Policies and Procedures

Style Guide for Papers for e-UARM
(Electronic journal: Universal AccessResearch Methods)

Summary
This style guide sets out the basic purposes, focus and guidelines for e-UARM.  As an electronic journal, our focus is on quality and accessibility to support researchers and practitioners in the field of Universal Access.

Research Methods for Universal Access
Universal Access (UA) is the future for computing technology.  We have evolved from technology driven insights to solutions motivated by accessibility and adaptivity. 

We need more powerful, more effective research methods to develop the necessary theoretical insights and practical solutions to deliver such innovative UA solutions.

In the early days of information technology, systems were developed by experts for other experts. Not surprisingly, the market for such technology was limited and specialised.  Eventually, a wider range of users became influential in crucial purchasing decisions. This influence was accompanied by greater interest in user centred system design methods, which attracted more attention and experienced gradually increased uptake.  Experts tried harder to understand their intended users and to involve them more in the design process.  However, such designs often gave only symbolic attention to system users, focussing on the typical user.

The concepts associated with “inclusive design” and “design for all” have pointed the way for notions of universal access i.e. systems which can be accessed by all intended users by a variety of means, anytime and anywhere. To achieve maximum accessibility, we need powerful ways with which to:

 design systems for maximum accessibility
 mediate between users and systems
 create effective customisations or adaptations
 devise self-adaptive hardware and software
 develop systems which can respond intelligently to emerging requirements
 invent new systems architectures
 deliver more powerful user models

Progress in UA depends, in part, on the underlying research to support conceptual and practical development in this field.

Focus of papers for eUARM
We only publish papers which make a significant contribution to advancing our knowledge and expertise in research methods for Universal Access.  Such papers will, most likely, deal with psychological, technological, design or socio-cultural factors in UA.  But they must focus on the evaluation or development of research methods and not just report the use of such methods.  All potential papers will go through a “blind” refereeing process, with at least two referees.  The decisions of the editors are final.

When a paper is submitted to e-UARM, we will assume that the copyright for all materials included belong to the authors or that they have written authorisation to use them.  We only accept new papers for consideration for e-UARM.  When you submit a paper, please confirm that it is an original item of work and that you possess appropriate copyright rights to publish the contents.
 
Options
Authors have several options when preparing papers:

 Substantial review papers which evaluate a critically important issue about research methods in this field and which generate innovative, new solutions (there is no word limit for such papers, but they must be of the highest quality).

 Main papers which add to our knowledge about research methods in UA (maximum size 5,000 words).

 Short reports which briefly report important results or raise important questions which have implications for research methods in UA.

Overall style
Overall, we consider the American Psychological Association’s (APA) style guide to be the best role model to consider.  In addition, authors should follow the styles used in these notes and in the editorials.  Authors should use hyperlinks where this would assist readers to navigate through their papers.  Original submissions should be in the form of a p.d.f. file.

American Psychological Association’s (APA)

Ray Adam and Serengul Smith-Atakan