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Journals in Social sciences

The Social Sciences collection forms a definitive resource for those entering, researching, or teaching in any of the many disciplines making up this interdisciplinary area of study. Written by experts and researchers from both Academic and Commercial domains, titles offer global scope and perspectives.

Key subject areas include: Library and Information Science; Transportation; Urban Studies; Geography, Planning, and Development; Security; Emergency Management.

    • International Journal of Information Management

      • ISSN: 0268-4012
      The International Journal of Information Management (IJIM) is a leading outlet for high-impact research in the information systems (IS) field. It embraces an inclusive range of topics, levels of analysis, and perspectives, reflecting all facets of information systems globally.The journal focuses on:Design, development, implementation, and management of information technologies and systems in organizational and societal contexts;Strategic integration of IT in business, including IT strategy, governance, and organizational change management;Digital innovation and emerging technologies–for example, research on social media, mobile and cloud computing, digital platforms and ecosystems, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchains, and other cutting-edge technologies and their convergence;Organiza... initiatives that enhance decision-making and business intelligence;Use, impact, and value of information systems on individuals, organizations, and society, including studies of how IS influences organizational performance and processes, user behavior and experience, economics of IT, and public or institutional policy;Organizationa... contextualized ethical, social, and policy issues that are arising in the digital era (for instance, research on data privacy, security and resilience of IT infrastructures, sustainability, digital inclusion, and the societal implications of information technology).By covering this broad spectrum of topics, IJIM provides a comprehensive forum for both theoretical advances and practical insights into contemporary information systems in business contexts.Theoretical and Methodological Rigor IJIM is committed to the highest standards of academic rigor and scholarly contribution, publishing only work that is innovative, insightful, and rigorously developed. Specifically:We seek papers that make strong academic contributions, whether by building new theory or significantly extending existing frameworks. The journal values research that develops a scholarly understanding based on empirical evidence while also offering novel theoretical insights. Papers that do not advance theory or design in a significant way will be desk rejected. Each paper is expected to have a clear theoretical or design science grounding and to articulate its contribution to the broader IS literature, whether it be by challenging existing assumptions, integrating streams of research, unveiling new relationships and constructs, or designing new artifacts.We welcome diverse research methodologies and encourage authors to employ the approach best suited to their research question. Submissions may be quantitative (e.g. large-scale surveys, experiments, analytics), qualitative (e.g. case studies, ethnographies, interviews), design science (artifacts and solutions demonstrating IT innovation), or analytical/modeling studies.While we welcome research that draws on perspectives from computer science, management, economics, psychology, sociology, organization science, and other related disciplines, our focus is on information systems and information management. Any papers narrowly focused (e.g., marketing or agriculture) will be desk rejected. Novel combinations of theories or methods that address complex IS phenomena are welcomed. Regardless of approach, all submissions must demonstrate methodological rigor, sound analysis, and validity of results. The journal ensures a rich methodological plurality that advances the IS field’s knowledge base.We welcome submissions of the article types below –Research ArticlesFull-length, theoretically grounded manuscripts that advance knowledge in information and management through rigorous conceptual development and empirical validation. Submissions should clearly align with the journal’s scope and mission.Research Methods ArticlesThese articles focus on advancing the practice of doing research. This includes papers that introduce or refine methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, or computational, including AI-enabled methods), discuss innovations in data collection or analysis, or reflect on research design, theory building, and scholarly inquiry.Theory and Review ArticlesThese submissions offer integrative reviews of existing literature and develop frameworks that organize knowledge and guide future research. Authors are encouraged to identify gaps, evaluate theoretical contributions, and propose novel directions or conceptual models that shape the evolution of the field.Research NotesShort-form articles that provide timely and focused contributions, such as replication studies, critical re-evaluations of past findings, or exploratory research that challenges prevailing assumptions. This category welcomes contrarian perspectives and constructive critique that fosters healthy academic debate.A Leading Outlet for Cutting-Edge Scholarship As a premier journal in information systems and information management, IJIM aspires to publish only the highest quality scholarship in the discipline. We are dedicated to maintaining a rigorous peer-review process and upholding ethical publication standards to ensure excellence and integrity in the research we disseminate. The journal seeks out groundbreaking and forward-looking studies that push the boundaries of current knowledge and explore emerging frontiers in information systems research. Our goal is to remain at the forefront of the field, by attracting influential research that will set scholarly agendas and guide future inquiry. In line with this goal, IJIM promotes innovative and theory-driven research that is also relevant and insightful for global audiences of scholars. Through its broad scope and unwavering commitment to rigor, IJIM positions itself as a premier venue for cutting-edge IS research. We invite authors to submit their best work to IJIM, confident that our journal provides an authoritative platform to advance the state of knowledge and practice in information systems and to shape the future direction of the field. Open Data PolicyInternational Journal of Information Management is committed to research transparency and reproducibility through its Open Data policy. Authors are required to:Deposit their research data in a relevant data repositoryInclude appropriate citations and links to these datasets in their articleProvide a Research Data Availability StatementIf data sharing is not possible due to ethical, legal, or proprietary constraints, authors must include a detailed statement explaining why the research data cannot be shared.
    • Land Use Policy

