Submission Guidelines

1. Timelines

2. Theme for the conference

3. Structure for Submissions

4. Presentation Methods

5. Refereeing Procedure

6. Further Information

Log into the new submission system. You will need to create an account if this is the first time you are submitting.

1. Timelines

Authors are strongly advised to register on the on-line submission system and begin preparing their submissions well in advance of the following deadlines:

April 2022 - Online submission system opens

18 July 2022 - Deadline for for orals, symposia, workshops, panels, and debates

18 August 2022 - Deadline for posters and 5 minute challenges

August - September 2022 - Notification of submission outcomes

2. Theme for the Conference

We welcome submissions for our “DSEP@30: Learning from the past, inspiring the future” conference. The conference themes are:

1. Sport and performance

2. Exercise and health

3. Applied practice

4. Expanding horizons (e.g., new and emerging themes, novel communities, sport and exercise psychology in the broader world etc)

3. Structure for Submissions

All submission abstracts should be up to 250 words, exclusive of the title. APA format, including citations but without list of references, is required for all abstracts. Abstracts should be written in either the past or present tense. Abstracts of accepted papers will be available to download on the conference website.

Abstracts must be structured according to the following format, incorporating the indicated headings and information:

Experimental and applied papers/posters:

• Objectives: State the primary objective of the paper, the need for the study in the extant literature, and the major hypothesis tested or research question posed; 
• Design: Describe the design of the study and the rationale for the procedures adopted; 
• Methods: Describe how participants were selected and number of participants (if documentary data used, state how these were selected), materials employed (if appropriate), methods of data collection and analysis; 
• Results: Include numerical and/or textual data. For qualitative analyses briefly describe your findings (e.g., themes, discourses identified); 
• Conclusions: State the conclusions that can be drawn from the study, including theoretical, methodological and/or applied/policy implications as appropriate and any key limitations of the study. 

Review/Theoretical and Practice applicable papers/posters:

• Purpose: State the aim or primary objectives of the paper; 
• Background: Give a concise summary of information, which places the present paper in context;
• Methods: Provide details of the procedures adopted and their rationale (e.g., literature search, inclusion/exclusion criteria and methods of analysis) and/or key arguments and theoretical positions. 
• Conclusions: State the conclusions that can be drawn from the work described, including theoretical, methodological or applied/policy implications as appropriate and any key limitations of the study. 

Case Studies:

• Purpose: State the aim or primary objectives of the paper;
• Background: Give a concise summary of information, which places the present paper in context. Applied submissions should adopt a scientist-practitioner perspective, providing key references for the theoretical background underlying the applied program/intervention discussed;
• Methods: Provide a justification for using a single case-study approach with regard to the phenomenon being illustrated, and demonstrate the theoretical argument for the particular systematic tool that is used;
• Conclusions: State the conclusions that can be drawn from the work described, including theoretical, methodological and/or applied/policy implications as appropriate and any key limitations of the study. 

Workshops, Debates, “In Conversation with…” Panels:

• Background: Provide a concise summary of information, which places the session in context, this includes the aims/learning objectives of the sessions and the expected outcomes for participants. 
• Key points: Provide details of key arguments or the skills and activities covered. If a debate or panel, please list members involved and why they have been chosen.
• Conclusions: State the conclusions that can be drawn from the work/activities described, including implications as appropriate and who the session is targeted at

In previous years the most frequent reasons submissions were rejected included; 

• Failure to meet the submission criteria (particularly by not following the required structured abstract format, omitting information or details that must be evident in the submission)

• Lack of a relevant theoretical background evident in the abstract

• Lack of findings or results because the study has not yet been completed*

• Any submission not received via the online system will not be reviewed 

*We note that any “work in progress” abstracts (e.g., students still completing MSc projects or case studies) would only be acceptable in the 5 minute challenge or poster presentation formats (see second deadline). For “work in progress” abstracts for posters, studies should be completed and ready to present in full by the conference.

4. Presentation Methods

The Conference Committee welcomes submissions from both academics, students, and practitioners, and welcomes all career stages. The quality of the scientific programme depends on your submissions and we thank you for choosing this conference to present your work.

