Abstract
Psychological science is entering a transformative era—one defined by deep interdisciplinary exchange. From artificial intelligence (AI) and economics to health care and education, other fields are turning to psychology for foundational insights into human behavior and cognition. At the same time, psychological science is being reshaped by the tools, methods, and questions these disciplines bring in return. This two-way, symbiotic relationship is accelerating discovery and redefining what psychological science can be.
Despite these opportunities, meaningful scientific dialogue has become harder to sustain. The isolating effects of the pandemic, growing political polarization, and increasing specialization within and across fields have contributed to eroding the kind of open, cross-cutting conversations that drive progress. At Advances in Psychological Science Open (APSO), we believe it is time to restore that spirit of shared inquiry and generative exchange.
To celebrate and support the interdisciplinary power of psychological science, APSO will champion research that breaks out of disciplinary silos—work that blends perspectives, challenges conventions, and sparks new ways of thinking. We are especially excited by research that invites conversation—bold ideas that open doors rather than close them—using flexible and creative publication formats.
Whether you are reimagining health care through psychological theory, fusing neuroscience with engineering, or using psychology to inform AI design, APSO offers a platform to connect with a broad, curious, and engaged scientific community.
What We Publish
APSO is the home for interdisciplinary research that contributes to the evolution of science by blending psychology with other fields, pushing the boundaries of traditional methods and thinking. If your work
bridges psychological science with other disciplines;
challenges assumptions and offers fresh perspectives;
showcases a major scientific development;
provides clarity, rigor, and accessibility;
engages a wide scientific audience (not just specialists),
then APSO is the perfect journal for your work.
We see interdisciplinary innovation as a dynamic,
Still unsure? Drop us a short summary (one to two paragraphs) at
Article Types
We welcome a variety of article types, including empirical research, theoretical and conceptual discussions, technical innovations, and comprehensive reviews. We are also open to unconventional formats—if your work sparks a meaningful conversation or brings something fresh to the table, we want to see it!
Presenting the results of original, empirical research that bridges psychology with other disciplines, these articles offer fresh insights into psychological science and its real-world applications.
Engaging with theoretical and epistemological questions, these articles aim to extend or challenge existing psychological frameworks and introduce novel concepts that reshape how human behavior and cognition are understood.
Focused on technological advancements, these articles introduce new tools, technologies, or techniques that enhance psychological research, including computational modeling and innovative experimental designs. Video tutorials demonstrating these methods are also welcome.
These are timely, integrative perspectives that synthesize knowledge from across disciplines, highlighting key developments and charting the future trajectory of psychological science. We particularly welcome articles highlighting how psychological science has catalyzed progress in other fields—and how insights from those fields, in turn, have expanded the horizons of psychological inquiry.
These unsolicited pieces engage with previously published work, offering critiques, new perspectives, or extensions of the original research. Authors of the original articles have the opportunity to respond. The
These articles involve peer-reviewed research protocols before data collection begins. This process ensures that the study’s methodology is sound and well structured from the outset, making them ideal for high-risk, high-reward research projects.
Our Commitment to Dialogue
One of the unique features of APSO is our emphasis on dialogue. We believe that the future of psychological science lies in conversation—across disciplines, across methodologies, and across ideas. That is why we offer the
Available for all article types, this feature allows authors to invite written or verbal commentaries from members of the APSO community, fostering ongoing discussions and deepening the impact of their work. These dialogues can take place in written formats or as online events, such as live discussions or presentations at the annual APS convention.
We hope that this new option will foster a richer, more constructive dialogue, helping to generate new insights and inspire further collaboration among researchers from various fields. By facilitating these conversations, we aim to create a vibrant community of scholars who can learn from one another, push each other’s ideas further, and explore new ways of thinking. APSO is more than just a journal—it is a platform for connection, collaboration, and the collective advancement of knowledge.
Easy Submission Process: Focus on Ideas, Not Formatting
We understand that groundbreaking work does not always fit neatly into standard formats, and we are here to make sharing your research as easy as possible. At APSO, we prioritize content over formatting—as long as you meet the basic submission requirements, we will handle the rest once your manuscript is accepted. No need to worry about strict formatting rules at the submission stage—just focus on delivering your best ideas. We just need a few essentials to get your work under review:
We focus on the substance of your work—not the formatting—so no need to stress about word count or reference formatting during submission.
The Review Process: Fair, Constructive, and Transparent
We are committed to a review process that is rigorous but respectful of your time and ideas. Here is how it works:
Open Access and Article Processing Charge
APSO is an open-access journal, meaning your work will be freely available to everyone. To support this model, we charge an article-processing charge (APC) of $3,000 upon acceptance (if the corresponding author is an APS member at acceptance, the APC is reduced by 25%). However, if funding is an issue, we offer discounts or waivers—just reach out to APS for details.
Preprints and Embargoes
If your work has already been shared as a preprint or presented at a conference, you can still submit it to APSO—just be sure to disclose this in your submission. We do not impose embargoes for preprints, but for certain submissions (e.g., Registered Reports), we ask that you do not share results piecemeal before publication.
A Vision for the Future
The next decade in psychological science promises to be one of immense change as new technologies, fresh interdisciplinary collaborations, and evolving questions continue to redefine the landscape. APSO is proud to be a part of this new horizon, serving as a platform for work that pushes the boundaries of psychological science and extends its reach into other fields.
We invite you to be a part of this exciting future. Whether you are tackling fundamental questions in psychology, integrating new technologies, or exploring interdisciplinary perspectives, APSO is here to help amplify your work and bring it to a global audience. Together, we can continue to drive psychological science forward, shaping the future of human understanding.
Ready to share your innovative research with the world? Click here to submit your manuscript—we cannot wait to see how you are advancing psychological science!