International Journal of Social Research Methodology Julia Brannen Rosalind Edwards (founding and co-editors) Achievements and Future Contribution

Editorial Structures Same editors for lifetime of Journal No accountability to professional association Stable core of editorial board Increasingly international board Reduced non-academic members

Editorial Structures Same editors for lifetime of Journal No accountability to professional association Stable core of editorial board Increasingly international board Reduced non-academic members How far are achievements and future linked to this?

Why a need for a new methods journal? (mid/late 1990s) Expansion of markets in social research Policy/practice emphasis on ‘what works’ and user engagement Rising status of methodology Growing emphasis on methods training Increased governance of research practice

IJSRM aims to provide: A focus for on-going and emerging methodological debates across a range of approaches as these relate to philosophical, theoretical, ethical, political and practical issues. An international medium for the publication of discussions of social research methodology and practices across social science disciplines and interests. A forum for researchers based in all sectors to consider and evaluate research methods.

Directions and achievements More academic: RAE / more issues / Thomson ISI A dissemination forum for ‘what works’ and user engagement methods Not just methods and training, but also methodology: new techniques and enduring dilemmas A space for critical debates about research governance

Aims and achievements Established as an international forum: article submissions as well as editorial board Ability to debate methods issues across disciplines and topics, rather than within them Accessible coverage of a range of data collection and analysis approaches, rather than one paradigm/technical expertise.

The future? Specific to research methods Coverage of innovation or old wine in new bottles? Journal publishing generally Online publication and accompanying layers Open access