      • ISSN: 0264-8377
      The International Journal Covering All Aspects of Land UseLand Use Policy is an international and interdisciplinary journal concerned with the social, economic, political, legal, physical and planning aspects of urban and rural land use. It provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and information from the diverse range of disciplines and interest groups which must be combined to formulate effective land use policies. The journal examines issues in geography, agriculture, forestry, irrigation, environmental conservation, housing, urban development and transport in both developed and developing countries through major refereed articles and shorter viewpoint pieces.Land Use Policy aims to provide policy guidance to governments and planners and it is also a valuable teaching resource.Benefits to authors We also provide many author benefits, such as free PDFs, a liberal copyright policy, special discounts on Elsevier publications and much more. Please click here for more information on our author services.Please see our Guide for Authors for information on article submission. If you require any further information or help, please visit our Support Center
    • Transport Policy

      • ISSN: 0967-070X
      The official journal of the World Conference on Transport Research Society (WCTRS)Transport Policy is an international refereed journal aimed at improving quality of transport policy and strategy analysis, designing and sharing innovative policy and management practices, and application bridging the gap between theory and practice in transport. Its subject areas reflect the concerns of policymakers in government, management strategists in industry, and the public at large, providing independent, original and rigorous analysis to understand how policy and strategy decisions have been made, monitor their effects, and suggest how they may be improved.The journal covers the entire transport sector including all modes: air, maritime, urban, intercity, domestic and international transport economics, policy and strategy issues, etc. Policy and strategy concerns in transport are wide and cover safety, efficiency, economic development, infrastructure, environment, energy, land-use, equity and access. Papers are expected to have clear policy and strategy relevance, to analyze/evaluate transport policies and strategies using up-to-date research methods (both quantitative and qualitative). Papers are also welcomed which focus on understanding the nature and influences affecting policy and strategy change, including technical, attitudinal, institutional, structural and political constraints, including those which provide a comparative analysis. Papers focusing only on methodological development without clear policy focus and relevance will NOT be considered. However, we welcome qualitative policy papers that build on the body of literature, and show clear contributions over and above what exist in the literature, and/or widely applicable to other jurisdictions. (Qualitative papers will NOT be considered if the author(s) advocate certain policy positions without presenting a rigorous framework of analysis.) Papers that focus entirely on individual case studies are more appropriate for our sister journal Case Studies in Transport Policy.Types of Paper:Full articles: Articles should normally be no longer that 8000 words. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all manuscripts (whether original or revised) are accurate before final submission. Manuscripts must be submitted on-line through Editorial Manager. Initial submissions may be submitted through the "My Paper My Way" approach, but final acceptances will require completion to the Elsevier standard.Shorter Items: Shorter items of between 1500 and 2500 words are also welcomed. These can take the form of a Topical Issues paper, which allows for the expression of reasoned opinion that may stimulate debate. Such articles should clearly signal how the debate relates to the literature and why it is topical for a significant part of the global readership. This section also welcomes reports on noteworthy developments from conferences and seminars. The editors may invite responses to such papers from other commentators. The shorter form article is not well suited to describing research projects.Special Issues: Proposals for Special Issues are welcome. Proposals should contain a clear set of objectives, and indication of the number of papers and likely authors. All papers in Special Issues are refereed to the same standard as normal submitted papers.AUDIENCE: Local, national and international government agencies and their advisers, responsible for transport policy implementation; academics and researchers involved in teaching and analysis; managers and analysts in the transport industries responsible for strategy formulation and evaluation; activists in the voluntary sector, charities and campaigning groups; students of transport studies, economics, business studies, engineering, geography, planning, sociology and environmental studies
    • Cities

