TABLES/FIGURES
Tables and figures should be titled in such a way that the content is easily understood.
- Tables and figures should have titles that reflect the take-away. For example, “Factors That Impact Ad Recall” or “Inattention Can Increase Brand Switching” are far more effective than “Study 1: Results.”
- Write out variables: Do not use abbreviations for variables, unless they have been defined in the text.
Be complete. Include descriptive captions or footnotes.
Label lines in graphs rather than using captions.
- Make exhibits understandable in both color and black and white. The color version can be used in the electronic journal.
Tables
- Tables should consist of at least four columns and four rows; otherwise, they should be left as in-text tabulations (do not include headings), or their results should be integrated into the text.
- All tables must be numbered, and their titles should be centered and typed in all caps.
- Designate units (e.g., %, $, n) in column headings.
- Align all decimals; there is no zero before the decimal point in any number (.97).
- Primary headings: All first letters are capitalized. Secondary headings: Only first letter of first word is capitalized.
- Refer to tables in text by number (see Table 1). Avoid using "above" or "below."
- Asterisks or notes cued by lowercase superscript letters appear at the bottom of the table below the rule. Asterisks are used for p values, and letters are used for data-specific information. Other descriptive information should be labeled as “Notes:” and placed after the letters.
- Tables with text only should be treated in the same manner as tables with numbers (formatted as tables with rows, columns, and individual cells).
- Make sure the necessary measures of statistical significance are reported with the table.
- Do not insert tables in the Word file as pictures. All tables should be editable in Word.
Figures
The term “figure” refers to a variety of material, including line drawings, maps, charts, graphs, diagrams, photos, and Web shots, among others.
- Submit graphics as original Excel or PowerPoint files, not just a graphic pasted into Excel, PowerPoint, or Word. This is so the production staff can edit the content. Embedded graphics hinder this process. We also accept PDF, EPS, or PostScript files made from the application that created the original figure. Specifically, we ask that you export (rather than save) the file from the original application.
- Avoid bitmap or TIFF files. However, when these files must be used—as in photographs or screenshots—submit print-quality graphics. For a photograph or screen shot, this requires a resolution of at least 300 ppi/dpi. For a line drawing or chart, the resolution should be at least 800 ppi/dpi.
- For graphs, label both vertical and horizontal axes. The ordinate label should be centered above the ordinate axis; the abscissa label should be placed beneath the abscissa.
- Place all calibration tics as well as the values outside of the axis lines.
- The figure number and title should be typed on separate lines, centered, and capitalized.
- Refer to figures in text by number (see Figure 1). Avoid using "above" or "below."
- When preparing gray scale figures, use gray levels between 20% and 80%, with at least 20% difference between the levels of gray. Whenever possible, avoid using patterns of hatching instead of grays to differentiate between areas of a figure. Gray scale files should not contain any color objects.
- If submitting artwork in color, please make sure that the colors you use will work well when converted to gray scale. Use contrasting colors with different tones (i.e., dark blue and dark red will convert into almost identical shades of gray). Don't use light shades or colors such as yellow against a light background. Also remember that the cost of color printing is borne by the authors.
Technical Appendix
To improve the readability of the manuscript, any mathematical proof or development that is not critical to the exposition of the main part of the text may be placed in a technical appendix.
- Equations should be centered on the page. If equations are numbered, type the number in parentheses flush with the left margin.
- If equations are too wide to fit in a single column (please consult a printed issue of the journal), indicate appropriate breaks.
- Standard deviation is abbreviated as SD, standard error as SE, and Mean as M.
- Do not italicize equations, Greek characters, R-square, and so forth. Italics are only used on p-values.
- Do not place a zero before any decimal points (.97).
- Leave one space on either side of operational signs and signs of relation (M = 4.32, F(1, 139) = 34.65, p < .01).
Please avoid using Equation Editor for simple in-line mathematical copy, symbols, and equations. Type these in Word instead, using the “Symbol” function when necessary. For example, all Greek characters; simple superscripted or subscripted characters; plus, minus, greater than (or equal to)/less than (or equal to), and so forth, can all be inserted by simply typing the characters in Word. For display equations or in-line characters that use multiple levels, stacked super- and subscripts, or any character not available in Word’s “Symbol” menu, use of Equation Editor is appropriate. In addition, please avoid stacking in-line equations. If the equation is difficult, place it as a display rather than in line and number it accordingly.
References are to be listed alphabetically, last name first, followed by publication date in parentheses. Use full first name, not just initials. The reference list should be typed double spaced on a separate page. Do not use indents, tabs, or symbols to delineate your paragraphs. Instead, use two hard returns between each reference. The reference list is not intended to serve as a bibliography; all unnecessary, redundant, or tangential references should be eliminated.
Each reference should be cited in text at the appropriate place. Do not include uncited works in the reference list.
For citations of up to three authors, list all author names; for four or more authors, use the first author's name followed by "et al." (no italics). A series of citations should be listed in alphabetical order and separated by semicolons: (Donnelly 1961; Kinsey 1960; Wensley 1981).
Citation in the text should be by the author's last name and year of publication, enclosed in parentheses without punctuation: "(Kinsey 1960)." If you use the author's name within the sentence, there is no need to repeat the name in the citation; just use the year of publication in parentheses, as in "The Howard Harris Program (1966)…." If a particular page, section, or equation is cited, it should be placed within the parentheses: "(Kinsey 1960, p. 112)."
WEB APPENDIX
On final submission, the Web Appendix must be submitted in either Word form and be ready to post as is. Use Times New Roman 12-point font (for heading styles, see below). Please ensure that you proofread the material carefully for all errors. Because of space constraints, the Web Appendix should be saved as a document, not an image.
Organizing Your Web Appendix
Do not include more than one Web Appendix. Organize the Web Appendix using the following heading styles:
- At the top: The title of the article and the authors.
- Title: Web Appendix (Title-style capitalization, bold, centered, 14-point font), or, if multiple parts are used, Web Appendix A, Web Appendix B, etc.
- Head 1: LEVEL 1 HEADING (All capital letters, italics, centered, 12-point font).
- Head 2: Level 2 Heading (Title-style capitalization, italics, flush left, 12-point font).
- Head 3: Level 3 heading. (Sentence-style capitalization, italics, run into paragraph with a closing period, 12-point font).
If there are multiple themes in the Web Appendix, use Level 1 headings to separate your themes and then Level 2 and 3 subheadings to further subdivide your themes.
Multiple parts of a Web Appendix should be labeled "Web Appendix A, Web Appendix B," and so on. All equations should be numbered in sequence from the beginning to the end of the Web Appendix. Web Appendix equations should be numbered and referred to as W1, W2, …, WN.
In-Text Mention
- If there is a Web Appendix, it must be mentioned in text (e.g., “for further information, see the Web Appendix”). Please refer to such appendixes as “Web Appendix.” Because some appendixes might appear in print and others on the Web, it is necessary to standardize this terminology to eliminate reader confusion.
- Please do not refer to or include more than one Web Appendix. If you have more than one subject to be addressed in an appendix, please refer to them as "Web Appendix A, Web Appendix B," and so on, understanding the file will be posted as one document.
- AMA will provide the URL for the Web Appendix, so you do not need to include this in your paper.