Empirical quantitative research trajectory in Criminologie journal (1968-2016): An editorial perspective
Each issue of a scientific journal is the result of many rounds of negotiation, beginning with the editorial board, moving to those who have agreed to help with the issue, and ending with the process of review and revision of those manuscripts that will finally be published. Journal editors must maintain a balance between theoretical and experimental articles and between those that deal with empirical research that tests a particular hypothesis and those that are exploratory and open-ended. Based on the articles published in Criminologie from 1968 to 2016 (n = 658), this study analyses the effect of editorial strategies on the relative share of empirical quantitative research. Analyses show that editors, through the editorial board, can influence the supply of such articles through editorial innovations (such as thematic issues, biannual publication, open topic issues, encouraging diversity in authors’ locations) but can also affect submissions through an increase in standards (uniform length, complex analysis) and by soliciting innovative articles. These editorial innovations have led to a journal that is scientifically diverse and have ensured the journal’s survival for half a century.