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Editorial

Editor, Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences January 2004

IT is with much excitement that I assume the editorship of the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. I am honored to have been selected for this position, for the Journal is one of the primary outlets for research on psychological aspects of aging, and it is arguably the premier outlet for psychological research conducted from a true gerontological, multidisciplinary perspective. Its association with The Gerontological Society of America, a scientific association devoted to the study of aging, enhances this status by ensuring that research published in the Journal will directly reach those who are most actively engaged in the study of aging. Thus, it is with a strong sense of responsibility to the scientific community, the Gerontological Society, and the authors who will be submitting their work to the Journal that I assume this editorship. I will strive to ensure that scientifically rigorous standards of evaluation are fairly applied in the evaluation of manuscripts.

To assist me in the operation of the Journal, I have assembled a strong and diverse group of active researchers in the field of aging to serve as my editorial board. I appreciate their willingness to serve in this important professional capacity, and I will rely heavily upon them for guidance and assistance during my term as editor.

My primary goal as editor is to maintain the standards of quality and innovation set by my predecessors. In the past few months as I have learned more about the Journal and the role of editor, it has made me realize what a truly wonderful job the outgoing editor, Dr. Margie Lachman, has done during her tenure. I appreciate all the advice and assistance that she and her editorial assistant, Cynthia Davis, have provided during the transition period. As editor, I will continue most of the policies and procedures instituted by Dr. Lachman during her tenure. Specifically, in addition to research articles, the Journal will continue to solicit and publish integrative reports on cutting-edge topics in the New Directions in Aging Research section. Specific recommendations for authors or topics or article proposals may be forwarded directly to me; selections will be made through consultation with the editorial board and other experts in the field. The Journal will also continue to publish novel theoretical and methodological articles of relevance to the study of aging.

Consistent with the Journal's affiliation with a multidisciplinary organization, I encourage submission of articles on a wide range of topics that utilize innovative methods and analytic techniques to foster our understanding of the aging process. In all cases, I especially encourage submission of reports that assume novel approaches to the investigation of psychological phenomena and that emphasize a broad perspective to understanding the aging process. It is my belief that meaningful progress in scientific understanding occurs most rapidly when ideas or data from seemingly disparate realms are brought together to provide novel insights. Such an approach is consistent with both the life span and gerontological orientations to the study of aging. I would also like to encourage individuals who do not have aging as a primary research focus to submit articles to the Journal when they address aging-related issues. This is one means of encouraging the cross-fertilization of ideas that is so important to the advancement of our science.

The current policy of limiting most articles to no more than 5,000 words will be continued during my tenure. It is my strong belief that concise research reports facilitate the scientific communication process by encouraging greater readership of individual articles and by increasing the number of articles that can be published by the Journal. The increased publication rate may also help reduce the lag time between submission and publication. During the past four years, this period has decreased significantly. One of my specific goals as editor is to decrease this lag even more so that important research can reach the scientific community in a timely manner. The Journal must be responsive to changing expectations regarding the speed of communication in today's electronic age. In the coming months, in consultation with the editorial board, I will be exploring ways to expedite the publication process. Rest assured, however, that any procedures adopted in this regard will not compromise maintenance of our traditionally high standards of scientific rigor in the evaluation of manuscripts for publication.

One of the exciting developments in the last year is the Journal's transition to a fully Web-based submission and review process. This should assist greatly in speeding communication between the editor, authors, and reviewers, and ultimately may play an important part in reducing publication lag time. Please go to our on-line submissions Web site (http://jgps.allentrack.net).

I look forward to working with you over the next four years. I anticipate much hard work, but also a great deal of satisfaction in knowing that I will have the opportunity to interact with the best junior and senior researchers in the field of aging. As editor, I will also be very open to comments and suggestions by the readership and scientific community regarding current editorial policies or ways in which the content and operation of the Journal can be improved.

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