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Journal of Management Studies

Call for Proposals

Special Issue:

Meta analyses on contemporary phenomena in

management studies

Guest Editors:

James G. Combs, University of Central Florida

T. Russell Crook, University of Tennessee

Andreas J. Rauch, University of Groningen

Background to the Special Issue

Meta-analysis is a tool that researchers use to assess the cumulative evidence regarding key theoretical relationships. In management studies, meta-analysis has been used to assess the degree to which empirical evidence supports theory, and to build and test new theory about moderating and mediating relationships. By aggregating all prior evidence, meta-analysis permits stronger conclusions than are possible in primary studies. Thus, it is not surprising that the application of meta-analysis is on the rise. The Special Issue on Meta analyses on contemporary phenomena in management studies aims to publish a set of papers that help resolve controversy surrounding the level of empirical support for important theories, and that build and test new theoretical insights surrounding important management phenomena. We are open to papers that address theoretical questions involving a wide range of management phenomena at macro, micro, and meso levels. While we are not looking for methodological contributions, we invite contributions that use different techniques to accumulate scientific evidence.

In terms of methodology, proposed papers should use an accepted form of quantitative or qualitative meta-analytic aggregation technique (i.e., not vote counts or narrative reviews) to assess scientific evidence surrounding important and potentially controversial relationships and theories important to management research. A key consideration will be meta-analyses that test, build, and extend theory. Proposals that integrate multiple perspectives or help resolve controversy from competing perspectives are also encouraged.

Proposals must be submitted by 1^st February, 2016 to: jms.metaanalysis.issue@gmail.com . Proposals must conform to both JMS formatting requirements, and the specific proposal guidelines below. Upon receiving your proposal, the editors will consider it carefully and decide whether to ask for a complete draft review article. Authors invited to prepare full papers will be encouraged to attend a paper development workshop tentatively scheduled to take place in April 2016 at the University of Tennessee campus. Full papers are due on 15^th January, 2017 for entry into the standard JMS blind peer review process. The guest editors in consultation with the Editor-in-Chief will make all final decisions as to the suitability of manuscripts for the Special Issue.

Specific Proposal Guidelines

Proposals should be no longer than 5 pages, double-spaced with standard 1-inch margins and in a 12-point font. This page limit does not include References, Tables, or Figures. The proposal should address the following issues:

Justification: What specific relationship, or set of relationships, are under investigation in the meta-analysis? Why is it important to synthesize the evidence regarding this/these relationship(s), or what theoretical and/or empirical problems do you hope to solve?

The contribution of the study: What specific theoretical insights do you hope to add to relevant literature? What specific knowledge will your empirical analysis yield that is not already known?

Theory: What is the theoretical frame you plan to use? That is, what specific theory (or perhaps two) ties together and motivates decisions about what hypotheses do and do not belong in your study?

How are you going to analyze your research question?: Describe the body of the theoretical and empirical evidence the article will analyze? What is your planned analytical approach for research synthesis, and why does it make sense in this context?

What are intended implications?: Who will care about your findings? Please name the theory-and phenomena-based bodies of literature for which your research might have implications. How might researchers in those areas be presented with new questions, or adjust the way they think about and perform their research?

Timeline/ important deadlines

1^st February 2016                              Submission of proposals

April 2016                                            Paper Development Workshop (tentative)

15^th January, 2017                            First Drafts Due

Joy Bettles

Editorial Office Administrator

Journal of Management Studies

Durham University Business School

Mill Hill Lane

Durham

DH1 3LB

UK

www.journalofmanagementstudies.com

Tel: +44 (0)191 334 5395

Fax: +44 (0)191 334 5201

Email (Editorial Office): business.jms@durham.ac.uk

Email (Personal): joy.bettles@durham.ac.uk