Nature Reviews Psychology is an online-only academic journal within the Nature Portfolio. It publishes authoritative, accessible, and timely review articles. The journal synthesizes recent and significant research findings across psychological science, including its applications and broader societal implications. It serves as a comprehensive resource for the scientific community.
This journal publishes secondary literature, offering comprehensive summaries and analyses of existing research rather than original studies. It consolidates knowledge, identifies emerging trends, and provides expert perspectives on various psychological topics. This focus positions Nature Reviews Psychology as a valuable resource for researchers, educators, and practitioners seeking insights into complex areas of the discipline.
Journal Scope and Article Formats
Nature Reviews Psychology covers the entire spectrum of psychological science. Its scope encompasses diverse sub-disciplines such as cognitive psychology, which examines mental processes like perception and memory, and social psychology, which explores how individuals are influenced by others. The journal also includes articles on clinical psychology, focusing on mental health and therapeutic interventions, and developmental psychology, which tracks human growth across the lifespan.
Methodological issues within psychological research are explored, alongside more applied areas of the science. Interdisciplinary areas, including aspects of neuroscience and behavioral economics, are also featured. The journal extends its coverage to the societal relevance of psychological science, bridging academic research with real-world applications and policy implications.
The journal publishes several distinct article formats.
Reviews
“Reviews” are comprehensive summaries that provide a complete overview of a topic, often commissioned from leading experts. These articles discuss different schools of thought, controversies, fundamental concepts, and current research gaps, while also suggesting future developments. Their structure typically includes an abstract, introduction, relevant subsections, and a discussion, making them a foundational resource for understanding a subject.
Perspectives
“Perspectives” offer a forward-looking or opinionated take on a specific area. These articles provide insights into emerging ideas or controversial viewpoints, encouraging new directions for research and discussion, and stimulating critical thinking and debate.
Comments
“Comments” are shorter articles that elaborate on significant advances or topical issues previously published. They allow for focused discussion and analysis of specific findings or concepts, contributing to an ongoing scholarly dialogue.
Research Highlights
“Research Highlights” provide concise summaries of important new primary research articles published in other journals, bringing attention to breakthroughs across the broader psychological landscape.
News & Views
“News & Views” pieces offer brief, accessible commentaries on recent scientific developments or current events relevant to psychology. They provide context and interpretation for new findings, making complex research more understandable to a wider audience.
Tools of the Trade
The “Tools of the Trade” format focuses on particular methods or techniques within psychological research, serving as a practical guide and being particularly well-suited for early-career researchers looking to deepen their methodological expertise.
Significance and Influence in Psychology
The significance of an academic journal is often measured by its Impact Factor (IF), a metric that indicates how frequently articles in a journal are cited over a specific period. This measure serves as an indicator of the journal’s importance or rank within its field.
Nature Reviews Psychology has a substantial influence, with its Impact Factor recorded as 21.8. Its 5-Year Journal Impact Factor (JIF) is also 21.8, reflecting consistent high citation rates. The journal’s SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) stands at 7.064. These metrics position Nature Reviews Psychology favorably, placing it in the first quartile (Q1) across several psychology categories, including “Psychology, Multidisciplinary,” “Developmental and Educational Psychology,” “Clinical Psychology,” and “Psychology (miscellaneous).”
Compared to other top-tier psychology review journals, Nature Reviews Psychology holds a competitive position. For instance, Annual Review of Psychology has a CiteScore of 58.00, Psychological Bulletin has a CiteScore of 28.90, and Trends in Cognitive Sciences has a CiteScore of 26.90. Nature Reviews Psychology’s Impact Factor of 21.8 places it among the most highly cited publications in the field.
The articles published in this journal frequently shape future research agendas by identifying unexplored areas and proposing new theoretical frameworks. They inform teaching and curriculum development by providing consolidated, expert-reviewed knowledge. The insights offered by Nature Reviews Psychology articles often influence evidence-based policy decisions, bridging academic research and practical application in areas such as public health, education, and social welfare. The journal’s articles are highly regarded for setting standards and highlighting emerging trends, guiding the direction of psychological science.
The Editorial and Publication Process
The editorial and publication process at Nature Reviews Psychology ensures high-quality, authoritative review content. Most articles, especially main Reviews, are commissioned directly by the in-house editorial team. Editors identify timely and significant topics within psychology and invite leading experts to author the articles, ensuring the content is both current and deeply knowledgeable.
The editorial team works closely with invited authors throughout the process, from conceptualization to final manuscript preparation. This collaborative approach includes developmental editing to refine the narrative and ensure clarity and accessibility for a broad scientific audience. Editors also support figure creation, ensuring complex data and concepts are visually represented effectively. This hands-on involvement contributes significantly to the high quality of published work.
While commissioning is the primary route for main Reviews, the journal also considers unsolicited proposals or manuscripts, particularly for formats like Perspectives or Comments. For these submissions, editors look for timeliness, broad interest to the psychological community, and a clear, compelling narrative. The rigorous peer-review process is a defining characteristic across all Nature Portfolio journals.
Once a manuscript is submitted, it undergoes an initial screening by the editor for suitability. If it passes, it is sent for rigorous peer review. Independent expert scientists, who have no conflict of interest, are selected to critically evaluate the article. Their critiques and feedback are provided to authors, who make revisions based on these recommendations. This iterative process strengthens scientific accuracy, clarity, and overall quality.
The peer-review process can be mutually anonymous, meaning identities of referees and authors can be hidden, fostering impartial evaluation. Language proficiency does not hinder a submission; editors prioritize scientific merit and offer assistance to improve writing. If a paper is unsuitable for Nature Reviews Psychology but aligns with another Nature Portfolio journal, a transfer system facilitates submission to a more appropriate venue.
Accessing Journal Content
Nature Reviews Psychology is published exclusively online, allowing rapid dissemination of articles. The primary method for accessing content is through institutional or personal subscriptions.
Individuals affiliated with academic or corporate entities often gain access through their library systems. Libraries subscribe to the Nature Portfolio, providing members with access to a wide range of scientific publications, including Nature Reviews Psychology. These subscriptions grant full access to the journal’s archives.
The journal engages with open access policies. While it does not primarily operate on an Author Processing Charge (APC) model, a small percentage of Gold Open Access content is available. This means a limited number of articles may be freely available immediately upon publication.
In addition to subscriptions and limited Gold Open Access, certain content is freely available. This includes Editor’s Highlights or specially curated collections. The journal also supports content dissemination through SharedIt links, allowing authors to share read-only versions of their articles with a wider audience.
Readers can stay informed about the latest research and free content by signing up for e-alerts from the journal’s website. Following the journal’s social media channels also provides updates on new publications and editorial insights.