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Special Issues and/or Special Sections of the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology: An Overview of Their Rationale, Preparation, and Delivery The Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology (JCCP) provides for the publication of three types of material: 1) regular unsolicited manuscripts, 2) special issues or special sections of regular issues, and 3) book reports. The publication of unsolicited manuscripts comprises the great majority of our efforts and space. However, the nature and scope of cross-cultural psychology is such that an important part of JCCP's policies is to publish special issues "depending upon current needs, emerging trends, and readership interest" (taken from JCCP's masthead publication policy). Special issues (a term used to include the consideration of special sections of regular issues as well) serve as a vital outlet for all cross-cultural psychologists and others who wish to contribute to state-of-the-art developments in specific domains. Included in such an effort could be (but are not limited to) the discussion or presentation of important trends, the synthesis of a particular theoretical perspective, new formulations that attempt to explain relationships between psychological topics and their cultural variations, innovations in method, and so on. Any topic or perspective that may make a major contribution to cross-cultural psychology will be considered. The overall intent is to provide a forum for the integration of research results, theoretical considerations, and suggestions for future scholarship in a particular area of scholarship and research. Common Questions and Answers about Special Issues How Do Special Issues Originate and Who is Involved? Ideas for special issues normally come from interested and creative scholars in the area. They may see a critical need for special attention to a particular topic, or they may consider it timely to synthesize or summarize a large volume of research in a specific area of inquiry. Occasionally, JCCP's Editorial Board may identify a strong need for a special issue and therefore take the initiative by seeking the advice and assistance of selected scholars. Special issues may be developed by one person or by several. Usually, one or two individuals will serve as Guest Editor(s) for a special issue. Guest Editor(s) will have the responsibility of putting together the issue, in close consultation with the Senior Editor and other members of the Editorial Board. For instance, the most recent special issue, "Perspectives on Cultural Transmission" (Vol. 32, No. 2, March 2001) was guest-edited by Ute Schönpflug and included nine separate articles plus an introduction. The January 1998 (Vol. 29, No. 1) special issue, "Personality and Its Measurement in Cross-Cultural Perspective", was co-edited by A.T. Church and W. J. Lonner. It contained 12 invited articles plus an introduction. How Frequently are Special Issues Published? Our editorial policies give top priority to the publication of unsolicited manuscripts, but of course after they go through the peer review and evaluation process. Being careful not to exacerbate our publication lag, it is believed that we could absorb the publication of a special issue once every 12-16 months, depending on the nature and availability of suitable material. Preparation time from date of acceptance of a proposal and actual publication will take at least a year, depending upon various factors. The publication of special sections would, of course, normally take much less time than the publication of an entire special issue. Who Makes Decisions About the Publication of Special Issues? Once a topic or an idea for a special issue is suggested and outlined in enough detail to be evaluated, the Senior Editor will initiate a review procedure. Others who help review submissions will normally include the Editor, Associate Editors, and possibly one or more external reviewers. The evaluation and review process is extremely important because it is through this mechanism that excellent ideas for a special issue can become even better. How Much Control or Influence Would a Guest Editor Have in the Overall Production of a Special Issue? Once a special issue is approved, the Guest Editor(s) will have almost complete responsibility in working with all individuals who are involved. This will include receiving and editing the manuscripts and assembling the entire issue for publication. The Guest Editor(s) will, however, normally work closely with the Senior Editor regarding such matters as space allocations, stylistic considerations, difficult challenges in editing certain manuscripts, monitoring overall progress, meeting deadlines set by the publisher, and reading and editing the page proofs. If deemed necessary, the Guest Editor(s), at his or her discretion, will seek advice from external experts. The Senior Editor and Editor must approve the final set of manuscripts prior to publication. The common goal is the production of special issues of the highest quality. What Should I do if I Believe I Have a Good Idea for a Special Issue? You should contact the Senior Editor. If you prefer, however, to get some preliminary comments before "formally" submitting your idea, you may want to discuss the matter with the Senior Editor, the Editor, or one of the Associate Editors. You should not contact anyone at Sage Publications, for you will only be referred to the key members of the Editorial Board. If I Suggest an Idea or Topic for a Special Issue, What are the Chances of it Being Published? The answer to this question will be based on the careful evaluation of the idea or topic. Obviously, well-planned ideas with solid rationale for their development as a special issue will have a much better chance of being evaluated positively. However, even if an idea or topic is not fully developed it may be well worth reviewing. It is quite possible that members of the Editorial Board could help in developing and refining the initial idea and also suggesting individuals whom the Guest Editor may ask to participate. How Soon Will a Decision on My Submission Be Reached? Decisions will be reached as soon as possible. Some ideas may have to be rejected outright, while it may take a few weeks to consider more promising submissions. Is There Any Compensation for Putting Together a Special Issue? The compensation for involvement in a special issue can be summarized in two words: Scholarly accomplishment. There can be, and often is, considerable prestige associated with the publication of a special issue. If it does its intended job, a special issue could be a major citation for years to come as a significant contribution to the literature. A quality special issue can have as much influence as a small book, and perhaps even more, because it would be immediately received by a large number of individuals, libraries, and institutions. Any academician knows how vital special issues of key journals can be, for they often herald the beginning of new ways to look at various phenomena -- in our case, the complex relationships between psychology and culture. You may have other questions. If so, here is the primary contact information:
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