      • ISSN: 0264-2751
      Cities: The International Journal of Urban Policy and PlanningSupporting the Forests, Land and Housing Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE): http://www.unece.org... publishes articles on many aspects of urban planning and policy. It distinguishes itself by providing an international and interdisciplinary platform for the exchange of ideas and information among urban planners, policy makers and analysts, and urbanists from all disciplines.The primary aims of the journal are to analyze and assess past and present urban development and management as a reflection of effective, ineffective and non-existent planning policies; and the promotion of the implementation of appropriate urban policies in both the developed and the developing world.Topics covered include: urban adaptation to climate change; gentrification and housing; homelessness and welfare services; urban management; public-private sector cooperation; development and planning problems; urban regeneration; neighborhood conservation and urban design; immigration and international labor migration; urban politics; urban theory; urban governance; smart cities and regions; infrastructure; livability and quality of life; greening; and the complexities of creating sustainable cities.Every year, we also publish a handful of Viewpoints . These are articles that are shorter in nature, summative in their literature review, and offer a particular argument that could potentially generate debates among scholars and practitioners.Each volume also features one or more City Profiles . Coverage includes a brief description of the city's historical development, an account of contemporary conditions, problems or issues, and a critical review of recent or current policy, planning or management responses.Full details of Cities' accepted manuscript types, topics, word limits and editorial policies, as well as topics we do not accept, can be found in the Policies and Guidelines - Cities | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier on the journal's website.
    • Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review

      • ISSN: 1366-5545
      Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review (TR-E) is differentiated from its sister journals (TR-A, TR-B, TR-C, TR-D, and TR-F). As reflected in their title, the commonality between these journals is the focus on ‘Transportation,’ but TR-E is differentiated by specializing in ‘Logistics.’ Of course, it is widely accepted that transportation is undoubtedly one of the most critical components of logistics. TR-E publishes informative and high-quality articles drawn from across the spectrum of logistics components. The related research studies are multi-disciplinary and include (i) hard/ classic logistics research, such as transportation, material handling, packaging, warehousing, inventory, and handling, and so on (ii) soft logistics research by adding Operations Management (OM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) concepts, tools, and philosophies to the classic logistics, such as sustainability, risk and disruption, circular economy, and artificial intelligence.There are no limitations to the research methods utilized. Therefore, various research methods can be used, such as analytical (e.g., operations research techniques including game theory, queuing theory, dynamic programming, linear, integer, and nonlinear programming), quantitative and qualitative empirical research (e.g., time series, regression, microeconomics), simulation, mixed research methods (e.g., combining surveys and case studies with quantitative data analysis), experimental research (e.g., controlled experiments, lab experiments, and field experiments), case studies (e.g., in-depth analysis), machine learning, artificial intelligence and network analysis (e.g., graph theoretic concept).
    • Journal of Transport Geography

      • ISSN: 0966-6923
      The International Journal Focusing on Transport and Spatial ChangeThe Journal of Transport Geography is a leading interdisciplinary journal focusing on the geographical dimensions of transport, travel and mobility. It is international in its outlook, and welcomes both conceptual papers and theoretically-inform... empirically-oriented contributions on the movement of people, goods and/or information by any mode and at every geographical scale.An indicative list of topics that are of interest to the journal includes:•The spatial dimensions of sustainable and safe mobility and the interrelations of transport with energy, the environment and climate change•The role of transport and mobility in the globalisation of economies and trade, and in political, cultural and other forms of spatial integration and change• The spatial dynamics of aviation, high-speed and urban rail, maritime and intermodal transport, and logistics networks•The linkages between transport infrastructure nodes, such as ports, airports, train stations, distribution centres and other terminals, and their local regional and national environments•The effects of transport policy and governance on regions and places, both urban and rural•The geographical dimensions of the organisation, structure and operation of public, private and other forms of transport provision•The impacts of transport infrastructure investment on mobility, livelihoods, social networks, the spatial economy, and patterns of development•The relationships of transport, travel behaviour and accessibility with the built environment in cities, urban systems, and in rural settings•The relationships of age, gender, race/ethnicity and social class with travel, mobility and accessibility•The geographical aspects of travel undertaken in the context of recreation and tourism•The spatial implications of technological advances for mobility and transport systems•Methodologic... developments highlighting the geographical dimensions of transport and mobility•Geo-spatial methods (including GIS), digital data and qualitative methodologies for analysing issues in transport geography
    • Safety Science

