About the Journal

Aims and Scope

Manuscripts are invited that focus on the application of hermeneutics as guiding research inquiry into topics and issues connected to professional practice disciplines. Accounts of research, theoretical, philosophical, and conceptual discussions of practice related topics are encouraged. The journal will not consider multiple submissions or redundant publications. 

Peer Review Process

Article submissions will be reviewed by two reviewers in a double blind process. Reviewers will judge submissions based on the appropriateness of content for the mandate of the journal, the literary, academic quality and credibility, and the potential of contribution to scholarship and practice. Typical review time, once received by reviewers, is 4 weeks. Reviewers will be selected upon their practice areas of expertise and knowledge in interpretive work.  The journal adheres to ethical processes and is not liable for malpractice if authors violate ethical, copyright, or plagarism practices.

Publication Frequency

The journal will publish articles, not in an issue format, but once they have been reviewed, accepted, and copy edited. They will be added to the current volume Table of Contents and referenced by year rather than issue.

Expectations and Responsibiliites of Editors, Authors, and Reviewers

Editors must….

• Monitor and uphold the integrity of submission, review, and publication processes to ensure the reliability and quality of published work
• Be responsible for deciding whether to review and/or publish a manuscript
• Maintain an editorial board of known experts and post a list of members and their affiliations on the journal website
• Provide requisite training on journal policies and processes for editorial board members, journal staff, and reviewers as needed
• Ensure that all outreach actvities and interactions with authors and reviewers are truthful and adhere to the journal's ethics and malpractice policies and processes
• Be a resource for authors and reviewers throughout the publication process, answering questions and addressing concerns in a timely manner
• Ensure a fair, impartial, and confidential peer-review process for authors and reviewers
• Consider seriously and respond promptly to reports of potential ethical malpractice, including maintaining a clear policy for handling such allegations and objectively examining all malpractice complaints
• Readily address confirmed malpractice including rejecting a manuscript submission, publishing corrections, or retracting an offending publication
• Strive to identify and manage conflicts of interest of editorial board members, staff, and reviewers

Authors must…

• Guarantee the ethical performance of their research and the originality and accuracy of the submitted manuscript
• Ensure that each co-author has made a substantial contribution to the submitted manuscript
• Respect the intellectual property of others by accurately acknowledging their work and obtaining copyright permission(s) if needed
• Not submit the same manuscript to multiple publication outlets simultaneously
• Confirm that the submitted manuscript has not been published previously
• Declare all conflict(s) of interest
• Report all research funding support
• Participate fully in any investigation of ethical malpractice related to the submitted manuscript

Reviewers must…

• Ensure that they clearly understand all relevant journal policies and processes
• Disclose all conflict(s) of interest to the editor, recusing themselves if needed
• Maintain complete confidentiality of all manuscripts they receive from the editor, regardless of whether they agree to provide a review
• Provide objective, unbiased, and substantive feedback in a timely manner
• Alert the editor of potential ethical malpractice associated with a manuscript

Addressing Ethical Malpractice

The journal has policies and processes in place to ensure high ethical publishing standards are maintained.

• The Editor will investigate all suspicions and allegations of ethical malpractice reported prior to or after manuscript publication in an objective and fair manner, maintaining integrity and confidentiality at all times.
• The Editor will lead all investigations of ethical malpractice and will, in a timely manner:
  • Communicate with author(s) to request relevant information and clarifying details related to the allegation of ethical malpractice
  • Communicate with complainant(s), if any, to request any additional information required
  • Strive to reconcile the author(s) and complainant(s) information fairly and objectively; additional information may be gathered discretely from other relevant individuals, groups, or organizations as needed to aid reconciliation
  • Conduct further investigation as required,
  • Decide to reject or sustain the allegation of ethical malpractice and communicate this decision to author(s) and complainant(s)
• If no malpractice is identified, the Editor may choose to publish the manuscript.
• If malpractice is confirmed before publication, the Editor may reject a manuscript.
• If malpractice is confirmed after publication, the Editor may issue a correction or retraction.

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. ISSN: 1927-4416

Sponsors

Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary

Sources of Support

Journal History

In 2009, the Canadian Hermeneutic Institute was established with its inaugural meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The intent of the institute was to bring together scholars of hermeneutics and hermeneutic research across disciplines in creative dialogue and conversations of philosophy, research, and practice. The first visiting scholar was Dr. David Jardine, Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Calgary. In 2010, the institute was hosted in Toronto with visiting scholar, Dr. John D. Caputo, Professor of Religion Emeritus at Syracuse University and the David R. Cook Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Villanova University. In 2011, Dr. Richard M. Kearney, Charles H. Seelig Chair of Philosophy at Boston College and visiting professor at University College Dublin, was the visiting scholar for the institute held in Calgary, Alberta. Dr. Kearney initiated the idea for a journal that could showcase the work he heard from institute participants of bridging philosophy and practice.