Content Types

To submit one of the following content types, please read the formatting details below, then follow the submission guidelines:

  • Article
  • Registered Report
  • Resource
  • Review*
  • Perspective*
  • Comment*
  • Correspondence*
  • Matters Arising – see specialist submission process here.

For more information on these content types, please contact Nature Human Behaviour:

  • News & Views*    
  • World View*

*These content types should not include original (previously unpublished) research findings and may only contain minimal new supporting data. As they are non-primary articles they are not eligible for Open Access and can only be published using the subscription-based publishing route.

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Article

An Article is a substantial research study of high quality and general interest to human behaviour researchers. 

Format

  • Main text – up to 5,000 words, excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends.
  • Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – up to 8 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Article should be divided as follows: 
    • Introduction (without heading) 
    • Results (concise, focused account of the findings)
    • Discussion
    • Methods. ​
  • Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
  • References – we do not place limits on reference lists.
  • Articles include received/accepted dates. 
  • Articles may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Articles are peer reviewed. 

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Registered Report

A Registered Report is a form of empirical article in which the methods and proposed analyses are pre-registered and reviewed prior to data collection. The format is offered for hypothesis-driven quantitative research with primary research data. We also welcome submissions proposing secondary analyses of existing data sets, provided that the authors have had no prior access to the data in question. Note that we do not consider systematic reviews and meta-analyses for the Registered Report format. High quality protocols are provisionally accepted for publication before data collection (or data analysis, for submissions involving secondary analyses of existing datasets) commences. Detailed guidelines for authors and reviewers can be found here. Please use this template to prepare your Stage 1 submission.

Format (Stage 2 submission)

  • Main text – up to 5,000 words (excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends).
  • Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – up to 8 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Registered Reports should be divided as follows: 
    • Introduction (without heading) 
    • Results (concise, focused account of the findings)
    • Discussion
    • Methods. ​
  • Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
  • References – we do not place limits on reference lists.
  • Registered Reports include received/accepted dates. 
  • Registered Reports may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Registered Reports are peer reviewed (in two stages).

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Resource

A Resource presents a large data set or tool of broad utility, interest and significance to the community. 

Format

  • Main text – up to 5,000 words (excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends).
  • Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – up to 8 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Resources should be divided as follows: 
    • Introduction (without heading) 
    • Results (concise, focused account of the findings)
    • Discussion
    • Methods. ​
  • Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
  • References – we do not place limits on reference lists.
  • Resources include received/accepted dates. 
  • Resources may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Resources are peer reviewed.

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Review

A Review is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. The requirement for balance need not prevent authors from proposing a specific viewpoint, but if there are controversies in the field, the authors must treat them in an even-handed way. 

The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single laboratory, and particularly not by the authors' own work.

Format

  • Main text – 4,000 - 5,000 words.
  • Illustrations are strongly encouraged.
  • References – approximately 100, but we do not impose a strict limit. 
  • Reviews include received/accepted dates. 
  • Reviews are peer reviewed.

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Perspective

A Perspective is intended to provide a forum for authors to discuss models and ideas from a personal viewpoint. Perspectives are more forward looking and/or speculative than Review Articles. They may be opinionated but should remain balanced and are intended to stimulate discussion and new approaches.

Format

  • Length – 3,000 - 4,000 words. 
  • Illustrations are strongly encouraged.
  • References – approximately 50, but we do not impose a strict limit.
  • Perspectives include received/accepted dates.
  • Perspectives are peer reviewed.

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Comment

A Comment is a flexible format, focusing on the scientific, ethical, legal, societal, or political issues surrounding research. Commentary articles should be topical, readable, provocative and introduce new concepts/points of view, providing a personal perspective on a matter of public or scientific importance. The main criteria are that they should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. 

Format

  • Length – up to 1,800 words.
  • Standfirst (in lieu of an abstract) – up to 360 characters (not words), including spaces.
  • Commentaries do not normally contain primary research data, although they may present 'sociological' data (funding trends, demographics, bibliographic data, etc.). 
  • References should be used sparingly – up to 10.
  • Article titles are omitted from the reference list.
  • Peer review is at the editors' discretion.

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Correspondence

The Correspondence section provides a forum for comment on issues relevant to the journal’s community or on non-research content published in the journal. This format may not be used for presentation of research data or analysis. Note that Correspondence pieces are not technical comments on peer-reviewed research papers in Nature Human Behaviour which would be considered Matters Arising. 

Format

  • Correspondence – up to 800 words.
  • Display items – 1 item.
  • References – up to 10 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list. 
  • Peer review is at the editors’ discretion. 

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Matters Arising

Matters Arising are exceptionally interesting and timely scientific comments and clarifications on original research papers published in Nature Human Behaviour. 

For detailed information on how to submit a Matters Arising, please follow instructions here.

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News & Views

News & Views articles inform readers about the latest advances in human behaviour research, as reported in recently published papers or at scientific meetings. They may be linked to articles in Nature Human Behaviour, or they may focus on papers of exceptional significance that are published elsewhere. Unsolicited contributions will not normally be considered, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals.

News & Views are not peer reviewed.

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World View

World Views are by prior arrangement only. World Views are opinion editorials, written in a personal style, on a topic of broad community or societal significance. Unsolicited contributions will not normally be considered, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals.

World Views are not peer reviewed.