Writing and Reviewing for Refereed Journals: Discussion with Editorial Advisory Board Members

The new Editor in Chief and new members of the Families and Society Editorial Advisory Board will share tips for planning, preparing and submitting manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals, as well as advice for engaging in ethical, constructive peer review.

Families in Society (FIS), the first journal of social work research, has been published for over 100 years. FIS focuses on micro and macro practice that fosters whole-person well-being and helps individuals, families, and communities to thrive. The longevity of FIS is proof of how research can (a) drive a social change agenda and (b) be influenced by changes in the societal and cultural milieu. New members of the Editorial Advisory board as well as the newly appointed Editor in Chief will lead the discussion.

This session provides information and tips for planning, preparing, submitting, and reviewing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. New emerging considerations will also be presented, including the use of journal article reporting standards (JARS) and other checklists to guide empirical research submissions, bias-free language, and ways to increase awareness and rigor when addressing health disparities, structural racism, or race as a variable. Important emerging antiracist publishing guidelines for authors, reviewers and editors will be discussed.

An emphasis will be placed on how the field thinks about "good" research and peer review, using Families in Society as an example of how multiple competencies and values feed into social work's efforts with battling inequities and building solutions. The roundtable will focus on the positioning of research on the scholarship continuum (field knowledge, research, practice innovation, peer review, dissemination, etc.) as a way to strengthen the connection between research design and measurement (as well as methods and types) and social change, community impact, and equity and inclusion. Discussion will include the ideas of transformational research, the opportunities or drawbacks of a "disruptive" social work research agenda, and compositional changes to the scholarship and dissemination process that can effectively advance the knowledge base of social work art, science, and practice.

New members of the Families in Society (FIS) Editorial Advisory Board and the new Editor in Chief will share their experiences with article preparation and the review process, and recommendations for improving publication success. Board members will also share best practices for ethical, constructive and beneficial peer review and its importance for knowledge development in the field of social work research and practice. Specific information will also be shared about FIS, including the aim and purpose of the journal, additional tips for successful submissions to FIS, as well as opportunities to serve as a peer reviewer.

Time will be allocated for question and answer after an initial panel presentation. Learning Objectives 1. Recognize the aim and purpose of Families in Society, and article submissions that fit within this aim and purpose. 2. Describe specific strategies to increase the publication of high-quality articles in peer-reviewed journals. 3. Describe key principles of ethical, constructive and meaningful peer review.