Editorial: dialoguing across disciplines.
Article Type: Editorial
Subject: Periodical publishing (Management)
Periodical publishing (Services)
Periodicals (Usage)
Author: Ngcobo, Phithizela
Pub Date: 01/01/2008
Publication: Name: Journal of Social and Psychological Sciences Publisher: Oxford Mosaic Publications Limited Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Sociology and social work Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2008 Oxford Mosaic Publications Limited ISSN: 1756-7483
Issue: Date: Jan, 2008 Source Volume: 1 Source Issue: 1
Topic: Event Code: 200 Management dynamics; 360 Services information Computer Subject: Company business management
Product: Product Code: 2721000 Periodicals NAICS Code: 51112 Periodical Publishers SIC Code: 2721 Periodicals
Geographic: Geographic Scope: United Kingdom Geographic Code: 4EUUK United Kingdom
Accession Number: 191857199
Full Text: In the quest for understanding the nature of reality and the best way of studying it, knowledge is 'fragmented' into an array of expertise areas. This process, may provide greater depth of analysis of any given study subject. Nevertheless, such 'fragmentation' becomes particularly problematic when, in an attempt to reach definite and objective conclusions, one fails to understand how different areas of expertise are related to a whole body of knowledge. Thus, just like a fine vehicle, any field of knowledge and its subcomponents need to function in synchrony. It is important, therefore, to transcend divisions and overcome dichotomies in order to dialogue across a multitude of disciplines. However, a simplistic amalgamation of a wide range of fields into one single holistic approach does not constitute a solution on its own. Much theoretical sophistication is still needed until one can successfully synthesise the scientific and philosophical into two inseparable views that could underpin our conception of social and psychological phenomena. It is with this in mind that the Journal of Social and Psychological Sciences (JSPS) presents a number of articles that may constitute a much needed piece of an unsolved puzzle for key theoretical dichotomies and dualisms within social sciences and humanities.

The JSPS is a new, fully peer reviewed journal that publishes research and scholarship concerning the relationship between psychology and sociology and other approaches within the social sciences and humanities. This periodical is essentially interdisciplinary and invites manuscripts concerning a wide range of psychosocial methodologies. This inaugural issue consists of three papers and a book review. The aim of this journal is to rekindle academic debates on broad issues of psychosocial content. To kickstart this debate is the first article written by Mauro Ramos Pereira 'Are men 'cleverer' than women? Deconstructing the dogma of female intellectual inferiority'. This paper presents an interesting discussion emanating from reports from The British Journal of Psychology and the BBC Radio Four programme on the same discourse. As the author says:

This introduction sets the tone for an exhaustive, interesting and controversial topic that will be of great interest to readers and critics. The author adopts a position, which he is aware of its limitations, and tries to present views and analysis emanating from his understanding and research. He acknowledges that there are more perspectives to this topic than his own, and urges other scholars to look at other alternatives to give a balance analysis of this discourse. The deliberate philosophical contradiction, inconsistency and incoherence presented in this article constitute a provocative synthesis of both realist and relativist ontology. This article is therefore earmarked for further discussions. Thus the JSPS editors invite short reviews and possibly another longer article presenting 'fresh' and other recent developments to the question of gender and IQ.

Professor Dianne Hunter's book review entitled 'Juliet Mitchell, The Obsolescent Oedipus Complex, and the Decline of Patriarchy' also adds to this issue an invaluable and comprehensive review on how patriarchy perpetuates itself through the institution of the family. This review was undoubtedly one of the driving forces behind this periodical. To conclude, therefore, we hope the journal meets the readers' expectations, and to encourage dialogue, we would be grateful to get comments from our readers including suggestions of other topics you desire to debate on this forum. This will open the academic space to readers with a desire to debate and analyze issues under review. We would be grateful to offer advice to writers who need guidance in presenting and publishing their research in an independent and high quality journal like the JSPS.

Phithizela Ngcobo

Oxford Brookes University

Editor

Phithizela Ngcobo

Oxford Brookes University, UK

E-mail address: Phithi@jspsciences.org

Fax: +44(0)8717146590
This paper analyses discourses surrounding gender
   and the politics of Intelligent Quotient (IQ). It
   investigates the way in which written texts in this
   area clarify or obscure oppressive gender
   relationships in society. It takes the position that the
   content of the news is not a factual account of the
   world but instead it imposes ideological values of
   socio-economic origin. The analysed data consists
   of an article drawn from a news webpage. This text
   is linked to contemporary research on IQ and reflects
   the complex and subtle discursive work surrounding
   gender inequalities.
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