Submissions

Author Guidelines

Who Can Submit?

Anyone may submit an original article to be considered for publication in Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation (JMDE), given the author(s) owns the copyright to the work being submitted or is authorized by the copyright owner or owners to submit the article. Authors are the initial owners of the copyrights to their works (exceptions include cases in which authors have, as a condition of employment, agreed to transfer copyright to their employer).

General Submission Rules

JMDE charges no article processing or submission fees.

Submitted articles cannot have been previously published, nor be forthcoming in an archival journal or book (print or electronic). In addition, by submitting material to JMDE, the author is stipulating that the material is not currently under review at another journal (electronic or print) and that they will not submit the material to another journal (electronic or print) until the completion of the editorial decision process at JMDE. If you have concerns about the journal’s submission terms, please contact the editors.

Please note, JMDE does not publish evaluation reports, but instead the journal disseminates scholarly work that contributes to the advancement and understanding of evaluation as a profession and practice. Submissions should extend beyond reporting on a single evaluation project or client. While examples from specific evaluations may be included, the focus must be on insights, methods, or implications that advance understanding of evaluation more broadly. Manuscripts centered primarily on presenting evaluation findings for a particular program, client, or context are outside of the scope of JMDE’s mission and will not be considered for publication.

Section Descriptions

Research on Evaluation Articles: This section features original studies that advance knowledge and practice in evaluation. We welcome empirical studies – qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods – that examine evaluation theory, methods, practice, or use. Examples may include, but are not limited to, systematic reviews, formal case studies, or theory-building initiatives. Research on evaluation may include inquiry into evaluation practice, theory, policy, governance, technical assistance, capacity building, field building, or professionalization, to name a few topics. Submissions should be guided by clear research questions, design, and methods. Submissions should be relevant to evaluation scholars, practitioners, or policymakers, and clearly contribute to advancing the field of evaluation. Articles in this section are no longer than 7,500 words, excluding tables and references. Articles in this section will be double-anonymous peer reviewed.

Stories from Evaluation Practice: This section features reflective, practice-based contributions that offer insight into real-world evaluation experiences. These case examples highlight specific aspects of evaluation practice – such as engagement, use of findings, methodological adaptations, or ethical tensions – through concise, scholarly reflection grounded in lived experience. These stories may reflect experiential learning, honor local knowledge holders, or affirm the importance of praxis (the bridging of theory and practice, thought and action). Submissions should aim to inform and inspire evaluators by sharing lessons learned, practical strategies, and thoughtful analysis. While not formal case studies, articles should demonstrate clear relevance to the evaluation field and be written with a critical, reflective lens. Submissions should be accessible to evaluation practitioners and policymakers, with the possibility to be used while teaching evaluation or to inform future research on evaluation studies. Articles in this section are no longer than 7,500 words, excluding tables and references. Articles in this section will be double-anonymous, peer-reviewed.

Teaching Evaluation: This section showcases innovative and thoughtful approaches to teaching evaluation in academic, professional, or community settings. Contributions may include the development or sharing of unique course designs, instructional strategies, or hands-on learning activities; useful tools or resources for teaching evaluation; reflections on challenges and successes in building evaluation capacity; or approaches that draw insight from natural, ecological, or other complex systems to inform evaluative thinking and practice. Submissions should offer practical insights grounded in experience, with clear implications for others involved in teaching or training evaluators. While not research articles, these pieces should maintain a scholarly tone and contribute to the broader conversation about how evaluation is taught and learned, including how learning emerges through interaction with human and non-human systems. Articles in this section are no longer than 5,000 words, excluding tables and references. Articles in this section will be double-anonymous peer reviewed.

Reviews of Evaluation Resources: This section features reviews that critically engage with resources of interest to the evaluation community, including books, journals, conferences, training programs, and other relevant media. Reviews should go beyond summary to offer thoughtful analysis, highlight key contributions or limitations, and consider the relevance and usefulness of the resource for evaluators. We welcome a variety of formats and styles, provided the review maintains a scholarly tone and offers clear value to readers. Articles in this section are no longer than 2,500 words, excluding tables and references. Articles in this section will be single-anonymous reviewed by at least two members of the editorial board. 

