editor's annual report for 1979–1980 (volume 8)
TRANSCRIPT
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ent. Information is arranged in three groups:Individuals, Organizations, and GovernmentOffices. Assembled from several publicationsthat list such groups, consumer newsletters,and Consumer Union staff members, the
guide includes groups from every state, em-phasizes consumer functions, and includes
any restrictions on a collection.
Public Benefits and the ElderlyWhether the needs of the minority elderly
have an equal share in public benefits as com-pared to the non-minority elderly is investi-
gated in &dquo;Perspective on Equitable Share inPublic Benefits by Minority Elderly,&dquo; Admin-istration on Aging Grant 90-A-1671, by DavidGuttmann. Findings indicate that with the ex-ception of social security, medicare, medicaid,senior nutrition, home-based and day careprograms, all other benefits are little known
and even less used by the minority elderly.Half the population studied did not read Eng-lish newspapers, and 30% could not read andwrite in English. The report demonstratedthat the non-minority elderly have more in-formation and knowledge of assistance anduse significantly more public benefits than doelderly Hispanics and Asians, but somewhatless than elderly Blacks. The research recom-mends that programs better publicize bene-fits, translating documents, communications,regulations, forms, etc. into the languagesused by the minority elderly. Service providersare urged to ascertain the cultural and psy-chological reasons for reticence in using pub-lic benefits and to enlist neighborhood-basedethnic organizations in service dissemination.Copies of the report may be obtained fromthe Center for the Study of Pre-retirement andAging, The Catholic University of America,Washington, DC 20064.
Editor’s Annual Reportfor 1979-1980 (Volume 8)
The status of papers submitted during 1979is summarized in Table 1. The total numberof papers is higher than that for 1978 whenonly 88 papers were submitted. The accep-tance rate (22 % ) is slightly lower than lastyear, but this may reflect the slightly slowerrate of resubmission of manuscripts returnedto authors for major revision (40% in 1979 vs.47% in 1978). Some of these manuscripts willkprobably be accepted during the current year.The rejection rate on first review was justslightly lower than that in 1978 (43% in 1979vs. 47% in 1978).
Volume 8 is the second volume with six
issues, but with Volume 9, we will return tothe original format of four issues. Financialexigencies were a part of the decision, but weplan to publish essentially the same amount oftextual material as in Volume 8.
Transfer of editorial responsibilities to Dr.S. J. Ritchey and Dr. Rebecca P. Lovingoodbegan in November 1979, when they began tohandle the review of new manuscripts. Thetransfer is essentially complete as of July 1,1980.As I conclude my editorial term, I want toy
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thank the reviewers, both on the EditorialBoard and &dquo;outside&dquo; reviewers, includingthose for 1979 who are listed in Table 2. Theycontribute their time and expertise in theevaluation of manuscripts and play a crucialrole in maintaining the standards of the Re-searchJournal.
These standards begin, of course, with theauthors who are presenting the results of theirresearch. I have enjoyed working with theauthors. I have learned from them.
I want to thank, also, the members of the
Policy Board who served during my editorialterm. I appreciate their support and concern.I have also appreciated the assistance of theheadquarters staff. Finally, I have appreci-ated the support I have received here at myown institution. All of these groups havemade my editorial task more pleasant.What, beyond the statistics shown in this
year’s tables and the similar tables that I haveprepared each year, can I say about trends inhome economics research. First, of course,home economics research is broadly based sothat I would not venture to comment on trendsin a subject matter sense. Nevertheless, under-lying all the subject matters are advances inresearch techniques and in data analysis.These advances, in many cases, are applicableto several subject matter areas so that theyserve as a common link among apparently dis-similar subject matter areas. I hope the Re-search Journal has helped to bring these tech-niques before a variety of research workers.Second, home economics research contributesto the research base from which the profes-sion draws as it synthesizes and applies knowl-edge in the field whether for further research,teaching or policy decisions. I hope the Re-searchJournal has contributed to this researchbase by presenting the results of carefullyplanned, and analyzed research projects. It isobvious, then, that these objectives cannot beaccomplished without the researchers and the
Research Journal serves a facilitator role atvarious stages of the research enterprise.
-Joan Gordon
TABLE 1
Outcomes of reviews of papers submitted to theHome Economics Research Journal 1979, as of
July 15,1980
TABLE 2 .
Home Economics Research Journal outsidereviewers for calendar 1979