Sociological Forum

[eastsoc]

Does anybody have recent experiences with Sociological Forum? There are some reports on the soc journals wiki, but they are a few years old at this point.

[goodexp]

I submitted a few years ago. I received thorough reviews within a reasonable time frame (3 months I think). Their acceptance rate has gotten pretty low.

[rejected]

I submitted to them a couple of years ago. Turnaround time was three months. The comments were pretty positive and very helpful, but they rejected the article. (Editor said they only publish 1/10 submissions.) Based upon the comments, I revised the article and it was published in a comparable journal. A good experience because the comments were helpful and the turnaround time was fast -- about as good as it gets for a rejection.

[editorschoice]

After really mixed reviews in which two readers liked my paper, and one did not, the editor decided to reject the paper outright.

[otherside]

I had the opposite outcome as the previous poster. One positive review, one negative. The editor gave me the chance at an R&R and it was subsequently published.

Editorial discretion cuts both ways. But it might be better than fetishization of crappy reviews by some editorial boards. Naming no names but it's initial are American Sociological Review.

[not sure]

Otherside,

Can you explain what you mean by editorial boards (ASR) "fetishizing negative reviews?"

[not sure]

*crappy* reviews, that is. Crappy is different than negative, but I still don't get your comment.

[samoth]

I had an excellent experience with SF. Three reviews+helpful decision letter in less than 3 months. 1 more month for decision after I sent in the revised version.

[Good experience]

I had a pretty good experience with Forum.


2 months for initial R&R with 4 reviewers (felt like at least two were grad student reviewers, judging by the content/speed)
3 months for second R&R, with 2 reviewers (both repeated from first round)-editor actually apologized for it taking so long!!
1 month for accept (no reviewers, though I was told it went out to reviewers)
10-12 months for paper to actually be published.

I was surprised to get the second R&R with reviews that felt more like a "conditional accept"...though, perhaps Forum doesn't do conditional accepts. In any event, these turnaround times are insanely fast compared to other journals I have submitted to. Some pretty big names have submitted empirical work here, so I hope that keeps up.

[good here too]

I also had a good experience here recently. 2 months from submission to R&R, very clear and reasonable suggestions from the three reviewers and editor.

[great]

2 months from submission to R&R (3 reviews with thoughtful comments + good direction from editor), another 2 months for an accept. will definitely submit again, and would recommend it to others.

[Hi Tim]

Hi!