InterActions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies

Publication Profiles > LIS Scholarly Journals > InterActions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies

 

Publication analysis


About the publication

Title: InterActions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies

ISSN: 1548-33201

Website: http://escholarship.org/uc/gseis_interactions

Purpose, objective, or mission: From the website: “InterActions is a peer-reviewed, open access journal committed to the promotion of interdisciplinary and inclusive scholarship. The journal brings together senior and emerging scholars, activists, educators, and professionals whose work covers a broad range of theory and practice.”2

This student journal aims to promote scholarship that examines education and information studies through interdisciplinary perspectives. According to the editors, the field of education and information studies is frequently the place where the social sciences and humanities meet. InterActions seeks to be a forum for these meetings, soliciting work that “critiques the inequities and dominant norms within societies, education systems, and academia which perpetuate the marginalization of populations and the exclusion of their knowledge while maintaining unjust policies and systems.”3

Target audience: LIS, education, and other graduate students, professors, emerging and established scholars and professionals, and activists4

Publisher: University of California at Los Angeles Graduate School of Education and Information Studies5

Peer reviewed? Yes6

Type: LIS, social sciences, and education; scholarly7

Medium: Online open access8

Content: Articles, review essays, interviews, and book reviews. Considerations for publication include the “€œadvancement of important and current conversations in education and information studies, their scholarly competence and originality, and their contribution to the journal’€™s goals of informed critique, interdisciplinary dialogue, and social justice.”€9

InterActions is “€œparticularly interested in work that analyzes inequities and links research to larger social and political contexts. InterActions encourages contributions that utilize inclusive and critical frameworks in politically engaged ways.”10

Frequency of publication: Semiannual11

About the publication’s submission guidelines

Location of submission guidelines: Submission Guidelines

Types of contributions accepted: This publication accepts manuscripts from practitioners, activists, and both established and emerging scholars in all fields of study. Types of contributions sought include:

  • Articles (less than 7,500 words)
  • Literary reviews (less than 5,000 words)
  • Interviews (less than 5,000 words)
  • Book reviews & Exhibition reviews (less than 1,100 words)
  • Research in brief (less than 3,000 words)12

Submission and review process: Manuscripts undergo a double-blind review by editors selected from the editorial advisory board or by graduate students with expertise in the manuscript’€™s topic. The peer review committee decides if a publication will be accepted as is, revised, or rejected.13 InterActions does not accept material that is simultaneously submitted to other journals or has been previously published published elsewhere. All submissions except for book reviews should be submitted with an abstract of 400 words or less.14

Individuals submitting manuscripts need to create an account with Berkeley Electronic Press. The online submission process requires that manuscripts be submitted in separate stages, with title, abstract, and author information entered separately from the main text.€15

Authors retain all rights to their work, but grant the journal the right to make published content available in perpetuity. The California Digital Library also retains the right to display and distribute content published in this journal.16

Editorial tone: Tone is scholarly, but ranges from clear, direct language to the complex and intellectually rigorous syntax of poststructuralism.17

Style guide used: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition18

InterActions also provides tips for reviewing a manuscript before submission.19

Conclusion: Evaluation of publication’s potential for LIS authors

InterActions is unique among LIS journals LIS in that it seeks interdisciplinary articles that advance social justice. Potential contributors might be LIS practitioners, educators, students, or professionals with an interest in LIS and its ability to satisfy a human need or solve a social problem. This publication values unique voices and critical analysis, as well as more liberal-leaning content. Creative applications of LIS theory in unexpected contexts (such as a study of information-seeking behavior within the queue for the Kogi Beef truck, published in the spring 2011 issue), or the application of theory from other disciplines, such as critical theory, to LIS methodology are the norm.20

A review of recent articles indicates a special emphasis on critical theory–particularly in a sociological context–which is a trend among students at UCLA’€™s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. The wide range of topics covered includes classifications systems, linguistics, pedagogy, cultural studies, civil rights, science, and political economy.21 Work submitted to InterActions should be linked to a larger social and political context.

