Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (LLCS) is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the needs of researchers studying the life course and using longitudinal methods at the interfaces of social, developmental and health sciences. It fosters cross-disciplinary and international endeavours and promotes the creation and exploitation of longitudinal data resources as well as their application to policy issues. As the journal of the Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (SLLS) it provides an opportunity for scholars at all stages of their careers to publish work crossing disciplinary boundaries which is often beyond the scope of more conventional, single-field journals. Read more
Impact Factor: 1.122 Frequency: January, April, July and October
Aims and scope
Volumes 1-9
Abstracting and indexing
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Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (LLCS) is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the needs of researchers studying the life course and using longitudinal methods at the interfaces of social, developmental and health sciences. It fosters cross-disciplinary and international endeavours and promotes the creation and exploitation of longitudinal data resources as well as their application to policy issues. As the journal of the Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (SLLS) it provides an opportunity for scholars at all stages of their careers to publish work crossing disciplinary boundaries which is often beyond the scope of more conventional, single-field journals.
Longitudinal research involves the follow up of individuals, households, communities or other groups over time. Life course study focuses on the influences that shape holistic pathways from conception to adult life and old age. LLCS brings together the broad range of specialist interests in an international, multidisciplinary, multi-method framework.
The editors welcome submissions that report on research or methodological development, in one or more of these fields and from a spectrum of disciplinary approaches: sociological (quantitative and qualitative), demographic, economic, geographic, historical, psychological and behavioural, epidemiological and statistical. Typically papers deal with individual data in several domains (for example physical or mental health, education, housing, employment) as they change over time, and set in their life course and policy context. International comparisons are encouraged within papers and can be made between them.
In addition to carrying research articles, the journal specialises in publishing study profiles introducing particular longitudinal studies to scientific and policy users and the designers and managers of other studies It explores new forms of longitudinal data collection, including the exploitation of administrative sources. Occasionally, it also publishes edited debates and invited pieces about the research–policy interface, keynote addresses at SLLS conferences, and reviews of books of special relevance to our readership. The editors seek to ensure that all research reporting is accessible to the journal's multidisciplinary readership and encourage comparisons and collaborations between countries and studies. We are especially eager to showcase findings from parts of the world where longitudinal studies are increasingly being established, such as East Asia, Africa and South America. LLCS strives to maintain the highest quality in accepted papers through double-anonymous peer review, drawing on an international as well as interdisciplinary network of editors and reviewers.
Longitudinal and Life Course Studies has been published by Bristol University Press on behalf of the Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies since 2019 (Volume 10). Only issues from Volume 10 onwards are held on Bristol University Press Digital. Previous issues are available via the PKP platform.
Longitudinal and Life Course Studies is abstracted and/or indexed in:
Journal Manager: Sarah Jeal, journal@slls.org.uk
Bristol University Press: bup-journals@bristol.ac.uk
Read our instructions for authors for guidance on how to prepare your submissions. The instructions include the following:
What are we looking for?
How to submit an article
Editorial review process
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References
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Self-archiving and institutional repositories
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How to maximise the impact of your article
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Visit our journal author tool kit for resources and advice to support you through the publication process and beyond.
All submissions should be made online at the Longitudinal and Life Course Studies Editorial Manager website: https://www.editorialmanager.com/llcs/Default.aspx.
Editorial Manager
Manuscripts must be in Word or Rich Text Format, not pdf. New users should first create an account, specify their areas of interest and provide full contact details.
Preparing your anonymised manuscript
Your initial submission must consist of the following separate files:
All authors should comply with the Bristol University Press ethical guidelines.
For help submitting an article via Editorial Manager, please view our online tutorial.
Once a submission has been conditionally accepted, you will be invited to submit a final, non-anonymised version.
Checklist: what to include in your final, accepted non-anonymised manuscript
A cover page including:
The main manuscript including:
All submissions are first desk-reviewed by the editor(s) who will assess whether the manuscript fits the aims and scope as well as the quality standards of the journal. Papers that are selected to be sent out for review will be evaluated through double anonymous peer review by at least two referees. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies aims to return the reviews along with an initial decision within two months of submission.
Please also see our Journals editorial policies.
Longitudinal and Life Course Studies is published by Bristol University Press on behalf of the Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (SLLS). Articles are considered for publication on the understanding that on acceptance the author(s) grant(s) Bristol University Press (on behalf of SLLS) the exclusive right and licence to publish the article. Copyright remains with the author(s) or other original copyright owners and we will acknowledge this in the copyright line that appears on the published article.
Authors will be asked to sign a journal contributor agreement to this effect, which should be submitted online along with the final manuscript. All authors should agree to the agreement. For jointly authored articles the corresponding author may sign on behalf of co-authors provided that they have obtained the co-authors' consent. The journal contributor agreement can be downloaded here.
Where copyright is not owned by the author(s), the corresponding author is responsible for obtaining the consent of the copyright holder. This includes figures, tables and excerpts. Evidence of this permission should be provided to Bristol University Press. General information on rights and permissions can be found here.
