Consultation on the British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group newsletter/journal

1. Consultation on the British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group newsletter/journal

The objectives of the Medical Sociology Group of the BSA are to foster the development of teaching and research in the sociology of health and illness, and communication between persons interested in these areas. One of the ways in which these aims have been pursued has been through the publication of a newsletter which, in addition to ‘news’, has also featured academic articles, opinion pieces and other comment. From 1973 to 2005 the publication was called Medical Sociology News (MSN) and since 2006 it has been an online publication called Medical Sociology Online (MSo). Previous issues of the two publications can be viewed at http://www.britsoc.co.uk/publications/MSOnline.htm and http://www.medicalsociologyonline.org.

Editorial responsibility has been rotated every 2-4 years between teams composed of members of the group, who give their time freely. We are currently looking for a new team to take it on. In view of this, and in light of changes made to the publication over the last four years, we would welcome your views on its future style and format, editorial arrangements and funding at this point.

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* 1. Do you think the Medical Sociology Group should retain its newsletter/journal?

Yes

No (Please go to question 7)

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* 2. Content
The publication has included content in the areas listed below. Please indicate your feelings about each option and add any other suggestions (bearing in mind that content is dependent on the willingness of members of the medical sociology community to contribute!):

Please could you add any other areas of content you would like to see in the publication in the box below:

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* 3. Style
In addition to news, the publication has always featured articles of different kinds. However, since becoming MSo, it has become more of an academic journal whilst retaining some newsletter functions. Do you agree with this development or would you prefer more of a newsletter style of publication?

Agree with development towards a journal

Prefer newsletter style

Unsure or no preference

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* 4. Format
Do you think the publication should be published in (please select one or both):

Hard Copy

Online

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* 5. Editorial arrangements.
To date the publication has been edited by teams comprising Medical Sociology Group members, rotating every 2-4 years. However, there may be the possibility of assistance from the BSA staff (perhaps with an editorial advisory board). If you have any views on how the editorial arrangements should be managed, please state these below.

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* 6. Funding
Do you think the cost of the newsletter (e.g. administration, editorial assistance, web hosting space, printing) should be funded through (you may select more than one answer):

Subscriptions

An addition to the annual Medical Sociology Group conference fee

Any surplus funds generated by the Medical Sociology Group

Alternative external funding

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* 7. Please add any additional comments below.

Thank you for your comments. Collated responses will be considered by the Medical Sociology Group committee in determining the future of the newsletter/journal, and circulated to Medical Sociology Group members.

