2013 CALL FOR PAPERS

12th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA
2013 Theme: Occupation and Education
The Lexington Hilton, Lexington, KY, October 17-19, 2013
www.sso-usa.org

Mission of the Society, Intent of the Meeting
Conference Program Highlights
Abstract Submissions
Formats
Submission Checklist

Mission of the Society, Intent of the Meeting

The SSO:USA is a research society that strives to build the body of knowledge in occupational science to benefit humanity. The society values:

  • Collegiality;
  • Collaboration;
  • Critical discourse;
  • The development of researchers,
  • The application of knowledge within a variety of professions;
  • Shared occupational experiences;
  • Operating in ways that are open, transparent, fiscally responsible, and member and data driven;
  • Researchers, students, and practitioners;
  • Members who are formally trained in occupational science;
  • And members who are formally trained in other disciplines and whose work integrates well with occupational science.

We encourage all papers addressing substantive and methodological issues studying participation in daily activities or those activities that “occupy” our lives. Contributions from social and other sciences are welcome. Potential topics of interest include broadly multi-disciplinary subjects and focused occupational science topics, such as:

  • Methodological approaches, challenges, and data quality in researching daily activity;
  • Participation in a variety of types of daily activities;
  • The relation of occupation to identity, culture/ethnicity, ability/disability, justice, and other multi-disciplinary concepts;
  • Larger scale patterns of time-use, routines, development, or balance in everyday activities as they are coordinated between individuals, ongoing within groups, or expressed across populations;
  • And applications of occupational science within clinical, social, educational, and political practices.

In response to the 2013 theme, Occupation and Education, we especially seek submissions in 2013 that feature the scholarship of teaching and learning in regard to courses and curricula related to occupation, occupational science, or occupational therapy education, in order to facilitate a rich dialogue that will enhance understanding and speed evolution of practice in this important area.

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Conference Program Highlights

Pre-conference Research Institute: Strategies for Making Occupation Explicit in Curricula
Hooper, Bilics, Krishnagiri, Mitcham, Musick, Price, & Taff
October 17, 2013, 1-5PM

2013 Ruth Zemke Lecture in Occupational Science
Embracing and enacting 'the occupational imagination': Occupational science as transformative
Debbie Laliberte Rudman, Ph.D., Associate Professor
School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario

Peer-reviewed research in occupational science, emphasizing Occupation and Education

2013 Educator Focus: Research and discussion of occupation and education at multiple degree levels, optional syllabus exchange
2013 Student Focus: Special student poster session, student mixers, and student-led outings

2013 Occupational Balance Offerings: One of the unique features of SSO:USA conferences is attention to the balance and quality of conference participants’ experiences. Restore yourself, network with occupational science researchers and educators, and explore Kentucky’s culture of crafts, music, and thoroughbred racing. A description of balance offerings, as well as hotel and registration costs, is available at www.sso-usa.org.Come early and stay late: Kentucky will surprise you!

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Abstract Submissions

Acceptance of Submissions Closed as of May 17th, 2013

In 2013, the SSO:USA will begin publication of an annual proceedings, including all research and theoretical papers. For this reason, it is important that abstracts be submitted in APA format (but single-spaced) and limited to 500 words or less (not including title, type of presentation, three key words, and a maximum of five key references). The corresponding author must provide his or her own, as well as all contributing author(s)’, names, affiliations, and credentials. If authors are willing to be considered for a poster presentation if declined for a research or theoretical paper, please indicate this. Also, the corresponding author must provide an email that can be used for future communication. If authors have institutional or religious limitations to the time or date they can present, please indicate this in submission.

Abstracts must be submitted through this website. To submit an abstract, click on the “Submit Abstract” link on the left menu bar above. (You will be required to create an account prior to submitting your abstract. After providing your contact information, you will receive an email asking you to confirm creation of your account; you need to click on the link in that email before you are able to start the submission process). Abstracts must be submitted electronically via this website by 12:00 midnight PST on May 17th 2013. Late abstracts will not be accepted. The primary author on each abstract will receive notification via email regarding the status of their submission by the end of June, 2013.

If you encounter technical difficulties when submitting your abstract online, please contact Isaac Gilman at gilmani@pacificu.edu.

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Formats

Research Paper
Without exception, research papers include 15 minutes of presentation and 15 minutes of discussion. Research papers should include a clear background and rationale for the importance of the study, a statement of purpose, a complete description of high quality methods (participants, data collection, and analysis), a coherent report of results, and a description of the contribution of the study to occupational science.

Theoretical Paper
Without exception, theoretical papers include 15 minutes of presentation and 15 minutes of discussion. Theoretical papers should include a clear background and rationale, a succinct statement of intent, a coherent argument, conclusions, and a description of the importance of conclusions to occupational science.