Ideas to Consider in Evaluation: This section offers a space for sharing emerging ideas, provocative questions, and thoughtful commentary relevant to the field of evaluation. Submissions may explore new directions, challenge assumptions, propose conceptual frameworks, or spark dialogue around complex or underexplored issues that can be tested and further refined. We are flexible in the style and structure of submissions in this section. These pieces are intended to stimulate reflection and conversation rather than present empirical findings. Articles in this section are no longer than 2,500 words, excluding tables and references. Articles in this section will be single-anonymous reviewed by at least two members of the editorial board.

Submission Process

All manuscripts must be submitted as Microsoft Word, RTF, or WordPerfect files through JMDE’s submission portal. See formatting requirements below for more detail. 

Once submitted, each manuscript is assigned to and reviewed by the appropriate section editor. If deemed fit for JMDE, manuscripts submitted as Research Articles, Case Studies, and Teaching Evaluation articles undergo a double-anonymous peer-review process. Reviewers with relevant expertise and experience and a diversity of backgrounds are selected to review each manuscript. Authors may recommend reviewers, assuming they do not have any direct conflicts of interest. Manuscripts submitted for the Ideas to Consider or Reviews sections undergo review by the associated section editor. JMDE is not under any obligation to publish any submission. 

Once accepted for publication, each manuscript will be copyedited, and the author(s) will be asked to approve a final proof before publication. A summary of the process from submission to publication is below. Please note, all notices and communications from JMDE will be sent to the submitting author at the email address associated with their submission.

Peer Review: Ensuring an Anonymous Review - Instructions for Authors

Manuscripts submitted to the peer-reviewed sections of JMDE (Research Articles, Case Studies, and Teaching Evaluation articles) must not reveal the author(s), their affiliation(s), or any other potentially identifying information. If manuscripts contain any identifying information when they are submitted, they must be corrected before they can be sent out for review. This slows down the reviewing process. To avoid delays, please follow these guidelines:

• Remove all mentions of author name(s), institutional affiliations(s), and sources of funding from the paper (including page headers and footers, footnotes, and acknowledgments).
• Please avoid phrasing in which you refer to your own previously published work (for example, “Elsewhere I have argued…”). If possible, refer to your own references in the third person. Avoid citing unpublished manuscripts.
• Check that all identifiers have been removed from electronic files such as Microsoft Word documents (File → Information → Check for issues → Inspect Document).

Please note that inadequately anonymized manuscripts will be returned to authors for further anonymizing.

Formatting Requirements for Submissions

All manuscripts submitted to JMDE should be double-spaced and follow the style recommendations of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.; click here for APA style resources).

1. Type Style
   • Use Times New Roman font for all text.
   • Use 12-point type for all text.
2. Margins and Tabs
   • Use 1.00-inch margins on all sides.
   • Do not reset the default tab settings.
3. Line and Paragraph Spacing
   • Use double-spacing throughout the entire manuscript, except within tables, table notes, and footnotes, which should be single-spaced.
   • Do not add an extra line/space between paragraphs.
   • Do not reset the default paragraph spacing settings (before and after each paragraph).
4. Other Specifications
   • Use letter-size pages (8.5 x 11 inches) for all copy.
   • Use portrait-oriented pages for all text and tables.
   • Prepare all copy flush left; do not use full justification; use left justification only.
   • Use one space after periods and other punctuation.
   • Capitalize titles and headings headline-style; do not use all capital letters except in pre-defined acronyms.
   • Indent the first line of each paragraph using the tab.
   • Format any quotations of 40 words or longer as block quotes (indent the entire quotation).
   • Use your software’s (e.g., Word, Pages, Google Doc) “Tables” feature rather than using tabs or spacing to align data.
   • Use hard returns only at the ends of paragraphs or other places where lines of copy are broken (such as after each line in a heading or subheading).
   • Limit the use of numerical and/or bulleted lists.
   • Follow the most recent (currently 7th ed.) APA publication manual for in-text citations, tables, figures, and reference list entries.
   • Do not include a title page.
   • Include an abstract.
   • Do not include any identifying information. 
   • Do not include headers or footers. These, along with page numbers, will be added as part of our publication process.
   • Submit your manuscript, including tables, figures, appendices, etc., as a single file (Word and RTF are accepted).