New International Journal
"Longitudinal & Life Course Studies"

Sponsored by the Nuffield Foundation

Background

The purpose of the new Journal is to provide an outlet for people across the world, working in the field of longitudinal research, to publish substantive and methodological articles on their work, within the broad framework of life course enquiry.

Longitudinal research is a burgeoning field with numerous large scale studies launched at the start of the new century. Such studies yield data that are enormously valuable in epidemiological enquiries tracing the aetiology of illnesses back to early life experiences and biological foundations and the processes of physical and mental development from early life onwards. In the social and behavioural sciences there are also returns to be gained from investigating the origins of different statuses in adult life and the factors shaping the transitions leading to them in the family, education, the workplace and the community.

Life course enquiry stresses the holistic nature of human development, drawing out the connections between developmental processes in the different life course domains of family, school, employment, community, health and citizenship. It emphasises the key importance of the shaping influences on development of age, period and cohort, the timing of transitions through life, social relationships as expressed through the idea of linked lives and the role of personal agency, alongside social structural factors (gender, ethnicity, social class and locality).

Research papers from social, developmental and health scientists, from policy researchers and from those using longitudinal data in policy development and evaluation will be welcomed.

The content of each edition of the journal will comprise at least six academic papers of up to 5,000 words each – shorter or longer papers (up to 7,000 words also occasionally acceptable), followed by brief research digests, news items and book reviews in due course.

Four issues per year are anticipated, starting with two in the first year.

Editorial board

 

The Editor is Professor John Bynner, (Director of Longview and previously the director of the 1958 and 1970 Birth Cohort Studies in the UK). There are four Section Editors -

Professor Robert Erikson (Social and Economic Sciences)

Professor Michael Wadsworth (Health Sciences)

Professor Barbara Maughan (Developmental and Psychological Sciences)

Professor Harvey Goldstein (Methodology and Statistics)

The editors, combined with an international and distinguished Board Membership, collectively represent the extensive range of disciplines and interests involved in longitudinal and life course research.

To view the full Editorial Board please click here

Longview base

The lack of any equivalent publication anywhere else in the world devoted exclusively to longitudinal research prompted Longview's interest in developing this new journal. Longview is an independent 'think tank' established in 2005, now merged with the International Centre for Child Studies. The mission is promoting longitudinal research, improving the links between longitudinal research and policy, transforming methodological development into improved practice and the integration of different disciplinary perspectives across the social behavioural and medical sciences. Longview is well-placed to develop and house the journal and is convinced that there is a niche to be filled in this area.

Examples of topics that will be appropriate for the new journal

  • Comparative studies, over time and between countries, of the development of childhood obesity and its long-term effects.
  • Studies of the protective value of the occupational environment in relation to ageing in terms, for instance, of midlife cognitive function.
  • The social and economic returns to educational qualifications in different countries with changing educational systems; effects of globalisation on life course construction.
  • Optimum ways of reducing and compensating for attrition in longitudinal surveys.
  • Life course outcomes of early intervention programmes.
  • The work-life balance, antecedents and outcomes.
  • The timing and sequencing of developmental transitions under new socio-economic conditions.
  • Dyslexia – its identification and developmental consequences.

Submission of papers

The Journal will be produced and published electronically. Authors, reviewers and editors will log into the website, where each will have access to defined areas, and will be able to track the progress of relevant papers. The Managing Editor in consultation with the Executive Editor and Section Editors, assisted by the Associate Editors with specialist expertise, will forward them to peer reviewers as appropriate. A standard peer review system will be employed involving two peer reviewers for each article, followed by editorial decision whether to publish or refer back to authors for minor or major revision.

Production

Two issues initially rising to four a year

Design to include logos and attractive front cover. Policy for advertisements is under review.

Market

The market for the journal comprises academic researchers in social science, behavioural science and medical science throughout the world and policy people with an interest in longitudinal enquiry. The major professional associations will be approached to circulate a flyer about the journal. All university libraries will also be contacted.

Subscriptions

The journal will be available online free of charge, although readers will need to log-in. There is no publication charge to authors for papers that have been accepted for the journal. Whether to introduce a paid subscription will be reviewed after the first year of publication.

Launch

October 2008, with the first issue to be published in Spring 2009.

Submission deadlines:

1st issue - 30th November, 2008

2nd issue - 30th April, 2009

For further information please email the Journal Managing Editor, Jane Raimes:

janeraimes@longviewuk.com