Author Guidelines

Instructions for Authors – Perspectivas em Análise do Comportamento

The journal Perspectivas em Análise do Comportamento aims to promote the dissemination of high-quality scientific production in basic, applied, and conceptual areas of Behavior Analysis. These instructions were designed to standardize submissions and ensure clarity, methodological rigor, and compliance with international scientific publishing standards. Authors are strongly encouraged to carefully read all guidelines before submission, as failure to comply with these requirements may result in desk rejection.

Editorial Screening (Desk Reject Criteria)

Manuscripts may be rejected immediately if they present:

• Inadequate language (non-academic Portuguese/English or serious grammatical issues)
• Lack of variable control or methodological rigor
• Low scientific relevance to the field
• Lack of original contribution (theoretical, empirical, or applied novelty)

Scope

The journal accepts submissions in the following categories:

• Experimental studies (single-case or group designs, with emphasis on experimental control)
• Systematic and scoping reviews
• Theoretical and conceptual analyses
• Case studies (with methodological rigor)
• Technical or technological reports
• Authorized translations of scientific relevance

Formatting (APA 7)

Table 1. Formatting specifications

All submissions must be sent as a single Word file (.docx), including title page, blinded manuscript, tables, figures, and all declarations. Additional files will be disregarded.

Manuscript Organization Checklist

Step 1: Title Page (Identified)

• Full title
• Authors’ names
• Institutional affiliation
• ORCID
• Corresponding author

Step 2: Blinded Manuscript

• No author identification in the text

Abstract (Portuguese version required)

• Must appear immediately after the title
• Write Resumo in bold, left-aligned
• 150–250 words
• Single paragraph
• No indentation
• No citations
• No uncommon abbreviations

Required content:

• Objective
• Method
• Results
• Conclusions

Abstract (English)

• Faithful translation of the Portuguese abstract
• Title Abstract in bold
• Same rules as above

Keywords

• Insert below the abstract

Formatting:

• Palavras-chave: (italicized)
• Keywords: (italicized)

Rules:

• 3 to 5 terms
• Separated by semicolons (;)
• Only the first word capitalized (except proper nouns)
• No period at the end

Example:

Palavras-chave: Análise do comportamento; Equivalência de estímulos; Controle de estímulos
Keywords: Behavior analysis; Stimulus equivalence; Stimulus control

References (APA 7)

• Start on a new page
• Title References (bold, centered)
• Alphabetical order
• Double spacing

Indentation (Hanging Indent)

• First line aligned left
• Subsequent lines indented 0.5 inch (1.27 cm)

How to do it in Word:

1. Select all references
2. Right-click → Paragraph
3. Under “Special indent”, select Hanging
4. Set to 0.5 inch (1.27 cm)

Step 3: Tables and Figures

Placement

• Insert in the body of the text
• Do not submit as separate files
• Must be cited in the text (e.g., “see Table 1”)

Size and readability

• Must be clear and legible in A4 format
• Avoid excessive information and small fonts

Editability

• Tables must be created using Word table tools (not images)
• Figures:
  • Preferably editable
  • Otherwise, high resolution

Numbering

• Table 1, Table 2…
• Figure 1, Figure 2…

Titles

• Number in bold
• Title in italics on the next line

Example:

Table 1
Participants’ performance across sessions

Notes

• Insert below the table/figure
• Use Note. (italicized)

Visual standards

• Prefer black and grayscale
• Avoid full gridlines
• Font between 10–12 pt

Ethics and Administrative Requirements

• ORCID required for all authors
• Conflict of interest statement
• Ethics committee approval (when applicable)
• Informed consent statement (when applicable)
• Funding statement

Author Contributions (CRediT)

Table 2. Contributor roles

Example:

Author contributions:
João Silva: CR, ME, AN, WR;
Maria Souza: ME, IN, CU, RV;
Carlos Pereira: SO, VA, VI;
Ana Oliveira: SU, AD, FI.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• AI cannot be listed as an author under any circumstances
• The use of AI for generating ideas, hypotheses, or conceptual structure is prohibited
• AI tools may be used only for limited technical support (e.g., grammar review), provided that:
  • Their use is explicitly declared
  • The purpose is described in the Author Note
• The journal may use AI detection tools
• Non-compliance may result in immediate rejection or retraction