Six Steps to Stronger Journal Publication in Social Work

The context of professional and academic journal publication has changed dramatically and become increasingly competitive in social work in recent years. The number of new journals has increased; many publishers have launched online journals that promise to have articles available to readers within days, if not hours, of submission; and, the National Institutes of Health are now considering requiring all funded research that is published in a peer-reviewed journal to also be available free of charge (http://www.nih.gov/ about/publicaccess/publicaccess_QandA.htm). At the same time, the number of social work authors may not be expanding as rapidly as the number of publication outlets. Social work authors have always had the option and inclination to publish in social work journals as well as in a range of specialty-journals in their fields of practice. In addition to the increasingly competitive publication environment, a growing number of questions have been raised about the integrity of published articles, both in social work and in other fields. Cases of plagiarism and fraudulent data submission are not unusual. To address these issues, universities are developing policies to address academic fraud. They are investing significant sums of money to support institutional review boards (IRBs) to ensure the integrity of research conducted in their institutions. And, academic journals increasingly are developing policies to ensure the integrity of their publications, such as requiring certificates of IRB approval to accompany journal article submission. Professional and academic journals have a significant role in advancing the profession of social work. As the journal distributed to all members of the National Association of Social Workers, Social Work has a particular opportunity to contribute to the profession. Like all journals, Social Work is responsible for preserving and advancing our knowledge base. In addition, it is responsible for providing access to knowledge relevant to social work practice. The quality and effectiveness of services received by clients is directly informed and guided by the content of journal articles, and the integrity of these articles is of great import to the profession. For example, Social Work readers (see October 2004 editorial) told us that the most useful articles deal with a social problem or clinical diagnosis, intervention methods, population groups, and social work ethics. In identifying these areas, Social Work readers are defining the broad domain that is the profession of social work. Furthermore, in covering these broad substantive areas, Social Work has an opportunity to advance the profession by unifying it--that is, by both claiming and defining the practice of social work in all its diversity. Thus, for all journals in social work, and perhaps, especially, for Social Work, the stakes are high in terms of our interest in their quality and integrity. What can be done to address these important issues? In the list that follows, I outline six steps to increase the quality and impact of social work publications. The steps emerge from the analyses of the context of social work publication and from numerous Letters to the Editor that I have received (two appear in this issue) that suggested ways to improve this journal. 1. Recruit articles from diverse fields of practice and diverse methods to reflect and inform the diversity of the social work profession. It is obvious that journals publish only what is submitted. To the extent that journal editors determine that the content of their journal is not reflective of the mission of the journal and the diversity of social work, they should recruit submissions either individually or collectively through calls for papers. 2. Review available evidence about the quality and impact of social work journals; use evidence to increase quality and impact. …