APS Journals Are Going Digital in 2023: A message from CEO Robert Gropp to APS Members

Publishing six prestigious scientific journals has always been, and continues to be, one of the most effective means of promoting, protecting, and advancing the science of psychology in research, application, teaching, and the improvement of human welfare, as our mission states. The journals are some of the most meaningful tools for empowering our community’s scholarship.

APS is committed to being a leader in the global effort to reduce carbon footprints and to promoting the wise and efficient use of our financial resources. These are among the goals identified in our new strategic plan, Catalyzing and Communicating Psychological Science. In fact, most APS Members have chosen in recent years to forego print copies of the journals for these reasons. Toward the realization of these goals, and in response to member feedback, beginning in January 2023, our journals will be available to members in a digital-only publication format.

After December 2022, members will still be able to access all journal articles in HTML or easily printable PDF format via the APS website. APS Members will also enjoy exclusive access to a Nxtbook version of each APS journal issue. Nxtbook is a digital publishing platform that enables readers to flip through a digital copy of the journal just as they would a hard copy. The digital format promotes accessibility and ease of use by allowing individuals to easily increase text size, add notes, click on links, download complete issues in PDF format, share pages, and use other tools to dynamically engage with digital elements of each issue. We are excited about this next phase of APS’s growth, and hope you are as well. If you have questions about the change in APS journals or any other APS programs, please contact the Membership Team at [email protected] or +1 202.293.9300.

Best Regards,

Robert Gropp, PhD
CEO


Frequently Asked Questions

Why are APS journals going fully digital for members? 

A primary rationale for ceasing the printing and mailing of copies of APS journals to individuals is to reduce the environmental impact of APS journals operations. A goal of APS’s Strategic Plan focuses on sustainability, including environmental sustainability, and providing members with digital-only journals subscriptions will advance this goal.  

In recent years, the majority of APS members — and readers of scientific journals more broadly — have chosen to access journal articles online. These versions of journal articles can be more dynamic than print journals. (Perhaps the most basic example of this is the ability to click on hyperlinks in HTML and PDF online versions of articles.) By focusing on digital delivery and engagement, APS will better serve the majority of APS members, who exclusively use this method of access, while reducing the environmental impact of APS journals operations. 

When will I receive my last print issue? 

Psychological Science: December 2022 

Current Directions in Psychological Science: December 2022 

Perspectives on Psychological Science: November 2022 

Clinical Psychological Science: November 2022 

Psychological Science in the Public Interest: December 2022 

How can I access APS journal articles online? 

Logged-in APS members can browse and read all articles published in APS journals online in HTML or easily printable PDF format, and our publisher SAGE has recently redesigned their website for an even better user experience.  You can access all the contents of each APS journal, including the current issue as well as OnlineFirst articles and complete archives, here: 

Psychological Science 

Current Directions in Psychological Science 

Perspectives on Psychological Science 

Clinical Psychological Science 

Psychological Science in the Public Interest 

Advances in Methods and Pratices in Psychological Science 

I like to browse the print journals when I receive them. How will I be able to flip through articles in a particular issue in a digital format?

APS members have exclusive access to the Nxtbook version of each issue of the journal. Nxtbook is a digital publishing platform that enables readers to flip through a digital copy of an APS journal as if it were a print version. You can easily increase text size, add notes, click on links, download the full issue in PDF format, share pages, and use other tools to dynamically engage with digital elements of each issue. A Nxtbook version of the current issue of each journal can be found here:

Psychological Science

Current Directions in Psychological Science

Perspectives on Psychological Science

Clinical Psychological Science

Psychological Science in the Public Interest

Whom do I contact if I have additional questions about the move to digital-only journals? 

If you have questions about the change in APS journals or any other APS programs, please contact the Membership Team at [email protected] or +1 202.293.9300.