Sociological Forum Journal at UD
University of Delaware sociology and criminal justice faculty members Tammy L. Anderson, Ann V. Bell, and Asia Friedman are the current editors of the Sociological Forum, the flagship journal of the Eastern Sociological Society. Sociological Forum is a leading general sociology journal whose broad scope allows for deep engagement in a variety of important sociological topics and debates.
The peer-reviewed, quarterly journal is known for publishing theoretically rich and methodologically diverse research on issues of fundamental importance to the study of society. Because of past editors' rigorous commitments to quality, Sociological Forum articles command a strong presence, with a 1.867 impact factor score (and a 5-year impact factor score of 2.343).
Vision
Given its strong reputation and intellectual rigor, Anderson, Bell, and Friedman are excited to bring the Sociological Forum to the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware.
Acknowledging the strong foundation created by prior editors, they aim to build on the journal's impact, success, and quality while also enhancing it with new editorial perspectives and several exciting initiatives to broaden the journal's impact and increase engagement. They will continue to grow the journal's submission rate and maintain timely reviews and editorial decisions.
A Statement of Key Innovations
Review Articles
We are expanding the journal's regularly featured article types to include review articles. Review articles allow for critical engagement with a particular area of research or theory and recommend useful areas for further empirical and methodological exploration.
Public Engagement
To maintain and grow the impact and reputation of the journal, it is necessary to reach beyond the confines of academia. As editors, we will strive to make Sociological Forum scholarship accessible to the public. To do so, we will increase the journal's media presence with the following innovations:
- Social media fellowship: This will be awarded to a graduate student to focus exclusively on enhancing Sociological Forum's public engagement. Using a variety of platforms (e.g., Instagram, Bluesky, press releases, etc.), the social media fellow will publicize the journal's important scholarship in an effort to reach a wider audience and attract new readers. The social media fellow will be advised by a media consultant.
- Media consultant: In addition to having a dedicated social media fellow, we will consult with a professional expert in the field (an editor at the Wall Street Journal) to further the 'public sociology' of Sociological Forum scholarship. Our hope is to increase opportunities for op-eds and similar wide-reaching platforms to further the impact of the journal's published scholarship.
- Author outreach: As other peer-reviewed journals have done, we will develop and maintain a list of media contacts and templates for contacting journalists. We will provide these resources to authors of accepted publications and encourage them to utilize such tools to enhance the visibility of their work and that of the Sociological Forum.
Inaugural Author Award
We are implementing an Inaugural Author Award to help support and mentor up-and-coming sociologists. This award will be given annually to a first-time contributor to the journal.
Pedagogy Committee
We are creating a Pedagogy Committee (graduate student-led) at the journal composed of graduate students from different universities. This committee will develop teaching materials using the journal's scholarship, and will also provide opportunities for both peer-to-peer and faculty-graduate student mentorship.
UD Affiliations
- Katie Mirance
- Chair of the Sociological Forum's Pedagogy Committee
- Graduate student within the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
- Blue Hen Marketing Club
- Designed the new Sociological Forum cover and logo.
