Down Syndrome Research and Practice
Content Guidelines

Down Syndrome Research and Practice publishes content that falls within the following categories (though not all categories are represented in each issue):

• EDITORIALS
  Editorials present opinions and perspectives on issues of importance to the quality of life of people with Down syndrome. Editorials are normally written by editorial staff or invited authors.
• NEWS
  Reports of matters of interest to the research and practitioner readership from around the world. News articles are normally written by our editorial staff. We are pleased to receive suggestions for news for consideration by e-mail to news@downsed.org
• RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
  Research highlights are brief reports of recent research findings published elsewhere. Research highlights are normally written by our editorial staff. Authors wishing to draw our attention to studies published elsewhere should e-mail a copy of the paper to research-highlights@downsed.org (see also information about the Down Syndrome Abstracts and Down Syndrome Archive services, below).
• UPDATES
  Updates inform nonspecialist readers about new scientific advances, as reported either in recently published papers (in Down Syndrome Research and Practice and elsewhere) or at scientific meetings. Updates are normally written by one or two invited authors. Authors wishing to prepare an Update article should e-mail their proposal to dsrp-editor@downsed.org. Updates are normally between 800 and 2,000 words.
• PRACTICE
  Practice Reports present the observations of families, carers and practitioners. They may examine any aspect of development, health or education for one or more individual. For example, Practice Reports may highlight successful teaching techniques, examples of curriculum adaptations or individual learning styles. Practice Reports do not need to be 'success stories' - accounts of particular challenges are as welcome as accounts of outstanding achievement. Practice Reports are normally between 1,000 and 4,000 words and should be e-mailed to dsrp-editor@downsed.org.
• RESOURCES
  Resources includes reviews of new books, teaching materials, software and web sites of note. Resources articles are normally written by invited authors. We are pleased to receive suggestions for items to review via e-mail to dsrp-editor@downsed.org. Review copies of books, teaching materials and computer software should be sent to us marked for the attention of the Editor.
• CORRESPONDENCE
  Correspondence is invited from practitioners and researchers caring for and working with people with Down syndrome, as well as people with Down syndrome and their families. Correspondence is accepted on a variety of subjects, including responses to articles published in the Down Syndrome Research and Practice and other journals, as well as comment on matters of interest to a broad audience. Correspondence is usually no longer than 800 words and should be e-mailed to dsrp-editor@downsed.org.
• REPORTS
  Reports are original papers that present the results of scientific studies. Reports should not normally exceed 8,000 words and 60 references. Reports are peer reviewed. Please refer to the submissions guidelines for guidance about the preparation, submission and review of Reports.
• REVIEWS
  Reviews are original review papers that survey developments in a particular area of research or revolving around a particular issue or question. Reviews should not normally exceed 10,000 words and 100 references. Reviews are peer reviewed. Please refer to the submissions guidelines for guidance about the preparation, submission and review of Reviews.
• CASE STUDIES
  Case studies are original reports of observations of one or a few individuals. Case studies include (but are not limited to) clinical observations in healthcare settings and small intervention trials in developmental or educational settings. Case studies should present observations that are notable and of potential wider interest. Case studies should not normally exceed 4,000 words and 20 references. Case studies are peer reviewed. Please refer to the submissions guidelines for guidance about the preparation, submission and review of Case studies.
• HYPOTHESES
  Hypotheses present novel ideas that can be evaluated by scientific study. Hypotheses should not normally exceed 2,000 words and 20 references. Hypotheses are peer reviewed. Please refer to the submissions guidelines for guidance about the preparation, submission and review of Hypotheses.
• PERSPECTIVES
  Perspectives offer a broader view of a subject - perhaps historical or cross-cultural, or perhaps predictive of future directions. Perspectives should not normally exceed 6,000 words and 60 references. Perspectives are peer reviewed. Please refer to the submissions guidelines for guidance about the preparation, submission and review of Perspectives.
• OPINIONS
  Opinions offer opportunities to present particular views on a topic. Opinions are normally between 800 and 1,500 words and contain no more than 10 references. Opinions are peer reviewed. Please refer to the submissions guidelines for guidance about the preparation, submission and review of Opinions.
• GUIDELINES
  Guidelines are recommendations for good practice. These will usually be the product of appropriate community groups, organisations or committees. Guidelines are usually selected by the editorial staff and editorial board, though suggestions are considered via e-mail to dsrp-editor@downsed.org.
• ESSAYS
  Essays offer personal reflections on a subject of interest to a wider audience. Essays are invited from practitioners, researchers and families caring for and working with people with Down syndrome. Essays are particularly welcome from people with Down syndrome. Essays are usually no longer than 2,000 words and should be e-mailed to dsrp-editor@downsed.org.
• REPRINTS
  Reprints are papers and review articles that have been previously published elsewhere. Only articles that are considered to be of particular note to the readership of Down Syndrome Research and Practice are reprinted. Reprints are usually selected by the editorial staff and editorial board, though suggestions are considered via e-mail to dsrp-editor@downsed.org.