Author Guidelines: New Quantitative Techniques

Analytics accepts manuscripts highlighting advances in quantitative techniques in writing analytics. Of special interest are new statistical techniques associated with writing studies, educational measurement, massive data analysis, digital learning ecologies, and ethical interpretation and use of information.

Manuscripts calling attention to new methods will identify the new technique, establish the value of the contribution, provide an application of the technique, and propose directions for further research.

Analytics publishes detailed advances in statistical computing and graphical techniques of up to 6,000 words (approximately 24 double-spaced manuscript pages, including references).

The WAC Clearinghouse and the Journal of Writing Analytics endorse the Anti-Racist Scholarly Reviewing Practices. Accepted manuscripts will:

  • Appeal to a broad audience by defining key terms, using accessible language, and providing data visualizations
  • Qualify claims by foregrounding local contexts and avoiding unsupported assumptions about practices and people
  • Enact citational practices that build upon existing knowledge, engage a diverse body of scholarship, validate alternative ways of meaning making, and recognize alternative forms of expertise


Formatting References

References should be formatted using APA style. For instructions on formatting references, see the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition.

Formatting Text

Please adhere to the following guidelines for formatting the submission.

  • Use brackets to identify the type of submission BEFORE the manuscript title: [New Quantitative Techniques] Manuscript Title.
  • Upload submission in the Microsoft Word document file format.
  • Provide digital object identifier (DOI) URLs for references when available.
  • Double space text and use a 12-point Times New Roman font.
  • Use italics instead of underlining (except for URL addresses).
  • Place figures and tables at the end of the document. Use the phrase "Insert Table (or Figure) X here." to indicate their placement in the document.
  • Follow the instructions in Ensuring Anonymous Review for submissions to a peer-reviewed section of the journal.

The following titles should be used for the main section headings, and the issues below should be addressed for the corresponding sections.

Abstract

The abstract (250 words or less) is written in accessible language, presents a structured overview of the study, and uses the following headings: technique identification, value contribution, technique application, and future directions.

Technique Identification

The section identifies the technique under examination and explains its significance.

This section includes information on:

  • The origin and development of the technique under examination.
  • The research capability of the technique to advance writing analytics.

Value Contribution

This section includes information that positions the technique as it advances evidence related to fairness, validity, and reliability. Additionally, information should be provided that centers the technique in traditions such as classical test theory, generalizability theory, and item response theory. The proposed value should be very specific in terms of the power of the technique to add to the knowledge related to evidential categories of fairness, validity, and reliability.

Technique Application

The application section describes the usefulness of the technique. Examples should be used with existing data sets (such as those catalogued by the WAC Corpus Collection), so that readers will be able to quickly realize the force of the technique. Methodology here is important so that other researchers may use the technique in their own research. When possible, high-quality visualizations should be used to communicate the application.

Future Directions

The manuscript should conclude with directions for further research that the technique affords. Special attention should be paid to the principles that will guide future research.

Reviewers' Expectations

See the Reviewer Instructions for the review criteria used by reviewers of new quantitative techniques manuscripts.