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Hi all, Sorry to be the negative (sorry, realistic!) one here, but while I fully support the CSRG being proactive about getting cycling research published, in a collaborative and cooperative way, the idea of a journal worries me for a couple of reasons. 1) whilst it could be useful for raising the profile of cycling research, it could also reinforce our marginality. 2) more importantly, I'm not convinced we could generate more than a couple of issues of material using credible peer review, before grinding to a creative halt. A dedicated journal would need everybody doing any cycling research across the world to submit a paper at least once every year or two in order to fill each issue, to the exclusion of any other publishing options they might prefer to take. Given that proper peer review will knock out a percentage of papers submitted as not of high enough quality, I seriously doubt the ability to sustain enough submissions to publish a regular journal. I don't know how things went in planning this year for the UWE meeting, but the symposium last year included every paper submitted, allowing us to just fill all the slots available. But for good peer review you need more being submitted than you have space for (even if some get polished up for resubmission later). On that basis, we'd have to accept everything without peer review, or risk having nothing to include. I think it's also rather telling that the enthusiastic responses so far show there could be more people on the editorial board than there are submitting papers. On a more positive note, there are alternative options. 1) Publish the symposium proceedings annually, whether electronic or physical, perhaps parallel to the cycle history conference proceedings as Nicholas has encouraged previously. Not peer reviewed, but could that be built into it? I don't see why not, as we did with the first C&S book (editor-reviewed, anyway). I think an annual publication has more chance of being credible than more frequent journal issues. 2) Publish a second Cycling and Society book, assuming that sales of the first one are doing well enough (I'm only one of the editors, so don't actually know ;) ) 3) A collective strategy for getting cycling research papers published in other journals - we could, for example, identify potential journals and share info with each other eg help each other identify a journal to submit to, and offer to read each other's drafts prior to submission, moving the group slightly closer towards an actual research group that does things between symposia. (reading/discussion group, anybody?) 4) Publish a series of online papers rather than a journal. We could have an editorial board setting out a strategy for how this should be developed - e.g. decide which topics ought to be covered and issue calls or invite people to fill relevant gaps, and identify how frequently to add new papers. Could this also be peer reviewed? How would it play re. RAE? Or use it to share work in progress . . . ?? If any of these options gets taken forward, we'd need to build up a bank of peer reviewers from outside the cycling research world. And I'd be more than happy for Chester to host anything that emerges unless there's a good reason not to. So, Peter, thanks for making this suggestion. Whilst I don't agree with it, it's been really useful for stimulating enthusiasm and will hopefully lead us to a positive outcome. Best, Paul on 15/9/08 6:36 PM, Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I agree too. > Happy to contribute > Yiannis Yiannoulis > Lecturer of Accounting & Auditing > Technological Educational Institute of Crete > School of Management & Economics > Accounting Department > Stavromenos Herakleion > Crete 71 500 > Tel: +30 2810 320 189 > Mobile:+30 697 678 89 85 > > ________________________________ > > Από: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list εκ μέρους Rachel Aldred > Αποστολή: Δευ 15/9/2008 6:36 μμ > Προς: [log in to unmask] > Θέμα: Re: e-journal? > > Sounds interesting. > > I would be interested in being part of the editorial team too, if you are > looking for additional sociologists. > > Dr. Rachel Aldred > Lecturer in Sociology > School of Social Sciences, Media & Cultural Studies > University of East London > Docklands Campus > 4-6 University Way > London > E16 2RD > Tel: 020 8223 4289 > > -----Original Message----- > From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Jones > Sent: 15 September 2008 16:19 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: e-journal? > > Peter > > I support this motion and happy to put my name forward to be on editorial > team. RICS - not to be confused with the Royal Institute of Chartered > Surveyors! > > Tim Jones > Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development > & Department of Planning > School of the Built Environment > Oxford Brookes University > Gipsy Lane Campus > Oxford OX3 0BP > Tel +44 (0)1865 483436 > Email [log in to unmask] > >> Hello all, >> >> Full of inspiration after the UWE gathering, I've been having a word with >> our university research office and the possibility is present to establish >> a formal, peer-reviewed, online journal e.g. "Research in Cycling and >> Society". >> >> The first question is whether there would be sufficient support for me to >> go ahead with this . >> >> It would be hosted by University of Chester but have a web portal of its >> own. >> The possibility exists there for any other institution or department to be >> listed as a supporter if willing to provide a nominal sum to help >> establish the nec. seed capital and finance for copy editing. >> >> Volunteers would also be needed to be part of the editorial team. >> I'd be happy to co-ordinate. >> >> This would provide us with an initial voice and outlet for our various >> bits of research that we are engaged with and an ongoing means of >> publication for those necessary bits of work that don't seem to always >> find a home in other journals, and for the publication of developed >> conference papers. >> >> What do people think? >> > > >