Panel
Ninety minute panel sessions should include three to five brief papers on a shared research or theoretical topic and 30 to 45 minutes of discussion among panel members and audience. A single panel submission should be made by the session organizer, including title, abstract, and list of session participants and their affiliations.

Forum
An individual or a team may lead a 90 minute forum on a topic of importance to occupational science. The forum should include a brief evocative presentation, followed by a dynamic exchange of ideas among participants. The submitted abstract should include the forum’s rationale, aims, and potential outcomes for participants.

Research Poster
The research poster is an appropriate format for small or in-progress studies. Posters should include, to the degree possible, a clear background and rationale for the importance of the study, a statement of purpose, a complete description of methods (participants, data collection, analysis), a coherent report of results, and a description of the contribution of the study to occupational science. Presenters should be available to describe their study and answer questions during the one to two hour poster session. (Poster Formatting Guidelines)

Student Poster
This format is appropriate for student presentations of undergraduate or graduate research or learning projects with direct bearing on the concept of occupation, or on occupation and education. Presenters should be available to describe their project and answer questions during the one to two hour poster session. (Poster Formatting Guidelines)

Abstract Review Criteria
All criteria listed below will be ranked from 1 (unresponsive to the criterion) to 5 (excellent response to the criterion). Criteria are differentially weighted (multiplied), as indicated below. Additional points are possible for all types of submissions, according to the abstract’s responsiveness to the 2013 theme, Occupation and Education. Abstracts will be submitted to a blinded review process and will be scored by 3 reviewers (see criteria below). Reviewers will be members of the SSO:USA.

Note: For an abstract be accepted into the conference schedule, it MUST clearly describe its contribution to occupational science. An abstract may score very high on other criteria, e.g., rigor, coherence, etc., but it will be rejected if a clear link to occupational science is not made.

Criteria for a Research Paper or Research Poster

  • Rigor/Trustworthiness (weight of 5): Degree to which described methods are of high quality.
  • Coherence (3): Degree to which study background and rationale, purpose, methods, and results are clearly described.
  • Importance to Occupational Science (5): Degree to which a compelling contribution to occupational science and/or the mission of the SSO:USA is articulated.
  • Theme (3): Degree to which the relation of occupation and education is addressed.
Criteria for a Theoretical Paper
  • Coherence (weight of 3): Degree to which a clear background and rationale, a succinct statement of intent, a logical argument, and conclusions are clearly described.
  • Importance to Occupational Science (5): Degree to which a compelling contribution to occupational science and/or the mission of the SSO:USA is articulated.
  • Theme (3): Degree to which the relation of occupation and education is addressed.
Criteria for a Panel
  • (Research Panel Only) Rigor/Trustworthiness (weight of 3): Degree to which described methods are of high quality.
  • (Research Panel Only) Coherence (3): Degree to which study backgrounds/rationales, purposes, methods, and results are clearly described.
  • (Theoretical Panel Only) Coherence (5): Degree to which clear backgrounds/rationales, succinct statements of intent, logical arguments, and conclusions are clearly described.
  • (Research or Theoretical Panel) Importance to Occupational Science (5): Degree to which a compelling contribution to occupational science and/or the mission of the SSO:USA is articulated.
  • Theme (3): Degree to which the relation of occupation and education is addressed.
Criteria for a Forum
  • Discussion Potential (weight of 3): Degree to which active discussion productive of new insights is likely to be evoked.
  • Originality (3): Degree to which new perspectives on occupational science are offered.
  • Importance to Occupational Science (5): Degree to which a compelling contribution to occupational science and/or the mission of the SSO:USA is articulated.
  • Theme (3): Degree to which the relation of occupation and education is addressed.
Criteria for Student Poster
  • Coherence (3): Degree to which undergraduate or graduate research or learning projects are clearly described.
  • Importance to Occupational Science (5): Degree to which a compelling contribution to occupational science and/or the mission of the SSO: USA is articulated.
  • Theme (3): Degree to which the relation of occupation and education is addressed.

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    QUICK CHECKLIST TO USE JUST PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR ABSTRACT

    • Uses APA format (single-spaced) and is 500 words or less (not including title, type of presentation, three key words, and a maximum of five key references).
    • Identifies type of abstract submission identified (research paper, theoretical paper, panel, forum, research poster, student poster).
    • Indicates if authors are interested in being considered for a poster presentation if they are declined for a research or theoretical paper.
    • Includes all author names, affiliations, and credentials included.
    • Includes the primary author’s email.
    • Meets all the criteria for the type of submission, especially a clear description of how the topic is important to building occupational science.

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