Author Guidelines for Rigorous, Compassionate Scholarship
The Journal of Death (JOD) publishes peer-reviewed research on mortality, dying, bereavement, palliative care, ethics, and cultural perspectives. These instructions are designed to help authors prepare clear, ethical, and impactful manuscripts that meet open access standards and support meaningful clinical and social outcomes.
Clear Formatting
Ethical Standards
21-Day Decisions
Open Access Reach
Data Transparency
Author Support
Prepare a Manuscript That Moves Quickly Through Review
Before You Submit
Confirm that your manuscript aligns with the JOD aim and scope and represents original work that has not been published elsewhere. All submissions are screened for plagiarism and ethical compliance. Ensure that all authors meet authorship criteria and that permissions are secured for any third party material.
Manuscript Structure
Organize your paper with a clear title, informative abstract, and logical section headings. Research articles should include background, methods, results, and discussion. Reviews should define search strategy and inclusion criteria. Qualitative studies should describe analytic framework and sampling approach.
Reporting Clarity
Write for an interdisciplinary audience. Use precise language, define specialist terms, and explain practical implications. Provide sufficient methodological detail so readers can understand the evidence and interpret findings for clinical practice, bereavement support, or policy development.
Submission Essentials
Use this checklist to ensure your manuscript is complete before submission. Following these steps helps reduce delays during editorial checks.
What We Publish
Language and Style
Manuscripts should be written in clear, professional English that is accessible to readers across disciplines. Avoid jargon where possible and define specialized terms the first time they appear. Use consistent terminology for patient populations, clinical settings, and outcomes. If English is not your first language, consider professional language editing prior to submission to reduce delays during review.
Abstract and Keywords
Provide a concise abstract that summarizes objectives, methods, key results, and conclusions. The abstract should allow readers to quickly assess relevance to practice and research needs. Include a focused set of keywords to support discoverability and indexing. Choose keywords that reflect methodology, population, and central themes such as palliative care, bereavement, or ethics.
Methods and Reporting
Describe research design, recruitment, instruments, and analysis with enough detail to allow replication or critical assessment. For quantitative studies, specify statistical methods and effect measures. For qualitative research, explain analytic framework, coding approach, and strategies for credibility. Transparency in methods is essential for the integrity of death studies.
Ethics and Consent
Because many studies involve vulnerable populations, ethics oversight is crucial. Provide institutional review board or ethics committee approval details where applicable, along with consent procedures. If consent was waived, explain the rationale. For case reports, ensure that privacy is protected and that patient or family permission is documented when needed.
Data Availability
We encourage authors to share data and materials when possible to support transparency and future synthesis. If data cannot be shared due to confidentiality or ethical restrictions, provide a clear statement explaining the limitations and any conditions under which data may be accessed. This aligns with open research standards and funder expectations.
Conflicts and Funding
Disclose all sources of funding and any potential conflicts of interest. Transparency helps readers evaluate possible bias and maintains trust in published findings. If there are no conflicts, state this explicitly. Include grant numbers and institutional support where appropriate.
References and Citations
Use a consistent citation style throughout the manuscript. Ensure references are complete and accurately reflect the cited work. When possible, cite primary sources and recent evidence. Avoid excessive self-citation and ensure that claims are supported by credible literature. Accurate references strengthen your article's impact and discoverability.
Figures and Tables
Submit high quality figures and tables with descriptive titles and legends. Each figure or table should be cited in the text and add value to the narrative. For sensitive content, ensure that images do not reveal identities. Supplementary materials may be included to provide additional analyses or instruments.
Authorship and Contributions
List all contributors who meet authorship criteria and describe each author's role in the study design, data collection, analysis, and writing. Honorary or guest authorship is not permitted. Clear contribution statements support transparency and accountability, particularly when research involves clinical teams or multidisciplinary collaborations.
Acknowledgments and Permissions
Acknowledge contributors who do not meet authorship criteria and disclose any editorial or writing support. If you reproduce figures, scales, or substantial text from other sources, obtain permission and provide proper attribution. This protects intellectual property and prevents delays at the production stage.
Reporting Guidelines
We encourage authors to follow recognized reporting standards relevant to the study design. For example, CONSORT for randomized trials, PRISMA for systematic reviews, and COREQ for qualitative research. Adhering to these frameworks strengthens transparency and improves the quality of peer review.
Clinical Trials and Registrations
If your study is a clinical trial, provide registration details and protocol information. Registration promotes transparency, reduces selective reporting, and helps readers assess the rigor of the research. Include registry identifiers where applicable and explain any deviations from the registered protocol.
Patient and Public Involvement
When relevant, describe how patients, caregivers, or community members contributed to study design, recruitment, or dissemination. This is especially valuable in end-of-life research where lived experience can shape ethical and practical priorities. If there was no involvement, state this clearly.
Inclusive Language
Use respectful, person centered language that reflects cultural sensitivity and avoids stigmatizing terms. Clearly define populations and avoid assumptions about identity, beliefs, or family structures. Thoughtful language improves clinical relevance and honors the dignity of those represented in your research.
Proofs and Corrections
After acceptance, authors will receive proofs for final review. This stage is intended for minor corrections and clarity edits, not substantial content changes. Timely proof review helps maintain publication speed and ensures accuracy of the final record.
Appeals and Complaints
If you believe an editorial decision was made in error, you may submit a reasoned appeal with supporting evidence. JOD follows a transparent process for addressing concerns and will respond with fairness. Appeals should be professional and focused on scientific content.
File Types and Formatting
Submit the main manuscript as an editable document file. Figures should be clear and high resolution, and tables should be editable whenever possible. Use standard headings and consistent formatting to support copyediting and typesetting. If supplementary files are included, label them clearly and reference them in the text.
Language Editing Support
Authors who want language polishing may use a professional editing service before submission. JOD offers guidance on language editing options for authors who need support with academic English. Visit the language editing service page for recommendations and timing advice.
Peer Review and Revisions
JOD uses double-blind peer review. Authors should remove identifying information from the manuscript file to support impartial evaluation. Most submissions receive a first decision within about 21 days. When revisions are requested, provide a point by point response and clearly mark changes to facilitate a timely final decision.
Open Access and APC
JOD is fully open access. The standard APC is $1,200 USD and is charged only after acceptance. Discounts and waivers may be available for eligible authors. Details are provided on the article processing charges page. There is no fee to submit a manuscript.
Copyright and Licensing
Authors retain appropriate rights while enabling lawful sharing and reuse under open access licensing. Please review the JOD copyright license and data archiving permissions pages before submission. These policies clarify how your work can be shared, preserved, and reused while ensuring attribution.
Submission and Support
Submit through ManuscriptZone or the simple manuscript submission form. Include all required files at first submission to avoid delays. If you need guidance on formatting, ethics, or policy compliance, contact [email protected] and the editorial office will assist.
Strong preparation shortens review cycles and improves the clarity of published research. JOD is committed to helping authors present rigorous evidence with compassion and precision.
Ready to Submit?
Choose the submission path that fits your workflow. For policy questions or pre submission checks, email [email protected] for timely assistance. Typical response time is within 1-2 business days.
