CALL FOR PAPERS: Psychological assessment during and post the COVID-19 pandemic

The Editor-in-Chief of the African Journal of Psychological Assessment would like to invite you to consider submitting a manuscript for inclusion in this scholarly journals’ special section. The following describes the scope of the special section, and the guidelines for submission to African Journal of Psychological Assessment.

The Human Corona Virus (COVID-19) was reported on 31 December 2019 by the World Health Organisation, following an outbreak experienced in the City of Wuhan, China. The COVID-19 virus became a global pandemic, with increasing numbers of infected patients being reported daily. Countries across the globe have imposed restrictions on movement and social distancing with most countries implementing some form of lockdown. The psychological, social and economic effects of the pandemic are unprecedented most certainly like nothing this generation has ever seen or experienced. The current COVID climate has necessitated shifts in all aspects of our interaction with remote working becoming the norm and teleservices for everything from healthcare to shopping taking prominence. These shifts have important implications for a post COVID world with experts reflecting on huge changes in methods of working and communication post the pandemic. The effects on marginalized communities remain a core concern with the pandemic exacerbating inequalities and exposing the stark realities that have often remained hidden in a pre-COVID era.

Psychology and psychological assessment in particular has had to re-examine its processes. The majority of assessment in Africa is face to face. African contexts already face challenges of lack of appropriate test material, language difficulties and challenges with cross cultural applicability. Online assessments are not the norm. The inequalities faced by those marginalized in society were always prevalent in assessment but have been exacerbated tenfold during the pandemic. The teaching of psychological assessment at universities and training sites has also been a cause for concern. Guidelines from African organisations like the Health Professions Council of South Africa as well international guidelines from the International Test Commission, British Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association have been generic presenting overarching factors that practitioners should consider but input on the efficacy of these is still forthcoming. The practice of psychological testing and assessment, requires re-thinking, reconstructing and critical engagement.

Objective:
Within this context, the African Journal of Psychological Assessment calls for contributions for a special section on Psychological assessment during and post the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommended Topics:
Manuscripts must address areas related to psychological assessment. Topics could include, but are not limited to:
• policy issues, psychometric and ethical issues of online testing
• pedagogical and ethical implications of teaching psychological assessment remotely
• psychosocial and political implications of assessment during the pandemic
• innovative methods of assessing online
• dealing with diversity and assessment during COVID.

Submission Procedure:
Prospective authors should note that only original and previously unpublished article manuscripts will be considered for peer review. Interested authors must consult the Journal Guidelines for Manuscript Submission at https://bit.ly/30SV86U. For more details on the editorial procedures, go to https://bit.ly/2YPf8EG.

Manuscripts must conform to the Journal’s formatting and style requirements and may take the form of original theoretical, empirical, applied and policy submissions (5 000 words in length excluding the title, abstract, references, figures and tables), or commentaries (1 500 words, excluding references).

To submit your article for the special section, go to https://ajopa.org. When you submit the article, select the “Original Research – Special Collection: COVID-19” as the article type or “Commentary – Special Collection: COVID-19”. The submission portal will be accessible on https://ajopa.org. All submitted papers will be reviewed on a double-blind, peer review basis. Papers must follow the APA style for reference citations.

Submission due date
30 September 2020

Guest Editors
Prof. Solomon Mashegoane, University of Limpopo, South Africa
Dr Justin August, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

Prof. Sumaya Laher
Editor-in-Chief
University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa
Email: editor@ajopa.org