Submissions

Author Guidelines

1. Focus and scope

methods, data, analyses (mda) is an international, peer-reviewed, diamond open access journal that advances the methodological and analytical foundations of the social sciences. We provide a platform for cutting-edge work on scientific methods, quantitative data analysis, data, and research software, with a strong commitment to transparency, reproducibility, and best practices in scientific conduct.

The journal places particular emphasis on two areas of research:

• Survey methodology and survey statistics – including innovative approaches to survey design, sampling, weighting and measurement, as well as advances in statistical modeling and inference for survey data. Contributions range from highly technical developments of new methods to innovative practical applications to improve data quality in empirical research.
• Computational social science and digital behavioral data – addressing the growing role of digital trace data, data from online platforms, and computational methods in the study of social phenomena. Topics include new forms of data collection, machine learning and network analysis, ethical and privacy concerns, and the integration of digital behavioral data with traditional social science approaches.

These focus areas highlight core disciplines of mda, but the journal also welcomes high-quality contributions from across the broader of social science methodology, data analysis, and research infrastructure.

mda aims to be an essential resource for researchers seeking to deepen their methodological knowledge, apply cutting-edge analytical techniques, and contribute to the ongoing advancement of rigorous social scientific inquiry.

2. Manuscript types

To support a wide range of contributions, mda publishes:

• Original research report. This category presents original research findings with methodological or theoretical relevance.
• Research note. This category is for shorter papers that may not have extensive results but still provide valuable insights for the field. Contributions should be concise, require less theoretical discussion, and focus more directly on presenting useful findings.
• Review. This category synthesizes the current state of knowledge on a methodological or analytical topic. This may be systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or narrative overviews that highlight developments, unresolved issues, and future directions.
• Commentary. This category offers an opportunity to engage with and critically reflect on previously published work. Commentaries may discuss findings, raise methodological concerns, or situate contributions within a broader scientific debate.
• Data report. This category describes and documents datasets that are relevant for the social sciences. It provides information on study design, data collection, variables, assessment of data quality, and potential applications, enabling other researchers to evaluate and re-use the data in their own work. We place a particular emphasis on digital behavioral data.
• Software report. This category presents new or existing software tools that are useful for methodological or analytical work in the social sciences. It should describe the purpose and functionality of the software, illustrate potential use cases, and discuss availability, licensing, and reproducibility aspects.

Before publishing, authors are requested to cite the data being used. Please state whether data is available, and where to access it. Authors using original data are requested to make their data available at a trusted digital repository or self-archive the data. Although private repositories such as github, OSF or Zenodo are sufficient, it is strongly recommended to publish the data at a trusted repository, for example at GESIS data services (Sharing research data). Exceptions might be granted in rare cases in which data is restricted to protect confidential or proprietary information. This must be justified in the submitted manuscript.

3. Submission package

The required submission materials depend on the manuscript category. Authors should ensure that their submission complies with the requirements listed below.

3.1. Manuscript files

For the following submission categories:

• Original Research Report
• Research Note
• Review
• Commentary

These categories are reviewed under a double-blind peer review process. Authors must submit:

• Manuscript (blinded; required). A version of the manuscript with all identifying information removed, including author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding information, and any self-identifying references.
• Manuscript (unblinded; required). A complete version of the manuscript including author names, affiliations, and all other identifying information.

For the following submission categories:

• Data Report
• Software Report

These categories are reviewed under an unblinded peer review process. Authors must submit:

• Manuscript (unblinded; required). A complete version of the manuscript including author names, affiliations, and all other identifying information.

3.2. Additional files

• Cover letter (optional). A brief letter to the editors may be included to highlight the contribution of the manuscript, explain its fit with the journal, or provide other relevant information. Any preprint or dissertation origins of the manuscript must be clearly disclosed in the cover letter.
• Other components (if applicable). Authors may upload additional files such as data, code, appendices, or other supporting documentation. These materials should be clearly labeled and referenced in the manuscript where appropriate.

4. Manuscript structure and style

4.1. Structure

All manuscripts should include the elements listed below, unless otherwise noted. Requirements regarding blinding apply only to submission categories subject to double-blind peer review.

• Title page (required).
• Blinded version (if applicable): title only.
• Unblinded version: full author names, affiliations, and correspondence details. The corresponding author should be clearly identified with institutional address and email.
• Abstract (required). Up to 250 words summarizing the manuscript.
• Keywords (required). Three to five keywords.
• Main content (required). The structure of the main text may vary by manuscript type (e.g., empirical report, review, data documentation, or software description), but should be clearly organized and appropriate for the submission category.
• Data and code availability statement (required). A statement describing the availability of data and code. A URL should be included that directly links to the materials. If data or code cannot be made openly available, a clear justification must be provided.
• Conflict of interest statement (required; unblinded manuscripts only). Declare any potential conflicts of interest. If none exist, explicitly state: “The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”
• Ethics statement (required; unblinded manuscripts only). For research involving human participants, indicate approval from the relevant institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee. If the study does not involve human subjects, this should also be stated.
• Funding information (if applicable; unblinded manuscripts only). List sources of funding, including grant numbers and the authors to whom the funding applies.
• Acknowledgments (if applicable; unblinded manuscripts only). Recognize individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria. Ensure permission is obtained before including names. Do not list funding sources here.
• References (required). Provide a complete and correctly formatted reference list.
• Appendices (if applicable). Additional material may be included as appendices, referred to in the main text, clearly titled, and ordered consistently.

4.2. Style and length

• Manuscripts must be written in English, using American English spelling.
• Manuscripts must follow APA Style (7th ed.), including headings, tables, figures, in-text citations, and reference list. For guidance, see the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) or the online APA Style and Grammar Guidelines. Examples:
• Numbers and Statistics
• Tables and Figures
• References
• Tables and figures should be placed directly in the manuscript, near where they are first mentioned.
• Use 12-point Roman font (e.g., Times New Roman) and double-spacing throughout.
• Use footnotes sparingly. Endnotes are not permitted.
• Ensure all tables and figures fit within the printable area of the page.

4.2.1. Length limits by manuscript type

The maximum manuscript length depends on the submission category (word counts exclude the title page, tables, figures, references, appendices, and supplementary materials):

• Original Research Reports: up to 12,000 words
• Reviews: up to 12,000 words
• Commentaries: up to 12,000 words
• Research Notes: up to 4,000 words
• Data Reports: up to 4,000 words
• Software Reports: up to 4,000 words

In rare cases, manuscripts exceeding these limits may be considered if they have the potential to make an exceptional contribution.

5. Technical requirements

• Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx).
• All figures and images must be of high quality: minimum 300 dpi for images, 500 dpi for line art.
• Figures and images should be raster-based (e.g., JPEG, PNG, TIFF).
• Equations must be editable within Microsoft Word (not included as images or graphics).
• Maximum file size for submission: 30 MB.

6. Decision categories

• Accept submission. It is ready to go to Copyediting as is.
• Revisions Required. It requires minor changes that can be reviewed and accepted by the editor.
• Resubmit for Review. It requires major changes and another round of peer review.
• Resubmit Elsewhere. It doesn’t seem like a good fit for the focus and scope of this journal.
• Decline Submission. It has too many weaknesses to be accepted.

7. Other policies

• Data and Code Availability. By submitting to mda, authors agree to make data and program routines publicly available to enable reproducibility and replication. If authors cannot share, they must provide a clear explanation in the “Data and Code Availability” statement.
• Use of AI Tools. mda follows APA guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI). If AI tools were used to assist in drafting or writing the manuscript, this must be explicitly declared, and the tool must be cited appropriately.