Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Editorial Life at a Small Regional Journal: Simultaneously at the Margins and in the Thick of Things

  • Published:
The American Sociologist Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this essay I discuss how my editorship of Sociological Focus, the official journal of the North Central Sociological Association, simultaneously places me at the margins, in relation to top-tier journals, and in the thick of things, in relation to the authors and reviewers who participate in the journal. All editors face issues related to the review process and, occasionally at least, struggle with decisions. Given the hierarchical nature of the discipline, however, editors of journals at the lower end of the rankings face additional dilemmas related to fairness and access. Concluding that the margin is a bustling place where lots of sociology gets done, I end with a strong plea that we protect our regional journals and keep them vibrant and inclusive. The easiest way to do that is for all of us to publish in them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bartowski, J. P., Deem, C. S., & Ellison, C. G. (2015). Publishing in academic journals: strategic advice for doctoral students and academic mentors. The American Sociologist, 45(1), 99–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, M. J., & Burdsall, T. (2014). Research-in-progress sessions create a more inclusive and engaging regional conference. The American Sociologist, 45(2–3), 177–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, S. (1993). A note from the editor. the editor’s view: why most of the articles in sociology journals are boring and what could be done about it. Sociological Forum, 8(3), 337–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, S. (1995). Some problems of the discipline: note from the editor. Sociological Forum, 10(3), 353–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, J. R., & Cole, S. (1973). Social stratification in science. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, J. A., & Fonow, M. M. (1984). Am I my sister’s gatekeeper? Cautionary tales from the academic hierarchy. Humanity & Society, 8(4), 442–452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Editors. 1977. The Editors’ page. Sociological Quarterly 18(3):303–304.

  • Elliott, J., & O’Brien, R. (2012). Letter from the co-editors of sociological perspectives. Sociological Perspectives, 55(4), 555–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ender, M., & Huang, S. (1999). Revisiting regional traditions: an emerging sociology of the great planes. The American Sociologist, 30(1), 37–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herring, C. (2013). Critical diversity and departmental rankings in sociology. The American Sociologist, 44(3), 267–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschauer, S. (2010). Editorial judgments: a praxeology of ‘voting’ in peer review. Social Studies of Science, 40(1), 71–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, D. (1999). Ascription or productivity? the determinants of departmental success in the NRC quality ratings. Social Science Research, 28, 228–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, J. A. (2009). Where credit is due: assessing the visibility of articles published in gender & society with google scholar. Gender & Society, 23(6), 817–832.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, J. A. (2011). Journal rankings in sociology: Using the h index with google scholar. PSC Wording Paper Series: University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons. http://repository.upenn.edu/psc_working_papers/29 .

    Google Scholar 

  • Keith, B. (2004). Disciplinary culture and organizational dissonance: the regional association in American sociology. Sociological Focus, 37(2), 83–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keith, B., & Babchuk, N. (1994). A longitudinal assessment of productivity in prominent sociology journals and departmental prestige. The American Sociologist, 25(4), 4–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGarty, C. (2000). The citation impact factor in social psychology: a bad statistic that encourages bad science. Current Research in Social Psychology, 5(1), 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Migliaccio, T., & Murphy, J. (2014). Do regional associations meet the career needs of teacher-scholars? The American Sociologist, 45(2–3), 274–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niemonen, J. (1997). The race relations problematic in American sociology: a case study and critique. The American Sociologist, 28(1), 15–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roche, T., & Smith, D. L. (1978). Frequency of citations as criterion for the ranking of departments, journals, and individuals. Sociological Inquiry, 48(1), 49–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowell, K. R. (2010). The community college conundrum: pitfalls and possibilities of professional sociological associations. Sociological Focus, 43(3), 167–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, J., Elliott, J. R., & O’Brien, R. M. (2014). The regional journal in sociology: recent trends and observations. The American Sociologist, 45(2–3), 185–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D. A. (2014). Some thoughts on journal publishing in the 21st century. The American Sociologist, 45(2–3), 192–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitullo, M. W., & Spalter-Roth, R. (2013). Contests for professional status: community college faculty in sociology. The American Sociologist, 44(4), 349–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, K. B., Gast, J., & Grant, L. (1992). Visibility and dissemination of women’s and men’s sociological scholarship. Social Problems, 39(3), 291–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weeber, S. C. (2006). Elite versus mass sociology: an elaboration on sociology’s academic caste system. The American Sociologist, 37(4), 50–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wellington, J., & Nixon, J. (2005). Shaping the field: the role of academic journal editors in the construction of education as a field of study. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 26(5), 643–655.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45220, USA

    Annulla Linders

Authors
  1. Annulla Linders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annulla Linders.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Linders, A. Editorial Life at a Small Regional Journal: Simultaneously at the Margins and in the Thick of Things. Am Soc 47, 225–237 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-016-9312-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-016-9312-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation