Paul Sackett to Edit SIOP Interactive Exchange Journal: Article Proposals Sought
Leaetta Hough
The Dunnette Group, Ltd.
In September 2005, the Executive Committee endorsed the creation of a SIOP journal with an interactive exchange format and sent out an announcement to the membership calling for nominations for an individual to serve as the founding editor of the journal. A selection committee developed selection criteria and evaluated the nominees; Paul Sackett has accepted the invitation to serve as the journals founding editor.
Paul brings much useful experience to the position, including serving as SIOP president, serving as editor of
Personnel Psychology from 1984 to 1990, an extensive record of research accomplishment, a long history of involvement in the practice of I-O psychology, extensive work on public policy issues related to I-O psychology, and strong connections to the international I-O community. He is currently a professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota.
What will the journal look like?
The journal focuses on interactive exchanges on topics of importance to science and practice in our field. The journal will take a focal articlepeer commentaryresponse format. A focal article is a position paper on an important issue for the field (or potentially a pair of papers taking opposite sides in a debate). Such a focal article might summarize evidence on an issue and take a position as to implications for science, for practice, or for public policy. The paper might focus on a basic science issue, an applied science issue, a practice issue, or a public policy issue; many would be a blend. For example, a focal paper On the Temporal Stability of Personality might treat the basic research base on this issue, applied research issues in terms of implications for validation of personality measures for selection purposes, and practice issues in terms of implications for firms retesting and score retention policies.
The focal article will be followed by a series of peer commentaries. These could challenge or critique the original article, expand on issues not addressed in the focal article, or draw out implications not developed in the focal article. The goal is to include commentaries from various perspectives, including science, practice, and international perspectives. These commentaries will be followed by a response from the original author of the focal paper.
Whats the journals title?
This has yet to be determined. Paul is using the following as a working title:
INTERACTION: An Exchange of Perspectives on the Science and Practice of I-O Psychology
The journal will join TIP as a benefit that goes to all U.S., international, and student members. Members will have access to both paper and electronic versions.
Journal planning is just underway. Issues at hand include the appointment of an editorial board, the decision whether to self-publish or contract with an existing journal publisher, and the date for the inaugural issue of the journal.
Why is SIOP publishing such a journal?
Such a format can aid our science, our practice, and the interaction between science and practice. If done well, the journal will (a) increase communication between scientist and practitioner communities; (b) help identify gaps in our knowledge, both in terms of basic research and translating research to practice; and (c) give students coming into the field a richer appreciation for the range of issues and perspectives in the field.
None of the primary journals in applied psychology currently provides an outlet that is exclusively devoted to interactive exchanges. Thus, the journal brings something new to its readers rather than competing with existing journals for manuscripts that might be published elsewhere.
What is the editorial process?
Focal articles can be commissioned by the editor as well as submitted. Prior to submitting a paper as a potential focal article, authors are encouraged to submit a brief prospectus describing the proposed submission. All commissioned and submitted focal papers will be peer reviewed. Once accepted, a focal article will be placed on a Web site and SIOP members, subscribers, and members of other related fields and organizations (e.g., international I-O groups) will be invited to submit commentaries. As with focal articles, submitting a prospectus outlining the key points of the proposed commentary is encouraged; this will permit the editor to avoid redundancies in the commentaries. Editorial judgment will be used in determining which commentaries to publish. In addition, the editor will have discretionary authority to request commentaries on accepted articles. Once commentaries are determined, the author of the focal article will have the opportunity to write an integrative reply/rebuttal. The focal article and all commentaries will be published in the same issue of the journal.
I have an idea for a submission. What do I do next?
Individuals with ideas for a potential focal article that they would like to write or with ideas about topics that they would like to see addressed in the journal can contact Paul Sackett at
psackett@umn.edu, or by phone at 612-624-9842.
The adventure continues.
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