About the Journal

Focus and Scope

The International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health & Social Care is for all health and social care professionals engaged in educational activities that foster the knowledge, skills and capabilities appropriate for the diverse and complex world of professional practice. It is designed for those colleagues who facilitate learning in practice settings, for academic colleagues, and for learners. The journal draws on educational theory, philosophy, policy, and applied and pedagogical research to inform any aspect of practice-based learning. This includes: placement learning, continuing professional development, problem based learning, patient learning and models of learning and teaching, assessment and evaluation. In providing an international forum for sharing new innovations and perspectives on education for practice around the world, it draws on the diversity and richness of differing educational cultures. It also acknowledges the increasing complexity of the practice context and its associated challenges for educators. It offers a forum for dialogue around research into and the development of practice-based learning. As such, it aims to have significant impact on scholarship in health and social care education, and ultimately, on the calibre of practitioners and the quality of health and social care provision.

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PUBLICATION ETHICS & MALPRACTICE STATEMENT

This Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement, for the International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health and Social Care, is based on the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors (Committee on Publication Ethics, 2011). The Journal is committed to following best practices on ethical matters, errors and retractions. The prevention of publication malpractice is of utmost importance and a priority for the journal editors and editorial board. 

DUTIES OF EDITORS

  1. Review of Manuscripts: The Editor-in-Chief and Co-Editors conduct an initial quality screening of submitted manuscripts for fit to the journal’s scope and for originality. The decision as to whether or not to send the manuscript out for peer review rests with them. Once screened the manuscript is assigned for double-blind peer review to two reviewers who are selected based on their specific area of expertise. Each reviewer will make a recommendation to accept, reject, or modify the manuscript. We endeavour to confine the review period to up to 120 days.
  2. Fair Play: The editor will ensure that each manuscript is treated fairly and is reviewed for its intellectual content without regard to sex, gender, race, religion, citizenship, etc. of the authors.
  3. Confidentiality: The editor will ensure that information regarding manuscripts submitted by the authors remains confidential.
  4. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: The editors of the journal will not make use of unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript for her/his own research without written consent of the author.
  5. Publication Decisions: Based on the review report of the editorial board, the editor can accept, reject, or request modifications to the manuscript.

 DUTIES OF AUTHORS 

  1. Reporting Standards: Authors must follow the submission guidelines for the journal.
  2. Originality, Plagiarism and Acknowledgement of Sources: Authors must ensure that the manuscript submitted is their original work and that it has not been published previously elsewhere. Submitting the same paper to more than one journal constitutes unethical publishing practice. Authors are responsible for accurately citing the work and/or words of others. The Open Journal System will ask authors to make a declaration stating that the manuscript and the illustrations within are original, or that s/he has taken all the necessary steps to avoid breach of copyright.
  3. Authorship of the Paper: Authorship should be limited to those who have actively contributed to the preparation of the manuscript. It is crucial that all listed authors have seen and agreed to the submitted version of the manuscript and their inclusion of names as co-authors.
  4. Fundamental Errors in Published Works: If, at any point of time, the author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in a submitted manuscript they are obliged to contact the editor and to provide retractions or corrections of mistakes.
  5. Conflict of Interest: Authors must notify the editors of any conflict of interest that could be construed as influencing the manuscript in any way. 
  6. Disclosure of Financial Support: Manuscripts must disclose any sources of financial support, if any. 

 DUTIES OF REVIEWERS

  1. Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers should immediately identify and decline to review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative or other relationships, or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions associated with a manuscript.
  2. Confidentiality: Reviewers must ensure that all Information regarding submitted manuscripts is kept confidential and is treated as privileged information.
  3. Acknowledgement of Sources: Reviewers must ensure that authors have cited all relevant published work referred to in the paper in the endnotes and reference list. Reviewers are responsible for bringing to the editor’s attention any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript and any other published work of which they are aware.
  4. Standards of Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively avoiding personal criticism of the author and providing constructive feedback with supporting arguments.
  5. Promptness: In the event that a reviewer feels it is not possible for her/him to complete the review of manuscript within stipulated timeline, s/he should notify the editor in a timely manner so that the manuscript can be reassigned to another reviewer.

Publication Frequency

The journal is published a minimum of two times per year.

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Archiving

This journal utilizes the LOCKSS system to create a distributed archiving system among participating libraries, and permits those libraries to create permanent archives of the journal for purposes of preservation and restoration.

Publisher

The International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health and Social Care is published by Coventry University.

Journal History

This journal was previously published by the Higher Education Academy. These previous issues are now available in our Archives.