• Oral Presentations
  • 15 minute presentation (12 minute presentation with 3 minutes for questions)
• Workshop
  • The workshops involve active participation through interactive discussions, demonstrations, and/or experiential learning. It can be a research workshop (e.g., research methods, scientific writing) or an applied workshop (e.g., sharing of professional practice strategies). They are interactive sessions aimed at the development of professional skills and expertise. The Conference Committee welcomes workshops which do not follow the normal pattern of formal presentations. Workshops will ideally incorporate interactive components. Workshops will be judged in terms of interest and quality. Workshops will typically be allocated 90 minutes, though please indicate on submission if longer is required.
• Five Minute Challenge
  • Five Minute Challenge presentations will be grouped together depending on theme. These presentations will be short, 5 minute presentations, where the emphasis is on presenting new research ideas or applied case studies in a dynamic and succinct presentation. This format is ideal for early career presenters, or more experienced presenters who might want to get across work in development in a shorter presentation format. The goal is to adopt an energetic approach that captures the interest of a broad audience.
• Poster Presentations
  • Will be timetabled into the conference programme in sessions which provide an opportunity for presenters and participants to discuss work and findings. Further information regarding the dimensions of the poster boards and suggestions of how to display poster material will be supplied to presenters who have their posters accepted. 
• “In conversation with…” panels
  • This is a new format proposed for the DSEP 2022 conference. This can be a live 1:1 “in conversation with…” interview, or take more of a panel format. There is a broad scope for content of this format and we are happy to be guided by submitting authors; examples may include “In conversation with an experienced applied practitioner” or “in conversation with a panel of experts (i.e. Journal editors) on publishing in sport and exercise psychology”. It is envisaged that this will be allocated ~60 minutes in the programme, with time included for Audience Q and A.
• Debates
  • This is also a new format proposed for the DSEP 2022 conference. Debates should have a coherent and specific topic defined, a chair who will facilitate the debate, and 4-6 individuals named who will participate in the debate. It is envisaged that this will be allocated ~60 minutes in the programme.
• Symposium on hot topics
  • A symposium is a set of papers linked by a common theme (typically 3-5 presenters). A symposium must have a Convenor, who organises the symposium submission and acts as the responsible link person to the conference organisers and (optionally) a named Discussant. The same person can fulfil these roles. Symposia will usually be allocated 90 minutes for papers plus discussion.

5. Refereeing Procedure

Reviewers will be assessing each submission on a number of criteria: 

• Contribution to knowledge
• Practical application of knowledge
• New insight into the issues it addresses
• Methodological thoroughness
• Originality
• Potential interest to the conference audience
• Written quality 

Each submission is blind reviewed by at least two members of the Conference Committee according to established criteria and standards.

Please note: 

- Submissions will be considered solely on the information you provide

- If a submission does not evidence all the required elements set out in the submission information above it will be rejected 

- From time to time referees may feel that a particular submission lends itself to a different format to that which is proposed and in these cases authors will be invited to consider an alternative format. 

- Authors will be notified of the referees’ decision via email. The decision of referees is final. The conference organising committee are unable to respond to further enquiries once a decision has been made. Every effort will have been made to accommodate any timetable constraints notified at the time of submission.

5. Further Information

Registration

All presenters are expected to register and pay at the appropriate rate. Registration is open from Tuesday 3^rd May 2022.

Prizes

There will be five prizes on offer at this years’ conference, each receiving £50. You will need to note on the abstract submission form if you would like to be considered for an award (and if so, which). The awards are:

· Best student* presentation (from oral or symposia presentation)

· Best student* poster 

· Best overall presentation (oral or symposia presentation made by a non-student)

· Best overall poster (by a non-student)

· Best workshop, panel or debate

· Best 5 minute challenge

*Eligibility criteria include either currently registered on a University course and/or enrolled on the BPS Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP).

Press Office

If successful, your submission may be considered suitable for a press release, timed to coincide with the conference. If this is so, a Press Officer will contact you to ask whether you wish your submission to be press released, and to discuss the content of the press release with you. To write an accurate press release, and to provide more information for journalists attending the conference, you may be asked for additional information regarding your submission. Please note all papers and posters are under a media embargo until the day of presentation. We also encourage attendees and presenters to capture some of their own photographs which the division could then share on social media.

Audio visual requirements

A data projector and laptop will be available in all seminar rooms. If you are likely to require additional equipment, please indicate this when submitting your abstract.

Code of Conduct

Authors of all material submitted must confirm adherence to the British Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics and Conduct. Particular attention should be made to the section on Integrity and the importance of sub-sections 4.1iii and 4.1vi. Copies of the Code may be obtained from the Society’s website: http://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-code-ethics-and-conduct   

The use of non-sexist language

Submissions must not contain sexist language. The following suggestions are made about ways to avoid sexist language:

i)  Avoid using sex-specific forms generically. For example, use plurals they/their rather than he/she or his/her.

ii)  Delete pronouns – e.g., the participant completed his/her task becomes the participant completed the task.

iii) Avoid specifying the sex of the referent unless it is relevant – e.g., use counsellor, client or participant.

iv) Avoid making sex-stereotyped assumptions about people, their abilities, attitudes and relationships.

Guidelines for Psychologists Working with Animals

When submitting material, please note the guidelines for psychologists working with animals. Copies of these guidelines can be obtained online: http://www.bps.org.uk/publications/policy-and-guidelines/research-guidelines-policy-documents/research-guidelines-poli 

SACWAP guidelines

When submitting material, please note the SACWAP guidelines dealing with the use of animals in psychological research. Copies of these guidelines can be obtained from the Leicester Office.

Contact 

Email: bpssubmissions@redactive.co.uk  

Website: www.bps.org.uk/events