      • ISSN: 0925-7535
      Safety Science serves as an international medium for research in the science and technology of human and industrial safety. It extends from safety of people at work to other spheres, such as transport, energy or infrastructures, as well as every other field of man's hazardous activities.Safety Science is multidisciplinary. Its contributors and its audience range from social scientists to engineers. The journal covers the physics and engineering of safety; its social, policy and organizational aspects; the assessment, management and communication of risks; the effectiveness of control and management techniques for safety; standardization, legislation, inspection, insurance, costing aspects, human behavior and safety and the like.Papers addressing the interfaces between technology, people and organizations are especially welcome.Safety Science will enable academic researchers, engineers and decision-makers in companies, government agencies and international bodies, to augment their information level on the latest trends in the field, from policy-makers and management scientists to engineers.The journal focuses primarily on original research papers across its whole scope, but also welcomes state-of-the-art review papers and first-hand case histories on accidents and disasters of special significance and discussion papers on hot topics.
    • Computers, Environment and Urban Systems

      • ISSN: 0198-9715
      Computers, Environment and Urban Systems is an interdisciplinary journal publishing cutting-edge and innovative computer-based research on urban systems, systems of cities, and built and natural environments , that privileges the geospatial perspective. The journal provides a stimulating presentation of perspectives, research developments, overviews of important new technologies and uses of major computational, information-based, and visualization innovations. Applied and theoretical contributions demonstrate the scope of computer-based analysis fostering a better understanding of urban systems, the synergistic relationships between built and natural environments, their spatial scope and their dynamics.Application areas include infrastructure and facilities management, physical planning and urban design, land use and transportation, business and service planning, coupled human and natural systems, urban planning, socio-economic development, emergency response and hazards, and land and resource management. Examples of methodological approaches include decision support systems, geocomputation, spatial statistical analysis, complex systems and artificial intelligence, visual analytics and geovisualization, ubiquitous computing, and space-time simulation.Contribut... emphasizing the development and enhancement of computer-based technologies for the analysis and modeling, policy formulation, planning, and management of environmental and urban systems that enhance sustainable futures are especially sought. The journal also encourages research on the modalities through which information and other computer-based technologies mold environmental and urban systems.Audience: Urban and regional planners and policy analysts, environmental planners, economic geographers, geospatial information scientists and technologists, regional scientists and policy makers, architectural designers.
    • Geoforum

      • ISSN: 0016-7185
      Geoforum is a leading international, inter-disciplinary journal publishing innovative research and commentary in human geography and related fields. It is global in outlook and integrative in approach. The broad focus of Geoforum is the organisation of economic, political, social and environmental systems through space and over time. Areas of study range from the analysis of the global political economy, through political ecology, national systems of regulation and governance, to urban and regional development, feminist, economic and urban geographies and environmental justice and resources management. Geoforum publishes research articles that are conceptually-led and empirically-grounded... critical reviews of recent research, and editorial interventions. It also features a highly-regarded 'themed issue' format that enables a focused exploration of emergent and/or significant areas of inquiry.Benefits to authors We also provide many author benefits, such as free PDFs, a liberal copyright policy, special discounts on Elsevier publications and much more. Please click here for more information on our author services.Please see our Guide for Authors for information on article submission. If you require any further information or help, please visit our Support Center
    • Landscape and Urban Planning

      • ISSN: 0169-2046
      An Interdisciplinary Journal of Landscape Science, Planning and Design.Landscape and Urban Planning is an international journal aimed at advancing conceptual, scientific, and applied understandings of landscape in order to promote sustainable solutions for landscape change. Landscapes are visible and integrative social-ecological systems with variable spatial and temporal dimensions. They have expressive aesthetic, natural, and cultural qualities that are perceived and valued by people in multiple ways and invite actions resulting in landscape change. Landscapes are increasingly urban in nature and ecologically and culturally sensitive to changes at local through global scales. Multiple disciplines and perspectives are required to understand landscapes and align social and ecological values to ensure the sustainability of landscapes. The journal is based on the premise that landscape science linked to planning and design can provide mutually supportive outcomes for people and nature.Landscape science brings landscape ecology and urban ecology together with other disciplines and cross-disciplinary fields to identify patterns and understand social-ecological processes influencing landscape change. Landscape planning brings landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, landscape and ecological engineering, and other practice-oriented fields to bear in processes for identifying problems and analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating desirable alternatives for landscape change. Landscape design brings plans, designs, management prescriptions, policies and other activities and form-giving products to bear in effecting landscape change. The implementation of landscape planning and design also generates new patterns of evidence and hypotheses for further research, providing an integral link with landscape science and encouraging transdisciplinary collaborations to build robust knowledge and problem solving capacity.