	I feel strongly that the publication should include this	I would quite like the publication to include this	I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
News and notices (e.g. regional and study group activities; book prizes; new publications; research or teaching developments; launch of new groups or networks; calls for papers, convenors, committee members, reviewers; prizes and awards; forthcoming events)	News and notices (e.g. regional and study group activities; book prizes; new publications; research or teaching developments; launch of new groups or networks; calls for papers, convenors, committee members, reviewers; prizes and awards; forthcoming events) I feel strongly that the publication should include this	News and notices (e.g. regional and study group activities; book prizes; new publications; research or teaching developments; launch of new groups or networks; calls for papers, convenors, committee members, reviewers; prizes and awards; forthcoming events) I would quite like the publication to include this	News and notices (e.g. regional and study group activities; book prizes; new publications; research or teaching developments; launch of new groups or networks; calls for papers, convenors, committee members, reviewers; prizes and awards; forthcoming events) I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	News and notices (e.g. regional and study group activities; book prizes; new publications; research or teaching developments; launch of new groups or networks; calls for papers, convenors, committee members, reviewers; prizes and awards; forthcoming events) I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Letters	Letters I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Letters I would quite like the publication to include this	Letters I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Letters I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
BSA Medical Sociology Group conference plenaries and responses	BSA Medical Sociology Group conference plenaries and responses I feel strongly that the publication should include this	BSA Medical Sociology Group conference plenaries and responses I would quite like the publication to include this	BSA Medical Sociology Group conference plenaries and responses I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	BSA Medical Sociology Group conference plenaries and responses I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Regional and study group annual reports	Regional and study group annual reports I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Regional and study group annual reports I would quite like the publication to include this	Regional and study group annual reports I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Regional and study group annual reports I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Conference, event and exhibition reports	Conference, event and exhibition reports I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Conference, event and exhibition reports I would quite like the publication to include this	Conference, event and exhibition reports I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Conference, event and exhibition reports I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Peer-reviewed articles	Peer-reviewed articles I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Peer-reviewed articles I would quite like the publication to include this	Peer-reviewed articles I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Peer-reviewed articles I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Non-peer-reviewed articles (e.g. opinion, commentary or short review pieces)	Non-peer-reviewed articles (e.g. opinion, commentary or short review pieces) I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Non-peer-reviewed articles (e.g. opinion, commentary or short review pieces) I would quite like the publication to include this	Non-peer-reviewed articles (e.g. opinion, commentary or short review pieces) I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Non-peer-reviewed articles (e.g. opinion, commentary or short review pieces) I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Interview articles	Interview articles I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Interview articles I would quite like the publication to include this	Interview articles I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Interview articles I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
'A day in the life …’ short pieces	'A day in the life …’ short pieces I feel strongly that the publication should include this	'A day in the life …’ short pieces I would quite like the publication to include this	'A day in the life …’ short pieces I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	'A day in the life …’ short pieces I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Obituaries (including dedicated special issues)	Obituaries (including dedicated special issues) I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Obituaries (including dedicated special issues) I would quite like the publication to include this	Obituaries (including dedicated special issues) I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Obituaries (including dedicated special issues) I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Postgraduate (PhD and MA/MSc)abstracts/reports/congratulations	Postgraduate (PhD and MA/MSc)abstracts/reports/congratulations I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Postgraduate (PhD and MA/MSc)abstracts/reports/congratulations I would quite like the publication to include this	Postgraduate (PhD and MA/MSc)abstracts/reports/congratulations I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Postgraduate (PhD and MA/MSc)abstracts/reports/congratulations I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Current research projects and grants	Current research projects and grants I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Current research projects and grants I would quite like the publication to include this	Current research projects and grants I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Current research projects and grants I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Calls for proposals (funding opportunities)	Calls for proposals (funding opportunities) I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Calls for proposals (funding opportunities) I would quite like the publication to include this	Calls for proposals (funding opportunities) I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Calls for proposals (funding opportunities) I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
PhD studentships	PhD studentships I feel strongly that the publication should include this	PhD studentships I would quite like the publication to include this	PhD studentships I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	PhD studentships I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Sociology of Health and Illness journal editors’ report	Sociology of Health and Illness journal editors’ report I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Sociology of Health and Illness journal editors’ report I would quite like the publication to include this	Sociology of Health and Illness journal editors’ report I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Sociology of Health and Illness journal editors’ report I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Guidelines (e.g. on ethics, evaluating qualitative research proposals)	Guidelines (e.g. on ethics, evaluating qualitative research proposals) I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Guidelines (e.g. on ethics, evaluating qualitative research proposals) I would quite like the publication to include this	Guidelines (e.g. on ethics, evaluating qualitative research proposals) I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Guidelines (e.g. on ethics, evaluating qualitative research proposals) I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Book prize nominations (including reviews)	Book prize nominations (including reviews) I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Book prize nominations (including reviews) I would quite like the publication to include this	Book prize nominations (including reviews) I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Book prize nominations (including reviews) I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Book reviews	Book reviews I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Book reviews I would quite like the publication to include this	Book reviews I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Book reviews I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Agony aunt	Agony aunt I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Agony aunt I would quite like the publication to include this	Agony aunt I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Agony aunt I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Questions and answers	Questions and answers I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Questions and answers I would quite like the publication to include this	Questions and answers I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Questions and answers I feel this should NOT be included in the publication
Amusing short pieces, cartoons etc.	Amusing short pieces, cartoons etc. I feel strongly that the publication should include this	Amusing short pieces, cartoons etc. I would quite like the publication to include this	Amusing short pieces, cartoons etc. I am not interested in seeing this in the publication	Amusing short pieces, cartoons etc. I feel this should NOT be included in the publication

Question Title

* 1. Do you think the Medical Sociology Group should retain its newsletter/journal?

Question Title

* 2. ContentThe publication has included content in the areas listed below. Please indicate your feelings about each option and add any other suggestions (bearing in mind that content is dependent on the willingness of members of the medical sociology community to contribute!):

Question Title

Question Title

* 4. FormatDo you think the publication should be published in (please select one or both):

Question Title

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* 6. FundingDo you think the cost of the newsletter (e.g. administration, editorial assistance, web hosting space, printing) should be funded through (you may select more than one answer):

Question Title

* 7. Please add any additional comments below.

* 2. Content
The publication has included content in the areas listed below. Please indicate your feelings about each option and add any other suggestions (bearing in mind that content is dependent on the willingness of members of the medical sociology community to contribute!):

* 4. Format
Do you think the publication should be published in (please select one or both):

* 6. Funding
Do you think the cost of the newsletter (e.g. administration, editorial assistance, web hosting space, printing) should be funded through (you may select more than one answer):