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Post by Ain't that special on Apr 7, 2015 17:35:28 GMT -5
Recently, I heard someone quip that it is easier to get published in special issues of journals. First, do you think there is any validity to this? Second, if this is a widely held belief ( and I'm not convinced it is widely believed or that it is accurate) do you think SC's and/or tenure committees will take this into consideration when evaluating publications?
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Post by yesno on Apr 7, 2015 18:38:49 GMT -5
Yes, it is a lot easier to get published in some special issues. There will be some special issues that will have open calls for papers that will be just as hard as a regular issue. But there are many special issues that will either already come with its own set of papers, or highly connected guest editors, and those will be much easier to get published in. If for no other reason than the fact that it would be hard to get a last minute replacement on a certain topic, so the editors themselves will be extra motivated to avoid keep papers bogged down in endless R&Rs. I don't think tenure committees or SCs take that into account, because from the outside it is impossible to tell one from the other.
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Editor friend told me...
Guest
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Post by Editor friend told me... on Apr 7, 2015 18:50:42 GMT -5
This is a commonly held belief. But an editor friend told me they get three times as many submissions to special issues as through the regular process. It's entirely possible that the quality of the submission is lower, but I can't imagine that it's that much lower that it'll provide a real boost.
This makes me think the conventional wisdom that says special issues are "easier" holds only in certain journals/issue areas, is overstated, or is simply wrong.
Of course, if your paper fits, it's probably worth sending anyway.
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Post by yesnoo on Apr 7, 2015 20:35:55 GMT -5
Which is why I said on "some" special issues. Special issues that have open calls for papers and all of that are likely as hard to get into as regular issues. But there are also special issues where there is no open call, and instead a guest editor picks and chooses a few people to be on it, and those will be easier to get accepted once you are in that group.
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Post by They are good on Apr 7, 2015 22:15:09 GMT -5
Kind of missing the point of special issues. The editors for this special edition actually care about the topic, so you probably have a more accurate reading of the value of your paper. So if you have something good to add, go for it. You will get smarter reviews and possibly greater attention since people in this reaserch area may actually read some the papers.
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Post by Miss Ann Thrope on Apr 9, 2015 13:49:42 GMT -5
Kind of missing the point of special issues. The editors for this special edition actually care about the topic, so you probably have a more accurate reading of the value of your paper. So if you have something good to add, go for it. You will get smarter reviews and possibly greater attention since people in this reaserch area may actually read some the papers. But I think you're missing the other point that is brought up. If it's invited, not an open call, often editors pick their friends and their friends' students, so it's not a judgment necessarily on good scholarship, but on networks (the two are not mutually exclusive) |
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Post by yesnoo on Apr 20, 2015 23:29:43 GMT -5
Yeah, that was my point. There are special issues where it is no different in terms of reviews as regular submissions. And then there are "we had a panel together at a conference" or "I am friends with the editor and wanted to get my students published" special issues where rejections simply do not happen.
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Post by Ain't that special on Apr 26, 2015 18:58:01 GMT -5
Thank you all for your thoughtful responses. In my case of the 7 articles I have published or going into press, 3 are in special issues. In these cases, one issue had a guest editor and the other two went through the regular editorship. All were peer reviewed. The truth is, with my book pubs I will be fine for tenure either way at my present institution. However, I have been back on the market and have given thought to eventually moving as an associate in a couple years. It is with this in mind that I have wondered how SC's might look at having 3 pubs all in special issues. I would NOT be applying for top R1 type places, but ideally elite SLCs. Any further thoughts given these details?
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Post by Ignorance on Apr 26, 2015 20:49:28 GMT -5
No one will know or discover that your pubs are in special issues unless you mention it. In this way, Google is our friend.
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Post by agreed on Apr 26, 2015 21:17:05 GMT -5
Yeah, the only way anyone will notice it is a special issue is if they have a print version in front of them. Even then, I doubt it would make a difference.
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Post by Ain't that special on Apr 27, 2015 11:08:09 GMT -5
No one will know or discover that your pubs are in special issues unless you mention it. In this way, Google is our friend. So, wait on your CV you wouldn't list special issue? It's generally part of the citation?  |
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Post by no? on Apr 27, 2015 12:28:14 GMT -5
No one will know or discover that your pubs are in special issues unless you mention it. In this way, Google is our friend. So, wait on your CV you wouldn't list special issue? It's generally part of the citation? I've never seen a citation include whether it was a special issue or not. To confirm this, I just went on google scholar and clicked on my most cited special issue paper. That paper has been cited 20+ times. I went through every paper that cited it an no one included that it was a special issue on the citation. |
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Post by sometimes on Apr 27, 2015 13:30:17 GMT -5
I've occasionally seen special issues be listed with an "s" by issue or in page numbers. But I think that's relatively rare.
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Post by seenit on Apr 27, 2015 13:35:13 GMT -5
I've occasionally seen special issues be listed with an "s" by issue or in page numbers. But I think that's relatively rare. I've only seen that happen when the special issue is an additional issue (i.e., not one of the regularly scheduled issues), and when the publication in question has sequential page numbers across issues within the same volume. |
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Post by Ain't that special on Apr 27, 2015 14:47:53 GMT -5
I've occasionally seen special issues be listed with an "s" by issue or in page numbers. But I think that's relatively rare. Thanks! This is very helpful!! |
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