Journal of Scientific Exploration
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The Journal of Scientific Exploration (JSE) is a quarterly publication of the Society for Scientific Exploration (founded in 1982). According to its mission statement, this publication "was established in 1987 to provide a professional forum for the presentation, scrutiny and criticism of scientific research on topics outside the established disciplines of mainstream science." [1]
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[edit] Topics and policies
The JSE was initially established to provide a scientific forum for three main fields that had largely been neglected by mainstream science: ufology, cryptozoology, and parapsychology. They have also published scientific papers, essays and book reviews on alternative medicine, astrology, consciousness, reincarnation and other paranormal phenomena. [1][2]
Bernard Haisch and Martha Sims, respectively past editor in chief and past executive director, describe the Journal of Scientific Exploration "as peer-reviewed Journal following the customs and standards of academic journals but designed specifically for the scholarly study of anomalies".[1][2] Its "Instructions for Authors" states that papers are subjected to peer review "at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief".[3] This discretionary use of refereeing is partly because fringe science or protoscience sometimes do not have established methodologies or frameworks for study. The policy of the journal is to maintain a critical view by presenting both sides of an argument so as not to advocate for or against any of the published topics.[4][5] The Journal's mission statement defines it as a publication which provides "a professional forum for presentations, criticism, and debate concerning topics which are for various reasons ignored or studied inadequately within mainstream science." [1]
Some observers regard the JSE as a legitimate attempt to explore the frontiers of science,[6][7] while others view it as a forum for scientifically objectionable or dubious ideas.[8] Some academics have also noted that JSE publishes on anomalous issues, topics often on the fringe of science.[9] Michael D. Lemonick wrote an article about the Society for Scientific Exploration called Science on the Fringe for Time Magazine. [10]
[edit] Refereeing
The editors explain that "in established disciplines, concordance with accepted disciplinary paradigms is the chief guide in evaluating material for scholarly publication. On the matters of interest to the Society for Scientific Exploration, however, consensus does not prevail. Therefore the Journal of Scientific Exploration necessarily publishes claimed observations and proffered explanations that will seem more speculative or less plausible than in some mainstream disciplinary journals. Nevertheless, those observations and explanations must conform to rigorous standards of observational techniques and logical argument." [11]
[edit] Key personnel
[edit] Editors-in-Chief
- Ronald A. Howard (management science, Stanford University), Founder and Editor-in-Chief 1987-1988
- Bernard Haisch (astrophysics, UC Berkeley) Editor-in-Chief 1988-1999 [2][12]
- Henry Bauer (chemistry, VPI) 1999-present [13]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Journal of Scientific Exploration website
- ^ a b c http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/articles/pdf/18.1_haisch_sims.pdf B.Haisch, M.Sims, A Retrospective on the Journal of Scientific Exploration, JSE Vol 18, No 1 (2004)
- ^ http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/author_instr.php JSE Instructions for Authors
- ^ http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/v11n1.php JSE Vol 11, No 1 (Spring 1997) - as an example for presenting both sides of an argument (Mars effect)
- ^ http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/v12n1.php JSE Vol 12, No 1 (Spring 1998) - as an example for presenting both sides of an argument (Roswell)
- ^ http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/college/specialinterestgroups/spirituality/resources/journals.aspx A Resource List for the Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
- ^ http://www.hist.unt.edu/web_resources/anth_journal.htm Journals and Other Media at the Department of History of the University of North Texas
- ^ See archives on [1]
- ^ Cross A (2004). The Flexibility of Scientific Rhetoric: A Case Study of UFO Researchers. Qualitative Sociology. Volume 27, Number 1 / March, 2004
- ^ Lemonick MD (May 24, 2005). Science on the Fringe. Time
- ^ Instructions for Authors
- ^ http://www.manyone.net/about/management/bernard-haisch.html ManyOne - Management: Dr. Bernard Haisch, Ph.D.
- ^ http://spec.lib.vt.edu/mss/bauer.html Henry H. Bauer Papers, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
[edit] External links
- Journal of Scientific Exploration, the JSE website
- Society for Scientific Exploration, publisher of JSE
