Manuscript Categories
Manuscripts may take any of the following forms:
Research Papers: Both quantitative and qualitative research papers are encouraged. Such reports describe the design and methodology, and present the results of a study of an innovation or the application of theory to the facilitation of learning with technology. They typically contain a statement of problem or description of the issue to be explored, a review of the research literature, a section describing research methodology, the results of the study, and implications for future research. Research papers must have a word count within 4000-7000 words, including all references, appendices, tables, and figures.
Literature Reviews: Literature reviews can be in the form either of a qualitative or a quantitative summary (i.e., meta-analysis). Reviews explore the research literature on a topic in order to determine major issues of importance for future research, to understand these issues in relation to theory and application, to find the frontier of research on a problem, to relate a problem to existing theory, or to put a conceptualized problem in the context of previous research. Literature reviews must have a word count within 4000-7000 words, including all references, appendices, tables, and figures.
Critical Scholarship: Scholarship in this category involves working within contemporary alternative research paradigms, grounded in critical theory, philosophy, narrative studies, postmodern and post-structural studies, historical research, discourse analysis, post colonial and feminist studies. These papers typically identify and explicate the type of analysis to be used, followed by the analysis itself. Submissions must have a word count within 4000-7000 words, including all references, appendices, tables, and figures.
Position Papers: Position papers can describe a problem or an issue, then suggest a solution or direction. They should support the position with both logical argument and a review of theory and/or the research literature. Submissions must have a word count within 4000-7000 words, including all references, appendices, tables, and figures.
Case Studies: Case studies describe a particular case setting or event, and a problem or issue within that narrow framework. They present what theory and/or the research literature reports on the problem or issue, what was done to try to solve or explore it, the results of the project, and implications and suggestions for others. Case studies must have a word count within 4000-7000 words, including all references, appendices, tables, and figures.
Book Reviews: The CJLT welcomes book reviews that fall within the aims and scope of the journal (maximum of 4000 words). Following is a resource for writing and critiquing academic books: http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/book-review. If you are interested in submitting a book review to CJLT, please contact our Book Review Editor (cjlt@ualberta.ca).
Notes Section
Special sections for written treatises are available in some scientific journals. These sections are meant to differentiate between the protocols of regular publishing and the more creative and novel writing, although still focused on the same field of study or discipline available in special sections. These additional sections are, in writing and perspective, bringing something new to the current narrative and offering opportunity for further debate. (Spoelstra, 2017).
The Notes section is a place for applicable reports and discussion of germane current issues. Non-empirical reviews of current and potential future states of our field are also included. Published documents in this section of CJLT are not double-blinded or peer-reviewed. They are most often included at the request of the Editors and are normally below 4000 words. These publications are offered to contextualize and reference the research articles in the main section of a CJLT issue. Currently, CJLT issues include a minimum of five empirical peer-reviewed research articles in each of at least three issues per year. Documents in the Notes and Book Review sections are included when available.
Spoelstra, S. (2017). A note on notes: On the rise of 'special sections' in academic journals. Ephemera, 17(3), 609-618
Section Policies
Editorial: Indexed
Articles: Open Submissions, Indexed, Peer Reviewed
Research Report: Indexed
Book Review: Indexed
Canadian Journal of Educational Communication (1982 – 2002): Indexed
Media Message (1972-1981): Indexed