 

Audience analysis


About the publication’s readers

Publication circulation: No information available.

Audience location and language or cultural considerations: This publication is based in Los Angeles,22 and many readers may be located in Southern California or affiliated with the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. However, this journal’s inclusion in the California Digital Library creates opportunities for wider readership. InterActions is published in English, but appears to aim for an international audience. As with all scholarly articles, avoid colloquialisms and explain any region-specific content or terms used.23

Reader characteristics: This publication’€™s readers are likely well educated and interested in how LIS and education can contribute to dialogue and transformation within larger social and political contexts. This publication’s target audience includes graduate students, professors, emerging and established scholars and professionals, and activists in the fields of LIS, education, or elsewhere.24

As a field of study, LIS research can tend to be conservative and insular. InterActions aims to publish papers that challenge this trend, looking critically at the world and applying “€œalternative and liberatory visions, methodologies, and practices”25 to social issues in the fields of information science and education. Readers are likely progressive and liberal-leaning. This publication is committed social justice and critical inquiry, values that likely resonate with readers.26

Knowledge of LIS subject matter: Many readers will be familiar with LIS subject matter. However, as this is an interdisciplinary publication, authors should explain any specialized terms that a graduate student in another field might not be familiar with.27

Conclusion: Analysis of reader characteristics and their potential impact on authors

Readers of this journal appreciate careful research and critical analysis, mixing high and low art, and exploring traditional and nontraditional subjects. They are interested in work that is politically and socially engaged, and has value in contexts outside of academia. Papers that offer critical commentary on current issues and promote perspectives that can serve the cause of social justice will appeal to this audience. All the better if they are provocative.

When considering writing for this student journal, expect a high level of  intellectual engagement from readers, who will be looking for “€œfresh and progressive analyses and research”28 that satisfies a human need or solves a human problem. Prospective authors should consider the advice for publication provided by the InterActions manuscript revision tip sheet.29

Last updated: May 13, 2017


References

Show 29 footnotes

  1.  InterActions (Oakland): UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed April 11, 2018, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1523477354232/585059
  2. “Mission, Aims and Scope,” University of California at Los Angeles Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  3. “Mission, Aims, and Scope,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  4. “Mission, Aims, and Scope,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  5. “Mission, Aims, and Scope,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  6. InterActions, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed May 13, 2017,  http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1405640290105/585059
  7. InterActions, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed May 13, 2017, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1405640290105/585059
  8. InterActions, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed May 13, 2017, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1405640290105/585059
  9. “Policies,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=policies
  10. “Mission, Aims, and Scope,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  11. InterActions, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed May 13, 2017, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1405640290105/585059
  12. “Guidelines for Submissions to InterActions,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=submissionguidelines
  13. “Policies,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=policies
  14. “Guidelines for Submissions to InterActions,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=submissionguidelines
  15. “Guidelines for Submissions to InterActions,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=submissionguidelines
  16. “Policies,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=policies
  17. “Mission, Aims, and Scope,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  18. “Guidelines for Submissions to InterActions,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=submissionguidelines
  19. “What to Look For When Reviewing a Manuscript–Or, How to Get Your Own Manuscript Published,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, http://escholarship.org/brand/gseis_interactions/Reviewing_a_MS.pdf
  20. InterActions,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/gseis_interactions
  21. InterActions,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/gseis_interactions
  22. InterActions, Ulrichsweb Global Serials Directory, accessed May 13, 2017, http://ulrichsweb.serialssolutions.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/title/1405640290105/585059
  23. InterActions,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/gseis_interactions
  24. “Mission, Aims and Scope,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  25. “Mission, Aims and Scope,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  26. “Mission, Aims and Scope,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  27. “Mission, Aims and Scope,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  28. “Mission, Aims and Scope,” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=gseis_interactions;view=mission
  29. “What to Look For When Reviewing a Manuscript–Or, How to Get Your Own Manuscript Published” University of California eScholarship, accessed May 13, 2017, http://escholarship.org/brand/gseis_interactions/Reviewing_a_MS.pdf
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