Editorship transition: Reflections and acknowledgements

Abstract

) we reported our vision for the journal, introduced our editorial team, made transparent our editorial review process, and brought to the readers' attention new research tools and research directions. A re-examination of our vision for the journal is a fruitful way to begin this reflection. In our 2005 editorial, we stated that as new editors we intended to introduce the following new features to the journal: an electronic submission, review, and communication system; at times, conceptually grouped articles in individual issues as well as occasionally in special thematic issues; invited commentaries and editorials; and a commitment to publishing articles that demonstrated ''diverse research methods and theoretical perspectives from multiple disciplines'' (McGinnis & Collins, 2005, p. 2). We are pleased to report that in all of these features we made progress during our term. We implemented the electronic submission, review, and communication system (ScholarOne Manuscripts) on the first day of our editorship, January 1, 2005. We conceptually grouped articles in individual issues 26 times during our term as editors (see Table 1); we solicited and published several commentaries and editorials; and we published two Special Thematic Issues titled ''Learning Progressions'' and ''Scientific Literacy and Contexts in PISA Science'' (volume 26, issues 6 and 8), respectively. Regarding our commitment to publishing a diversity of articles by new and veteran authors worldwide that demonstrated various methodologies and theoretical perspectives our record is solid. Approximately 30% of the published first authors during our tenure were based in institutions outside the United States, and the range of theoretical perspectives and methodologies featured in all articles were broad and inclusive. These results align directly with the NARST Mission Statement that guided us throughout our editorial decision-making:NARST promotes [scientific literacy] by encouraging and supporting the application of diverse research methods and theoretical perspectives from multiple disciplines to the investigation of teaching and learning in science.Other contributions we made to the journal follow: a listing of key words for each article; a yearly published acknowledgement of reviewers; a sharing of all reviews of a manuscript, including the publication decision, with all reviewers of the manuscript (reviewers' and authors' names masked to support the anonymous review policy of the journal); and a new journal cover that symbolically represents the encompassing influence of the journal on scholarship in the field. In response to our commitment to make all aspects of the journal transparent and accessible to the association's membership, we made annual calls in the NARSTNews and the NARST All Member Listserv for new editorial board members. Finally, we also continued the transparent practice established by our recent predecessors of publishing a detailed annual report of the journal.