Hello Everyone - How are you?

Welcome to new members on our list - apologies I have been out of touch - I am feeling so much 
better now - I hope you are in good health too.  Lots of news to pass on and an invitation to start:
I am grateful to Brian Wakeman convenor for the Practitioner Researcher SIG - I have adapted this!

Papers for the next BERA conference at the Institute of Education, University of London (5th  
September to 8th September 2007) will be subject to a refereeing process. This will be conducted 
by SIG members. Authors will be required to nominate the SIG that should consider each paper.

To do this we now need to identify members of our SIG who would be willing to review abstracts, 
probably 6.  This depends on how many proposals have been submitted. I'd appreciate hearing 
from you by by November 17th 2006 if you are willing to undertake this role. Please do volunteer.

Each review means considering a 600 word abstract in terms of its domain of enquiry; research 
questions/ focus of enquiry; data collection methods or mapping of literature; theoretical or 
analytical framework; research findings or contribution to knowledge.  (It is straightforward).

Our SIG reviewers will be looking at the proposals for symposia as well as individual papers and 
this means looking for coherence between papers that is demonstrated in a (separate) 400 word 
abstract. Each symposium would have its component papers reviewed by the same two reviewers.

The time scale for this is likely to be as follows:

  •       Abstracts submitted 19th January
  •       On-line abstract review from Fri 2nd Feb to Mon 19th Feb
 
In order to take part in this process it is essential that as a reviewer you will be available during 
the February review period and have the time to review approximately ten 600 word abstracts.

Once referees have been identified Carole Leathwood and Ralf St.Clair of the BERA conference 
committee will be in touch with more details regarding the process.  Can I just remind you that if 
you are able to offer your help as a referee it is essential to declare any conflict of interest when 
you review - for example please don't review proposals from colleagues in your own institution.

Thank you for your support, looking forward to hearing from you - reviewing is very interesting!

Warm regards,

Sarah,

SIG Convenor