Journal of Scientific Exploration

Infobox Journal
title = Journal of Scientific Exploration


editor = Peter Sturrock
discipline =
language = English
abbreviation =
publisher = Society for Scientific Exploration
country = USA
frequency = quarterly
history = founded in 1987
openaccess =
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impact-year =
website = http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse.php
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OCLC = 15153049
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ISSN = 0892-3310
eISSN = The Journal of Scientific Exploration (JSE) is a quarterly publication of the Society for Scientific Exploration (founded in 1982). According to its mission statement, this publication "was established in 1987 to provide a professional forum for the presentation, scrutiny and criticism of scientific research on topics outside the established disciplines of mainstream science."cite web|url=http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse.php |title=Journal of Scientific Exploration website|accessdate=2008-07-12|publisher=scientificexploration.org] However, due to its scope of examining anomalies, fringe science, protoscience, and other controversial topics, the editors of the JSE acknowledges that the periodical "publishes claimed observations and proffered explanations that will seem more speculative or less plausible than in some mainstream disciplinary journals. Nevertheless, those observations and explanations must conform to rigorous standards of observational techniques and logical argument."cite web|url=http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/author_instr.php |title=JSE Instructions for Authors|publisher=scientificexploration.org|accessdate=2008-07-12]

Topics and policies

The Journal's website describes the publication's purpose as providing "a professional forum for presentations, criticism, and debate concerning topics which are for various reasons ignored or studied inadequately within mainstream science", and describes the Journal as a "critical forum of rationality and observational evidence for the often strange claims at the fringes of science."cite web|title=Mission Statement, Journal of Scientific Exploration|url=http://www.scientificexploration.org/mission.php|publisher=scientificexploration.org]

Responding in part to opinion surveys results indicating that many mainstream scientists were interested in reasoned examination and debate about unidentified flying objects, the JSE was initially established to provide a forum for three main fields that had largely been neglected by mainstream science: ufology, cryptozoology, and parapsychology. They have also published papers, essays and book reviews on many topics, including the philosophy of science; alternative medicine; the process of peer review for controversial topics [Juan Miguel Campanario and Brian Martin, " [http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/pubs/04jse.html Challenging dominant physics paradigms] " (2004) "Journal of Scientific Exploration", vol. 18, no. 3, Fall 2004, pp. 421-438] ; astrology; consciousness; reincarnation, minority opinion scientific theories; and paranormal phenomena.cite journal|url=http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/articles/pdf/18.1_haisch_sims.pdf|format=pdf|author= B.Haisch, M.Sims|title=A Retrospective on the Journal of Scientific Exploration|journal=Journal of Scientific Exploration|volume=18|issue=1|year=2004]

Refereeing

Bernard Haisch and Martha Sims, respectively past editor in chief and past executive director, describe the Journal of Scientific Exploration "as peer-reviewed Journal following the customs and standards of academic journals but designed specifically for the scholarly study of anomalies". If an article or essay paper is accepted "but there remain points of disagreement between authors and referee(s), the reviewer(s) may be given the option of having their opinion(s) published "subject to the Editor-in-Chief's judgment as to length, wording, and the like".cite web | url=http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/author_instr.php |title=JSE Instructions for Authors|publisher=scientificexploration.org|accessdate=2008-07-12] The policy of the journal is to maintain a critical view by presenting both sides of an argument so as not to advocate for or against any of the published topics. [cite journal|url=http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/v11n1.php |title=As an example for presenting both sides of an argument (Mars effect) |journal=Journal of Scientific Exploration|volume=11|issue=1|date=Spring 1997 ] [cite journal|url=http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/v12n1.php|title=As an example for presenting both sides of an argument (Roswell): |journal=Journal of Scientific Exploration|volume=12|issue=1|date=Spring 1998]

The JSE publishes letters or commentary [such as Klass, Philip J. 2000. "Response to 'Valentich Disappearance New Evidence and a New Conclusion' by Richard F. Haines and Paul Norman" "Journal of Scientific Exploration", Volume 14, Issue 4, p. 646] which dispute or critique articles, and also typically allows authors to publish rejoinders.

Response

Some observers regard the JSE as a legitimate attempt to explore the frontiers of science, [http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/college/specialinterestgroups/spirituality/resources/journals.aspx A Resource List for the Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists] [http://www.hist.unt.edu/web_resources/anth_journal.htm Journals and Other Media at the Department of History of the University of North Texas] while others view it as a forum for scientifically objectionable or dubious ideas. [See archives on [http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/] ] Some academics have noted that JSE publishes on anomalous issues, topics often on the fringe of science.Cross A (2004). The Flexibility of Scientific Rhetoric: A Case Study of UFO Researchers. "Qualitative Sociology". Volume 27, Number 1 / March, 2004]

Of the SSE and JSE, journalist Michael Lemonick writes, "Pretty much anything that might have shown up on The X-Files or in the National Enquirer shows up first here. But what also shows up is a surprising attitude of skepticism." cite web | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1064461,00.html | title = Science on the Fringe | publisher = Time magazine | author = Michael D. Lemonick/Gainesville | date = 2005-05-24 | accessdate = 2008-06-02 ]

Kendrick Frazier, Editor of "Skeptical Inquirer" and CSICOP fellow has criticized JSE and argues that:

:The JSE, while presented as neutral and objective, appears to hold a hidden agenda. They seem to be interested in promoting fringe topics as real mysteries and they tend to ignore most evidence to the contrary. They publish 'scholarly' articles promoting the reality of dowsing, neo-astrology, ESP, and psychokinesis. Most of the prominent and active members are strong believers in the reality of such phenomena. [ [http://www.csicop.org/articles/sse-ufo-report/ CSICOP Responds to the Recent UFO Report Sponsored by the Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE)] ]

Key personnel

Editors-in-Chief

*Ronald A. Howard (management science, Stanford University), Founder and Editor-in-Chief 1987-1988
*Bernard Haisch (astrophysics, UC Berkeley) Editor-in-Chief 1988-1999 [http://www.manyone.net/about/management/bernard-haisch.html ManyOne - Management: Dr. Bernard Haisch, Ph.D.]
*Henry Bauer (chemistry, VPI) 1999-present [http://spec.lib.vt.edu/mss/bauer.html Henry H. Bauer Papers, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University]

ee also

* Fringe science
* Protoscience
* Pseudoscience
* Pseudoskepticism

References

External links

* [http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse.php Journal of Scientific Exploration] , the JSE website
* [http://www.scientificexploration.org/ Society for Scientific Exploration] , publisher of JSE