Open Science Policy

As an open access journal, a founding mission of the Journal of Single Case in the Social Sciences is to promote transparency and openness of research by consulting the TOP guidelines.

Citation Standards  

  • Authors must use appropriate citation practices throughout the manuscript. Specifically, in reference to data used, and methods used, program code.  
  • For example, if the authors report quantitative indices as part of their data analytic plan citations should be provided for the method used and the statistical code (or online software tool) used to obtain the estimates.  

  

Data Transparency  

  • Authors must include a statement in the results section specifying the availability of the data. If data are not available, authors must state this. If data are available, authors must specify where to access them. We encourage authors to post all data to a trusted repository.  

  

Analytic Methods (Code) Transparency  

  • Authors must include a statement in the method section specifying the availability of the code. If the code is not available, authors must state this. If the code is available, authors must specify where to access it. We encourage authors to post all code to a trusted repository.  

  

Research Materials Transparency  

  • Authors must include a statement in the method section specifying the availability of the materials used in the study. If materials are not available, authors must state this. If the materials are available, authors must specify where to access them. We encourage authors to post all materials to a trusted repository.  

  

Design and Analysis Transparency  

  • For Primary Reports and Brief Reports, authors must consult the SCRIBE Guidelines to inform the write up of their report.  
  • For a Synthesis Report, authors must consult the PRISMA Guidelines to inform the write up of their report.  
  • For a Method Report, authors must consult the corresponding JARS Guidelines (likely the JARS-Quant) to inform the write up of their report.  

  

Study Preregistration and Analysis Plan Preregistration  

  • Authors must include a statement in the method section specifying if the study was preregistered. If the study was not preregistered authors need to specify this. If the study was preregistered, authors need to specify where to access it. The preregistration materials must be de-identified as they will be used during the peer review process.  

  

Replication  

  • Authors are encouraged to submit replication studies. A replication study could fit under any of the manuscript types accepted by the journal.  

  

Registered Reports  

  • The journal will accept registered reports. Any manuscript type could be a registered report. A brief overview of the registered report process is included below.  
  • Stage 1 submission includes the introduction and method. This will go through peer review. Upon acceptance of the Stage 1 submission the authors will preregister the agreed upon methodology. The authors will then carry out the study. The authors will then submit the Stage 2 submission which will include the introduction, method, results, and discussion. This will go through peer review. Upon acceptance of the Stage 2 submission the manuscript will be published.  
  • We encourage authors to contact the editors if they are interested in submitting a registered report to identify time lines and feasibility of the proposed study.