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| The '''Journal of Scientific Exploration''' (JSE) is a quarterly publication of the ] (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."<ref name="JSE"></ref> However, due to its scope, it |
The '''Journal of Scientific Exploration''' (JSE) is a quarterly publication of the ] (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."<ref name="JSE"></ref> However, due to its scope, it admits that it "publishes claimed observations and proffered explanations that will seem more speculative or less plausible than in some mainstream disciplinary journals."<ref name="instructions">http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/author_instr.php JSE Instructions for Authors</ref> | ||
| ==Topics and policies== | ==Topics and policies== | ||
Revision as of 14:18, 11 July 2008
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." However, due to its scope, it admits that it "publishes claimed observations and proffered explanations that will seem more speculative or less plausible than in some mainstream disciplinary journals."
Topics and policies
The JSE was initially established to provide a forum for three main fields that had largely been neglected by mainstream science: ufology, cryptozoology, and parapsychology. They have also published papers, essays and book reviews on alternative medicine, astrology, consciousness, reincarnation and other paranormal phenomena.
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".. If the paper is accepted "but there remain points of disagreement between authors and referee(s), the reviewer(s) may be given the option of having their opinion(s) published "subject to the Editor-in-Chief's judgment as to length, wording, and the like". 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. The Journal's website describes the publication's purpose as providing "a professional forum for presentations, criticism, and debate concerning topics which are for various reasons ignored or studied inadequately within mainstream science", and describes the Journal as a "critical forum of rationality and observational evidence for the often strange claims at the fringes of science."
Some observers regard the JSE as a legitimate attempt to explore the frontiers of science, while others view it as a forum for scientifically objectionable or dubious ideas. Michael Lemonick wrote an article about the Society for Scientific Exploration called Science on the Fringe for Time Magazine. Some academics have noted that JSE publishes on anomalous issues, topics often on the fringe of science.
Criticism
Kendrick Frazier, Editor of Skeptical Inquirer and CSICOP fellow has criticized JSE and stated that:
- The JSE, while presented as neutral and objective, appears to hold a hidden agenda. They seem to be interested in promoting fringe topics as real mysteries and they tend to ignore most evidence to the contrary. They publish 'scholarly' articles promoting the reality of dowsing, neo-astrology, ESP, and psychokinesis. Most of the prominent and active members are strong believers in the reality of such phenomena.
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."
Key personnel
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
- Henry Bauer (chemistry, VPI) 1999-present
See also
References
- ^ Journal of Scientific Exploration website Cite error: The named reference "JSE" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/author_instr.php JSE Instructions for Authors
- ^ 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) Cite error: The named reference "retrospective" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- 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
- Lemonick MD (May 24, 2005). Science on the Fringe. Time
- Cross A (2004). The Flexibility of Scientific Rhetoric: A Case Study of UFO Researchers. Qualitative Sociology. Volume 27, Number 1 / March, 2004
- CSICOP Responds to the Recent UFO Report Sponsored by the Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE)
- 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
External links
- Journal of Scientific Exploration, the JSE website
- Society for Scientific Exploration, publisher of JSE