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Manuscript Requirements

Manuscripts should be no more than 7,000 words, including references. Manuscripts should be formatted according to the following guidelines:

  1. Manuscripts must follow APA 7th edition guidelines (Information is available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/)
  2. Include a title page containing the contact information for each author (affiliation, address, telephone number, and e-mail address).
  3. Include an abstract of 150 words or less. Include 5-6 keywords or descriptors for indexing purposes.
  4. Begin each section on a separate page and in this sequence: title page, abstract, main text, appendix, references, table(s), and figure(s).
  5. All manuscript components should be double spaced. Tables must be set up using Microsoft Word's table tool. Footnotes and endnotes are not accepted.
  6. Manuscripts should be left justified with a ragged right-hand margin (no full justification).
  7. All citations must be included and properly referenced in the text. All references must be listed alphabetically in the Reference section at the end of the article. APA 7.0 formatting must be used.
  8. SDI strictly adheres to the use of non-sexist language. Any material deviating from the use of non-sexist language will be returned to the author for revision.
  9. The Editorial Board and reviewers use blind peer review to eliminate bias and expose any practice of plagiarism. SDI seeks only original contributions, with a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism.
  10. Manuscripts should be submitted by e-mail as a Microsoft Word document (.doc) or in rich text format (.rtf).

General questions about the journal should be directed to: Dr. Alice Butterfield, Chair and Treasurer of the SDI Board of Managers. Email: akj@uic.edu

Challenges in Social Development

Challenges in Social Development allows scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders to comment on developments that do not necessarily emerge from formal research projects but are nonetheless of immediate relevance to the social development field. They might address, for example, the consequences of shifts in international development assistance for local programs and partnerships, the ethical and practical implications of artificial intelligence in social development, innovations in climate and migration response, or the impact of democratic backsliding on inclusive governance. We invite our readers to consider the broader political, cultural, and technological forces shaping social development today. The suggested length for submissions is 1,000 to 1,500 words.

Innovations in Social Development: From the Field

Innovations in Social Development: From the Field invites authors to share their direct engagement in social development practice. Pieces may, for instance, explore how practitioners, community leaders, and scholar-activists confront and navigate power inequalities, build coalitions across governmental and non-governmental actors, promote sustainability through community and locality-based initiatives, or contribute to social change through public service and political participation. The aim is to foster mutual learning and highlight the challenges and innovations involved in translating the principles of social development into everyday action. Submissions should range from 1,500 to 2,000 words and may include authors who are not based in academic institutions but who offer valuable perspectives and expertise from the field.

Book Review

The Book Review section engages with newly published works relevant to the social development field. Reviews are welcomed for books addressing themes such as poverty, inequality, social justice, policy innovation, human rights, community capacity-building, sustainability, and social and political inclusion. The proposed length for book reviews is 800 to 1,200 words.

The purpose of a book review is to provide readers with information so that they may make an informed decision about reading the book. A book review should provide an appropriate balance between description and a fair and thoughtful analysis. It is the reviewer's job to describe the main points of a book in a thorough manner, and to offer critical analyses of its strengths and weaknesses.

  • Book review of a single text: 3-5 double-spaced pages (850-1250 words)
  • Book review of multiple texts: 4-8 double-spaced pages (1000-2000 words)

Book Review Guidelines

  1. Read: Read the book carefully. Take notes on parts that have a special impact.
  2. Quality of Writing: Look for the author's writing style, organization, and purpose, and for the book's substance. Is the writing style understandable for the intended audience?
  3. Introductory Paragraph: Provide an introductory paragraph that describes the main thesis of the book and its specific objectives.
  4. Summary of the Content: Provide a brief summary of the main purpose/ goals of the book. This can include a discussion of chapters/appendices, etc. Describe the book in enough detail so that the reader is informed of all major points. Are the major topics and information in the book described adequately yet concisely in the review?
  5. Knowledge Building: Provide details about the book's relation to the knowledge base. Does the book contribute to the existing literature and knowledge on the subject? If so, how? Why or why not?
  6. Strengths and Weaknesses: Address both the strengths and weaknesses when critiquing the book, offering both praise and criticism. Does the review discuss both strengths and weaknesses of the book by using examples when appropriate?
  7. Use of Quotations: Selected quotations from the book may be used to support the points made by the reviewer. Direct quotations should not be overused. This makes the book review too long and will take away space from the reviewer's analysis.
  8. Conclusion: Conclude the book review with a brief summary and an overall assessment of the book. How well did this book achieve its purpose? What audience(s) would find this book useful? How might scholars, practitioners and/or students use this book?

Book Review Formatting

The book review should include the reference information at the top of the review. Follow the exact formatting shown in the examples for an authored book or an edited book: Author( s) or editor( s ), date of publication, title, place of publication, publisher, ISBN, number of pages, DOI number.

Midgley, J. (1995). Social development: The developmental perspective in social welfare. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN 0-8039-7773-5, 194 pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446221839

Pawar, M.S., & Cox, D.R. (2010). Social development; Critical themes and perspectives. NY: Routledge, ISBN: 978041581100-2, 260 pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203847015

Other Specific Style Guidelines

  • Follow the guidelines in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th Edition) for all citations.
  • Double-space, Times Roman 12 pt. font, MSWord with 1" margins
  • Number the pages (page 1 or 4) in the top right hand margin of the header
  • Keep special formatting to a minimum, but italicize all book titles referenced within the text of the review.
  • It is not necessary to provide evidence by using direct quotations from the text(s) to support your claims. If you decide to use direct quotes, include page citations for quoted material--e.g., Midgley argues that “social development seeks to harmonize social interventions with economic development” (Midgley, 1995, p. 24).
  • Provide a reference list for other publications mentioned in the review.

Reviewer Information

  • Use italics and position at the right margin at the end of the review (as shown below in the example)
  • Reviewer's name and distinction (MSW, PhD., etc.)
  • Position
  • Department or Unit
  • Organization

Reviewers Name, Degree
Position
Organization
Location