1. Who can submit
JHSS publishes work authored by students currently enrolled in grades 9–12 (or the international equivalent) at the time of submission. Papers may be single-authored or co-authored by a team of students. A mentor, teacher, or advisor may be acknowledged, but the intellectual work and writing must be the students' own.
2. Scope & fields
We consider rigorous research on people, societies, institutions, and behavior across the full range of the social sciences, including:
- Anthropology and Archaeology
- Economics, including behavioral and experimental economics
- Political Science, International Relations, and Public Policy & Administration
- Sociology and Social Work & Social Policy
- Psychology and Cognitive Science
- Human Geography and Demography
- Linguistics and Communication & Media Studies
- Education
- Criminology and Law & Legal Studies
- Gender & Cultural Studies
- Economic & Social History
Interdisciplinary work that combines two or more of these fields is welcome.
3. Accepted paper types
| Type | Description | Typical length |
|---|
| Original research | Empirical study with your own data collection (survey, experiment, fieldwork). | 5,000–10,000 words |
| Secondary data analysis | Original analysis of an existing dataset to answer a new, well-defined question. | 5,000–10,000 words |
Note: JHSS publishes only empirical and analytical research. Replication studies, literature reviews, essays, and opinion or position papers are not accepted — every manuscript must present original data or original analysis. (A literature-review section within an empirical paper is still expected; see §4.)
File & layout
- Submit a .docx or .pdf file, double-spaced, 12-point serif font, with numbered pages.
- Anonymize the manuscript: remove author names, school names, and identifying details from the body and file properties for blind review.
- Include a separate title page (not anonymized) with title, author name(s), grade level, school, and contact email.
Required sections (research papers)
- Abstract (150–250 words) and 3–6 keywords.
- Introduction stating the research question and why it matters.
- Literature review / background.
- Methodology — described in enough detail to be evaluated and reproduced.
- Results / findings.
- Discussion including limitations.
- Conclusion.
- References in a single, consistent style (APA 7th edition recommended).
Tip: Reviewers in Round 1 focus on contribution and methodology. A clear, honest methods section — including what your study cannot show — does more for your chances than polished prose.
5. Ethics & integrity
- All work must be original and unpublished. Submitting the same paper to another journal at the same time is not permitted.
- Cite every source. Plagiarism or undisclosed use of others' work results in desk rejection.
- If your research involves human participants (surveys, interviews, experiments), describe how you obtained informed consent and protected participants, especially if they are minors.
- Disclose any use of AI tools and any assistance received from mentors or advisors.
6. Review process & timeline
JHSS guarantees a complete review report within two weeks of each submission, with a maximum of three review rounds. A $100 fee applies to each round, paid securely via PayPal in the portal.
We don't waste your time. Round 1 is a decisive go/no-go gate. If a paper is not publishable, we decline it in the first round — with clear reasons — rather than carrying you through revisions that cannot end in acceptance. Approximately 30% of submissions pass Round 1.
| Stage | Focus | Turnaround |
|---|
| Desk check | Scope, formatting, ethics, anonymization | 1–2 days |
| Round 1 (decisive gate) | Contribution & validity of methodology — ~30% advance | Within 2 weeks |
| Round 2 | Resolution of major concerns; evidence & clarity | Within 2 weeks of resubmission |
| Round 3 | Final polish, verification, decision | Within 2 weeks of resubmission |
Possible decisions at each round: Accept, Minor revisions, Major revisions (resubmit), or Decline. See the Editorial Policy for full criteria and rubrics.
7. How to submit
Prepare your anonymized manuscript and separate title page, then create an account and submit through the JHSS submission portal. You will upload your file, pay the $100 round fee via PayPal, and receive a submission ID. Your two-week review clock begins at desk-check confirmation, and you can track decisions, exchange messages with the editor, and upload revisions all in the portal.
Go to the Submission Portal → Read the Editorial Policy