyses. There are no limits on figures, tables, or references.
  • Specifications for full length empirical articles: limit to 2,000 words (including all introductory and discussion material in the main text, any footnotes, and acknowledgements). Abstract to be no longer than 150 words. Method and Results have no word limits. There are no limits on figures, tables, or references.
  • Specifications for brief reports: limit to 750 words (including all introductory and discussion material in the main text, any footnotes, and acknowledgements). Abstract to be no longer than 150 words. Method and Results have no word limits. Maximum of two figures or tables and 20 references.
  • Supplemental materials/results may be submitted with the article and will be part of the review process. We will not publish supplemental material that is un-reviewed (SOM-U).


Articles will undergo all of the journal's standard peer review and editorial processes outlined in its submission guidelines (this opens in a new tab).

Proposals are due by August 1, 2020. Authors who are invited to submit a full article will be notified by September 1, 2020. Full manuscripts will be due by December 1, 2020, with the plan to finalize the special issue by 2021.

Proposals should be one-page double spaced. For research articles, a description of the question, participants, design, methods, and results are required. Data collection must be completed and data must be fully analysed at the time of submission. For theoretical articles, include a synopsis of the major themes of the paper.  For literature reviews / meta-analyses, a full description of the methods for searching the literature should be explained, as well as inclusion and exclusion criteria. Proposals can be submitted through structuralracism.AFFS@gmail.com (this opens in a new tab).

Any questions can be directed to Lasana Harris (lasana.harris@ucl.ac.uk (this opens in a new tab)).  

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