Editorial Policy and Standards

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At Simply Psychology, our mission is to make psychology accurate, reliable, and accessible to everyone.

We know that millions of students, educators, and professionals worldwide trust our content, and we take this responsibility seriously.

This page explains how we create, review, and maintain content so that our readers can trust the information they find here.

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How We Create Content

• Qualified Authors: All articles are written by contributors with relevant expertise. Our authors include psychologists, therapists, mental health practitioners, researchers, and experienced writers with academic training in psychology.
• Expert Review: Before publication, each article is reviewed by qualified academics or clinicians to ensure accuracy and reliability. This peer-review process mirrors the standards used in academic publishing.
• Evidence-Based Content: Every article is grounded in scientific evidence. We prioritize peer-reviewed studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and official guidelines from trusted organizations (e.g., the American Psychological Association, NHS, World Health Organization).
• Accessible Language: While grounded in evidence, our articles are written in clear and approachable language. Our goal is to make complex theories and research understandable to students and the general public without sacrificing accuracy.

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Editorial Guidelines

Our editorial team ensures every article meets strict standards of clarity, accuracy, sourcing, originality, and usefulness.

• Fact-Checking: Every article is fact-checked by our editorial staff to ensure information is accurate and consistent with the latest scientific consensus.
• High-Quality Sources: Writers must cite reputable, verifiable sources. Acceptable sources include peer-reviewed academic journals, government health agencies, medical associations, and university publications. We do not cite anecdotal sources, commercial sites, or outdated research.
• Transparency: Every article includes a byline with the contributor’s name, qualifications, and a link to their profile. The “last updated” date is displayed so readers know when content was last reviewed.
• Distinguishing Evidence from Opinion: Articles clearly indicate when information comes from empirical research versus professional opinion, ensuring readers can differentiate between data and interpretation.
• Originality: All content must be original. Plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts, or distortions of research are strictly prohibited.

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Fact-Checking

We have a dedicated team of fact-checkers and reviewers committed to content integrity.

• Dedicated Fact-Checking Team: Our editorial reviewers verify data, statistics, and claims before publication.
• Clinical Oversight: Articles dealing with mental health, therapy, or treatment are additionally reviewed by mental health professionals to ensure they align with current guidelines.
• Regular Updates: Articles are reviewed and updated on a routine basis. Our standard is to reassess content every 12–24 months, but articles may be updated sooner if new research, guidelines, or statistics become available.
• Verification of Health Content: Any mental health–related content is checked against current clinical practice guidelines, such as those from NICE (UK), APA (US), and other recognized authorities.

⚠️ Important: Simply Psychology content is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis or treatment of medical and mental health conditions.

Editorial Leadership Team

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Independence and Ethics

We adhere to the principles of editorial independence and integrity:

• No Sponsored Content: We do not publish articles influenced by sponsors, advertisers, or external funding.
• No Commercial Influence: Our editorial team makes independent decisions about content creation and updates, free from pressure by commercial interests.
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Contributors are required to disclose any professional, financial, or personal conflicts of interest. We do not publish content where a conflict could compromise impartiality.
• Ethical Journalism: We follow the Society for Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, which emphasizes accuracy, fairness, minimizing harm, independence, accountability, and transparency.

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Inclusivity and Respect

Psychology and mental health are deeply connected to identity and lived experience. We are committed to content that is:

• Respectful: Articles avoid stigmatizing or judgmental language about mental health, neurodivergence, or identity.
• Inclusive: We follow APA style inclusive language guidelines, using person-first or identity-first language depending on context and community preference.
• Accessible: We design content for diverse readers, including students at different educational levels, international audiences, and individuals new to psychology.
• Sensitive to Diversity: Where relevant, we acknowledge cultural, social, and contextual factors in psychology to avoid presenting a one-size-fits-all perspective.

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Corrections

We work hard to keep our articles current, comprehensive, and accurate.

• Our editorial team regularly evaluates content to ensure statistics, references, and recommendations reflect the latest knowledge.
• Readers are encouraged to share feedback and flag potential issues. We take all feedback seriously and investigate promptly.

If you spot an error or think something needs to be clarified, please contact us at: editorial@simplypsychology.org

Our editorial team will review the feedback promptly and make any necessary revisions.