To: Research_Practice Members

Dear Friends,

As the year 2004 approaches its closing hour, I am experiencing a new
hope regarding the future of our collaborative academic enterprise to
launch and develop the 'Journal of Research Practice' (JRP). Let me
join all of you in wishing a great beginning for JRP in the year 2005.

As we enter into a new year (2005), I would like to remember some of
the milestones we have crossed to reach where we are today with
respect to the Journal project:

===
27 Sep 2003: Proposal about a new journal to discuss different modes
of research and extensions to open inquiry

7 Oct 2003: Research_Practice YahooGroup if born; several volunteers
join; 11 names proposed for the journal

10 Nov 2003: Sage Publications shows interest in publishing the
journal

22 Dec 2003: Various ideas offered regarding the journal's editorial
focus; two alternative names emerge

7 Feb 2004: The name of the journal becomes 'Journal of Research
Practice' (JRP)

19 Feb 2004: A subtitle gets adopted: 'Innovations and Challenges in
Multiple Domains'

22 Feb 2004: A draft statement of JRP's editorial focus is written
and shared

23 Mar 2004: A preliminary editorial team takes shape

8 Apr 2004: A temporary Web site for JRP appears at:
http://www.ximb.ac.in/~dpdash/JRP.htm

25 May 2004: Manuscripts for publication in JRP start flowing in

9 July 2004: A special issue is proposed by an Australian
collegue: 'New Challenges to Research Practice: Natural Resource
Management in Australia'

18 Oct 2004: The idea of publishing JRP in the 'open access' mode is
mooted

8 Nov 2004: The Berkeley Electronic Press (http://www.bepress.com/)
agrees to publish JRP in the 'open access' mode; asks for an annual
licensing fee of USD 3500

11 Nov 2004: Sage Publications expresses its reluctance to publish
JRP in the 'open access' mode

19 Nov 2004: An initial consortium of two institutions commit to
support the 'open access' publication of JRP:
(i) Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile (confirms $1000
per annum)
(ii) Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, India (confirms
$500 per annum, can go up)

24 Nov 2004: A short statement of 'Aims and Scope' is drafted for JRP

30 Nov 2004: A third institution joins the consortium to support JRP:
(iii) Nokia Research Center, Beijing (confirms $500 for one year, may
continue)

30 Dec 2004: A fourth institution expresses interest in joining the
consortium to support JRP:
(iv) Center for Science in Society, Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania
(confirms $1000 for one year, pending some clarifications)
===

Next, I would like to share some thoughts from Prof. Paul Grobstein,
Director, Center for Science in Society, who has found much potential
synergy between the Journal's perspective and his Center's mission.
He has written a paragraph to capture his understanding of the aims
and scope of JRP:

'The Journal seeks to develop our understanding of research as it
takes place in a wide array of disciplines and economic and socio-
cultural contexts, so as to enhance the practice of inquiry both in
particular local arenas and as a central aspect of human culture
generally. By inviting descriptions and reflections on research in
all domains, the journal aims to promote consideration not only of
how and why particular practices develop in particular contexts but
also of how they might be modified in light of practices in other
contexts, and of how the practice of inquiry as a whole might become
a more effective component of broader human culture. By promoting
dialogue not only across disciplinary boundaries but also across
boundaries between "basic" and "applied" research, and boundaries
between nations and cultures, the Journal hopes to contribute to a
culture of open learning and mutual support among researchers,
reflective practitioners, and the users of products of inquiry.'
(Paul Grobstein, email to DP, 27 Nov 2004)

I find this to be a very clear statement of what we expect the
Journal to do. It can be used to revise the Aims and Scope statement
we have drafted earlier.

In another mesage, Prof. Grobstein raises a query: 'whether it [JRP]
was intended to encourage and publish only "meta" articles, ie
articles about how "research" is done, or to publish as well articles
that describe the results of "research" that has been done in new
(interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, infradisciplinary) ways.'
(Paul Grobstein, email to DP, 30 Dec 2004)

As per my own understanding, both types of article are welcome. If
necessary, we can revise the statements describing the Journal's Aims
and Scope, Editorial Focus, Call for Manuscripts, etc., to make it
clearer.

The present Call for Manuscript already contains these words: 'Main
articles may relate to a general topic concerning research practice
(e.g., research contexts, research methods, etc.) or focus on a
specific research domain. If it is the latter, then special care
needs to be exercised to tailor the article to focus on the generic
challenges of doing research in that domain and the specific
innovations developed. ' I think, it addresses Prof. Grobstein's
query to some extent and states what we expect from papers that
describe results of innovative research in any specific domain.

As this Journal nears its launch date (in early 2005), we will all
have ample opportunity to contribute to its success as a global
initiative. I look forward to your continued support in this regard.

May 2005 be the year of 'open inquiry in the service of open society'!

Yours sincerely,

DP

http://www.ximb.ac.in/~dpdash

PS: I hope all our Asian friends are safe from the tsunami and are
able to reach out to those who need support.