Sociological Imagination is the official journal for the Wisconsin Sociological Association.
We publish articles and note-length manuscripts on issues pertaining to all areas of social science research, teaching, and practice. We also encourage submission of review essays on theoretical, methodological, and substantive topics, as well as reviews of books and films that are of interest to social scientists. Sociological Imagination is also available via EBSCOhost.
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Sociological Imagination is destined to be your multi-disciplinary journal. It aims to explain abstract concepts in engaging, interesting and thought-provoking ways while considering multiple perspectives. The journal sparks the curiosity within academics and increases visibility of social science research every year.
ALMOST 60 YEARS OF PUBLISHING.
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USE YOUR
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
OVERVIEW OF THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
​COINED BY CHARLES WRIGHT MILLS
Mills’ own sociological imagination was inspired by what he referred to as the classic sociological tradition, the main feature of which is "the concern with historical social structures: and that its problems are of direct relevance to urgent public issues and insistent human troubles." Mills links personal troubles with public issues and threads biography into the historical structural dynamic. The achievement of the classic tradition lies in the creation of models of society that illuminate the impact of social change on people and on their potential for response. M. O'Donnell (2010) in his piece, "Charles Wright Mills’ Sociological Imagination and Why We Fail to Match it Today" wrote, "Mills’ book, The Sociological Imagination, has inspired generations of young and not so young social scientists. This is partly because he wrote a great book – once voted the second most important sociological book of the twentieth century after Weber’s Economy and Society, partly because he practiced what he advocated, but also because he was an inspiring and, in the best sense of the word, idealistic human being. Mills the sociologist, campaigner and character fused to generate a charisma to which there is no recent or present comparison in social science. He retained a grounded utopianism that he defined as a commitment to an attainable but radically fairer and more equal future. His message is no less relevant now" (page 20).
Mills, C.W. (1970 [1959]). The Sociological Imagination. Harmondsworth: Penguin
WHY PUBLISH IN SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION?
Founded in 1960 by Hugo O. Englemann, the journal was titled The Wisconsin Sociologist. After skipping the 1961 issue, the journal continued and has been published every year since. In 1994 however, the decision was made to use a new more general title and Sociological Imagination was chosen. The Wisconsin Sociological Association believes it is the longest, continually published state sociology journal in the United States. Over the years, scholars have found great success in the journal's peer-review process which provides critical feedback for maintaining standards for rigorous research and suitable revisions for publication. Topics have ranged from basic scientific findings through empirical descriptive pieces, theoretical work, review pieces and scholarship in teaching and learning.
​The journal requires academic service to maintain its status. Every five years, a new tenured professor is reviewed and chosen to serve as head editor. The new editor may or may not hire assistance through their affiliation. To date, the Sociological Imagination has benefited from editors who maintain the journal’s high standards. Over the years, the journal has drawn submissions from around the world, most recently including scholars from Germany and South Africa.
The journal also relies on a team of referees. Social scientists are carefully chosen to review journal submissions which match areas of expertise related to the research paper so the submitted work may be evaluated fairly and in relation to the scientific method. Referee teams also include consideration related to the scientific norms of universalism, organized skepticism, disinterestedness, communalism, and honesty. We aim for a relatively short review process to ensure published work is revealed to the public in a timely manner, as well.
Finally, no journal would meet high marks without contributions from the academic community. We encourage you to consider Sociological Imagination for your research, both as a source to keep you abreast of the latest in your field, but also as a place to consider submitting your work for review.
INSTRUCTIONS: HOW TO SUBMIT A PAPER
Initial Submission of Papers
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To ensure anonymity in the review process, authors' names and other identifying information should be placed on a separate title page that includes authors' institutional affiliation and address. Authors should remove other identifying information from the text.
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All papers should fit on one side of an 8 1/2 x 11 inch white paper, and use a 12-point font. Papers should be double spaced, including references, tables and quotations with at least one-inch margins on all four sides. Papers should not exceed 30 manuscript pages.
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The format for papers (including references, quotations, and tables) should follow that of the American Sociological Association's Style Guide. Figures and graphs in accepted manuscripts must be submitted in camera-ready quality.
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Tables and figures should be placed at the end of the manuscript following the references. Each table/figure should be typed on a separate page with brief descriptive titles. Placement in the text should be indicated by a phrase, such as "Insert Table 1 about here," set off from the rest of the text.
E-Mail Submissions
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Please submit your paper as three separate files attached in one email to sociologicalimagination@uwp.edu:
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A complete title page, including author information.
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The title of the paper and abstract, of no more than 100 words, excluding author information.
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The body of the paper, including references and tables.
Processing of Papers
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All submissions will be first reviewed by the Editor for general relevance. Papers that obviously do not meet minimum journal standards will be returned to the authors. Otherwise, copies will not be returned.
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Papers will then be forwarded for anonymous review by two or three referees, with written evaluations submitted to the Editor for eventual return to authors.
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Papers accepted for publication are subject to stylistic editing.
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Authors of accepted papers will receive two free copies of the journal issue in which their paper appears. Additional copies may be purchased at cost.
