Strategies for Scientific Journals to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Scholarship, Science, and Practice
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Internationally, colleagues from minoritized groups and backgrounds are typically underrepresented within scientific journals. The benefits and importance of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, to further enhance science, scholarship, and practice are increasingly evident. Historical systems, structures, beliefs, policies, processes, and practices often advantage some and disadvantage others (e.g., racial, ethnic, gender minorities), thus, it is important to be reflective and proactive in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion in scientific journals.
Aims: It is imperative that leaders of scientific journals engage in intentional, purposeful, and sustained actions to advocate for and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, scholarship, science, and practice. There are numerous strategies that may be implemented by journal leadership to contribute to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Methods: Herein, a succinct summary of several recommendations is provided, followed by a case study illustrating the implementation of actionable strategies and current outcomes associated with the School Psychology Review journal. Strategies discussed include: (a) establishing individual and collective commitments to advocating for and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion as the foundation of our scholarship; (b) diversifying the journal leadership; (c) diversifying the editorial advisory board; (d) preparing future diverse journal leadership through mentored editorial fellowship programs, especially focused on early research career individuals; (e) mentoring future colleagues by establishing a student editorial board with members from diverse backgrounds; (f) focusing on special topics relevant to diverse and minoritized children, youth, families, and school communities; (g) making available professional-development opportunities and resources; and (h) establishing a journal action plan focused on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Results: The outcomes delineated in the present case study illustrate that the journal engages and benefits from the contributions of many distinguished colleagues from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Moreover, the journal contents that have followed from these efforts further advance science, scholarship, and practice that supports disadvantaged children, youth, and families, including those from minoritized groups.
Conclusions: Colleagues, organizations, and entities involved with scientific journals around the world are encouraged to advance and sustain diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in science, scholarship, and practice.
Article Details
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
References
2. Jimerson, S. R., Arora, P., Blake, J. J., Canivez, G. L., Espelage, D. L., Gonzalez, J. E., Graves, S. L., Huang, F. L., January, S. A., Renshaw, T. L., Song, S. Y., Sullivan, A. L., Wang, C., & Worrell, F. C. Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in school psychology: Be the change. School Psychology Review, 2021; 50(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.1889938
3. García-Vázquez, E., Reddy, L., Arora, P., Crepeau-Hobson, F., Fenning, P., Hatt, C., Hughes, T. L., Jimerson, S., Malone, C., Minke, K., Radliff, K., Raines, T., Song, S., & Vaillancourt Strobach, K. School psychology unified anti-racism statement and call to action. School Psychology Review, 2020; 49(3), 209–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2020.1809941
4. Rosenkranz, K. M., Arora, T. K., Termuhlen, P. M., Stain, S. C., Misra, S., Dent, D., & Nfonsam, V. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Medicine: Why It Matters and How do We Achieve It? Journal of Surgical Education. 2021; 78(4), 1058-1065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.11.013
5. Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Diversifying editorial boards. Published August 11, 2021. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://publicationethics.org/news/diversifying-editorial-boards
6. Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). Minimum standards for inclusion and diversity for scholarly publishing. Accessed July 20, 2023. https://www.rsc.org/new-perspectives/talent/minimum-standards-for-inclusion-and-diversity-for-scholarly-publishing/
7. American Psychological Association. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Toolkit for Journal Editors. Published December 15, 2021. Accessed July 15 2023. https://www.apa.org/pubs/authors/equity-diversity-inclusin-toolkit-journal-editors.pdf
8. Mayer, M. J., Nickerson, A. B., & Jimerson, S. R. Preventing School Violence and Promoting School Safety: Contemporary Scholarship Advancing Science, Practice, and Policy. School Psychology Review. 2021;50:2-3, 131-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.1949933
9. Song, S. Y., Wang, C., Espelage, D. L., Fenning, P. A. & Jimerson, S. R. COVID-19 and School Psychology: Contemporary Research Advancing Practice, Science, and Policy. School Psychology Review. 2021;50:4, 485-490. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.1975489
10. Espelage, D. L., Boyd, R. C., Renshaw, T. L., & Jimerson, S. R. Addressing Youth Suicide Through School-Based Prevention and Postvention: Contemporary Scholarship Advancing Science, Practice, and Policy. School Psychology Review. 2022; 51:3, 257-265. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2022.2069958
11. Gonzalez, J. E., Durán, L., Linan-Thompson, S. & Jimerson, S. R. Unlocking the Promise of Multitiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for Linguistically Diverse Students: Advancing Science, Practice, and Equity. School Psychology Review. 2022; 51:4, 387-391. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2022.2105612
12. Sullivan, A. L., Worrell, F. C., & Jimerson, S. R. Reconceptualizing School Psychology for the 21st Century: The Future of School Psychology in the United States. School Psychology Review. 2022; 51:6, 647-660. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2022.2139131
13. Allen, J. P., Kim, E. K., & Jimerson, S. R. Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews Advancing the Practice of School Psychology: The Imperative of Bringing Science to Practice. School Psychology Review. 2023; 52:2, 87-94. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2023.2178769
14. Woods, I., Heidelburg, K., Collins, T., Murphy, J., & Graves, S. Promoting the Positive Development of Black Males: Supporting Social, Behavioral, Emotional, and Academic Success. School Psychology Review. 2023;52:3, 243-249. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2023.2194180
15. American Psychological Association. Bias Free Language. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language
16. American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 2020: The Official Guide to APA Style. 7th ed.. 2020. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
17. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations: Beyond Broadening Participation. 2023. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26803