Call for papers: The African Journal of Psychological Assessment (AJOPA)

The African Journal of Psychological Assessment (AJOPA) invites submissions for consideration. As an open-access journal, AJOPA focuses on advancing psychometrics and psychological assessment within the African context. We welcome research that will contribute to culturally relevant and ethical practices in the field.

Watch this video for a step-by-step guide on submitting to the journal—while demonstrated on a different journal, the process remains the same!

Please see the focus and scope below for more details

The African Journal of Psychological Assessment (AJOPA) focusses on original research studies, theoretical papers, test reviews and methods papers in the areas of psychometrics and psychological assessment. Manuscripts must demonstrate a clear contribution to the field and be relevant to the African context. Manuscripts can focus on amongst others ethics in assessment, the establishment of the psychometric properties of an instrument, methods in assessment, research on core issues in psychological assessment (e.g. assessment in low resource settings, multicultural assessment, acculturation and assessment, language and assessment, assessing people with disabilities). They can also focus on specific areas in assessment (e.g. cognitive, personality, vocational, intelligence, aptitude) and/or particular settings (clinical, educational, forensic, organisational, and neuropsychological assessment). AJOPA serves as a means of combining the current disparate research being conducted as well as opening up opportunities for collaboration and indigenous knowledge production. The journal will be of value both locally and internationally since the submissions will interrogate the current Eurocentric and Western cultural hegemonic practices that dominate the field of psychological assessment.

Quick links:

• Submissions guidelines
• Publication procedure
• Publication fees
• Editorial board

Historic data
South Africa has, since 1994, experienced and still is experiencing a rapid transformation in all spheres of functioning, social, political and economic. It has become vital in this climate that past inequalities be redressed. Psychology, particularly psychometrics and assessment, has played a controversial role in the previous political dispensation of the country and, since 1994, researchers have argued that there is a pressing need for transformation in the field to meet the needs of the majority of South Africans. Psychological testing and assessment was used on a large scale to determine who gained access to economic and educational opportunities. The reform of testing practices was one of psychology’s core priorities within the transformative space post-1994.

In 1998 the Employment Equity Act was promulgated, and Section 8 stipulates that: ‘Psychological testing and other similar assessments are prohibited unless the test or assessment being used (a) has been scientifically shown to be valid and reliable, (b) can be applied fairly to all employees; and (c) is not biased against any employee or group’ (Government Gazette, 1998). This stipulation partially alerted stakeholders to the required reforms within testing and assessment. Unlike other countries where professional psychology organisations address issues of bias and fairness that are binding on their members, South Africa stressed the importance of fair and unbiased testing and assessment by incorporating it into national law. Despite this, research in the field of psychological testing and assessment has been fragmented.

There has been little coordinated effort in bringing together current research for teaching, research and/or practical purposes. However, across the country, various groups and individuals produce research that would be beneficial to a wider audience on a regular basis but forums for doing so are lacking. AJOPA with its focus on assessment issues provides such a platform. The journal is affiliated with PsySSA.

Publication frequency

The journal publishes one volume each year. Articles are published online when ready for publication and then printed in an end-of-year compilation. Additional collections may be published for special events (e.g. conferences) and when special themes are addressed.

Open access
This is an open-access journal which means that all content is freely available without charge to the user or his/her institution.