Call for Research Submissions

The Center for Applied Leadership & Decision Science (CALDS) invites members to submit high-quality, evidence-based research and practitioner scholarship for consideration in upcoming CALDS publications and research syntheses. Our goal is to strengthen the field by elevating work that is rigorous, actionable, and clearly connected to real-world leadership and decision-making challenges. CALDS is a leading high quality open access & peer reviewed research institute.

We welcome submissions from researchers, academics, practitioners, and advanced students across sectors and geographies. CALDS has an international scope and includes submissions from countries all over the world. If you have an interesting research, theory, or practitioner-oriented manuscript we would like to hear more about it.

  • What We’re Looking For

    We welcome original and high-quality submissions in the following formats:

    • Empirical research papers (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods)

    • Theoretical or conceptual papers (new frameworks, models, propositions)

    • Meta-analyses and systematic literature reviews

    • Practitioner-oriented case studies (with clear methods and outcomes)

    • Practitioner-oriented research article (summary of research, key findings, and application)

    • Field experiments, quasi-experiments, and program evaluations

    • Analytical, simulation, or decision models

    • Technical notes (methods, measures, tools, datasets, protocols)

    Submissions should be written for an audience of experienced practitioners and should explicitly articulate:

    • The practical problem being addressed

    • The contribution to theory and/or practice

    • Clear implications and recommended actions

  • We are especially interested in work that advances understanding and application in:

    1. Leadership development

    2. Leader effectiveness

    3. Organizational performance outcomes (team, leader, individual)

    4. Decision science applications in leadership, talent, performance, and organizational systems

    5. Cognitive skills and education in organizational settings

    6. Leading in the AI Era

    If your work bridges research and practice—especially with measurable outcomes and implementation guidance—we strongly encourage submission.

  • Please include the following in every submission:

    • Title page with:

      • Manuscript title

      • Author(s) name(s), affiliation(s), and contact information

      • 3–6 keywords

    • Abstract (150–250 words) summarizing purpose, methods, key findings, and implications

    • Main manuscript (recommended 3,000–8,000 words; longer reviews/meta-analyses considered)

    • Practical implications section (required): 5–10 bullets translating findings into actions for leaders/organizations

    • Methods transparency (required for empirical work):

      • Sample description and recruitment

      • Measures/instruments

      • Analytic approach

      • Limitations and boundary conditions

    • References in a consistent scholarly format (APA preferred)

    • Figures/tables embedded or appended with clear titles and sources

    • Ethics statement (as applicable): IRB/ethics approval, consent, and data privacy practices

    • Conflict of interest statement (required)

    • AI Disclosure statement (required)

    • Write in clear, professional language suitable for organizational and academic practitioners?

    • Define specialized terms and avoid unnecessary jargon

    • Use headings and subheadings for readability

    • Report effect sizes and confidence intervals where applicable

    • For case studies, include context, intervention, implementation details, outcomes, and lessons learned

    • Submissions will be screened for fit with CALDS priorities and baseline quality

    • Selected manuscripts may undergo peer review and/or editorial review depending on publication pathway

    • Authors may be asked to revise for clarity, rigor, or practitioner applicability

  • Upload your submission as a single PDF (plus any appendices or supplementary files) using the link below:

    SUBMIT PROPOSAL HERE

    AI Use Disclosure

    The author(s) affirm that any use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the development, drafting, analysis, or production of this submission is accurately described below. AI tools may include—but are not limited to—systems used for idea generation, writing assistance, data analysis, coding support, editing, or visual asset creation.

    AI Use Summary:

    The author(s) used AI tools for the following purposes (check all that apply):

    • Idea generation or brainstorming

    • Drafting or rewriting text

    • Editing for clarity, grammar, or formatting

    • Data analysis, coding, or statistical support

    • Creation or editing of figures, tables, or visual assets

    • Literature search or summarization

    • No AI tools were used in the preparation of this work

    Human Oversight Statement:

    The author(s) confirm that all AI-assisted content was reviewed, verified, and edited for accuracy, originality, and appropriateness. Responsibility for the integrity and validity of the final work rests solely with the author(s).

    Citation & Attribution (For Published CALDS Outputs)

    If your work is selected and published or cited in CALDS outputs, citations must include:

    • Author(s)

    • Year of publication

    • Title of the work

    • Publication/source name (If Organization or outlet)

Fit Check Upload

If you’re unsure whether your manuscript is a fit, upload a 150–250 word abstract below and add your contact information for a quick fit check.