Criteria for Evaluation and Submissions  

Dissertation summaries will be evaluated in terms of the following criteria:

1. The degree to which the research addresses a phenomenon that is of significance to the field of I-O psychology.
2. The extent to which the research shows appropriate consideration of relevant theoretical and empirical literature. This should be reflected in both the formulation of hypotheses tested and the selection of methods used in their testing.
3. The degree to which the research has produced findings that have high levels of validity (i.e., internal, external, construct, and statistical conclusion). The setting of the proposed research is of lesser importance than its ability to yield highly valid conclusions about a real-world phenomenon of relevance to the field of I-O psychology. Thus, the methods of the research (including subjects, procedures, measures, manipulations, and data analytic strategies) should be specified in sufficient detail to allow for an assessment of the capacity of the proposed research to yield valid inferences.
4. The extent to which the author (a) offers reasonable interpretations of the results of his or her research, (b) draws appropriate inferences about the theoretical and applied implications of the same results, and (c) suggests promising directions for future research.
5. The degree to which the research yields information that is both practically and theoretically relevant and important.
6. The extent to which ideas in the proposal are logically, succinctly, and clearly presented.

Guidelines for Submission of Proposal

1. Entries may be submitted only by individuals who are endorsed (sponsored) by a member of SIOP, the American Psychological Society, or the American Psychological Association.
2. Each entrant should submit a copy of their paper (not to exceed 30 pages of double-spaced text) based on his or her dissertation. The name of the entrant, institutional affiliation, current mailing address, and phone number should appear only on the title page of the paper.
3. Papers are limited to a maximum of 30 double-spaced pages. This limit includes the title page, abstract, text, tables, figures, and appendices. However, it excludes references.
4. Papers should be prepared in accord with the guidelines provided in the fifth edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Note, however, that the abstract may contain up to 300 words.
5. The paper must be based on a dissertation that was accepted by the graduate college 2 years or less before June 20, 2008, with the stipulation that an entrant may only submit once.
6. The entrant must provide a letter from his or her dissertation chair that specifies the date of acceptance of the dissertation by the graduate school of the institution and that the submission adequately represents all aspects of the completed dissertation. In addition, the entrant must provide a letter of endorsement from a member of SIOP, the American Psychological Society, or the American Psychological Association who is familiar with the entrant’s dissertation. Both of these letters may be from the same individual.
7. Entries (accompanied by supporting letters) must be submitted online by June 30, 2008.