To request permission to reproduce any part of articles published in the Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, please email Bristol University Press: bup-info@bristol.ac.uk. For information on what is permissible use for different versions of your article, please see the journal contributor publishing agreement.
Download the Endnote output style for Policy Press and Bristol University Press journals.
Bristol University Press uses a custom version of the Harvard system of referencing:
Example of book reference:
Dorling, D. (2010) Injustice: Why social inequality persists, Bristol: Policy Press.
Example of journal reference:
Warin, P. (2012) 'Non-demand for Social Rights: A new challenge for social action in France', Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 20(1): 41-53.
Example of chapter within edited / multi-authored publication:
Levitas, R. (2011) 'Utopia Calling: Eradicating child poverty in the United Kingdom and beyond', in A. Minujin and S. Nandy (eds), Global Child Poverty and Well-being: Measurement, concepts, policy and action, Bristol, Policy Press. pp. 449-73.
Example of website reference:
Womensaid (2016) What is domestic abuse? https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/what-is-domestic-abuse/.
Mel Bartley, University College London, UK
David Blane, Imperial College London, UK
Hans-Peter Blossfeld, University of Bamberg, Germany
John Bynner, University College London, UK
Elizabeth Cooksey, Ohio State University, USA
Tim Croudace, University of Dundee, UK
George Davey Smith, University of Bristol, UK
Bianca De Stavola, University College London, UK
Glen Elder, University of North Carolina, USA
Robert Erikson, Stockholm University, Sweden
Leon Feinstein, University of Oxford, UK
John Gray, University of Cambridge, UK
Rebecca Hardy, University College London, UK
Kathleen Harris, UNC-Chapel Hill, USA
Walter Heinz, University of Bremen, Germany
Rachel Knowles, University College London, UK
Marjo-Riitta Jarvelin, Imperial College London, UK
Harvey Krahn, University of Alberta, Canada
Richard Layte, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Dean Lillard, Ohio State University, USA
Barbara Maughan, Kings College London, UK
Chris Power, Institute of Child Health, UK
Steve Reder, Portland State University, USA
Marcus Richards, University College London, UK
Amanda Sacker, University College London, UK
Ingrid Schoon, UCL Institute of Education, UK
John Schulenberg, University of Michigan, USA
Rainer Silbereisen, University of Jena, Germany
Heike Solga, WZB - Berlin Social Sciences Center, Germany
Fiona Steele, London School of Economics, UK
Alice Sullivan, Institute of Education, UK
Kate Tilling, University of Bristol, UK
Michael Wadsworth, UCL Medical School, UK
Gert Wagner, German Institute for Economic Research, Germany
Chris Whelan, Queen's University Belfast & University College Dublin, UK and Ireland
Richard Wiggins, UCL Institute of Education, UK
Application deadline: 1 May 2023
Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (LLCS) is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the needs of researchers studying the life course and using longitudinal methods at the interfaces of social, developmental and health sciences. It fosters cross-disciplinary and international endeavours and promotes the creation and exploitation of longitudinal data resources as well as their application to policy issues. As the journal of the international Society for Longitudinal and Life Course Studies (SLLS) it provides an opportunity for scholars at all career stages and many disciplinary arenas, to publish work crossing disciplinary boundaries that is often beyond the scope of more conventional, single-field journals.
Managed by Bristol University Press, the journal is published four times a year.
Professors Heather Joshi and Elizabeth Cooksey will complete their terms as Executive Editors in 2023. The journal therefore seeks a new Executive Editor or Editors to take up the role. The start date is negotiable, but should be no later than October 2023 for the publication of the January 2024 issue.
The Executive Editor is responsible for the overall leadership, strategy and development of the journal. Supported by the Journal Manager, the Executive Editor manages and co-ordinates the editorial team (currently four Section Editors and 12 Associate Editors), chairs editors’ meetings twice a year, reports to the Society and identifies promotional and collaborative opportunities for the journal. They take the editing role for cohort profiles, assess special issue proposals and ratify decisions on submissions handled by Section Editors. The term for this role is three years, with the possibility of an extension for one to three additional years.
Expressions of interest
Anyone interested in being considered for the role should send the following to the Journal Manager, Sarah Jeal, at journal@slls.org.uk by 1 May 2023:
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact the current Executive Editor, Professor Elizabeth Cooksey, via email elizabeth.cooksey@chrr.osu.edu.
About the journal
The editors welcome submissions that report on research or methodological development, from a spectrum of disciplinary approaches including but not limited to sociological (quantitative and qualitative), demographic, economic, geographic, historical, psychological and behavioural, epidemiological and statistical. Typically papers deal with individual data in several domains (for example physical or mental health, education, housing, employment) as they change over time, and set in their life course and policy context. International comparisons are encouraged within papers and can be made between them.
In addition to carrying longer research articles and shorter research notes, the journal specialises in publishing study profiles introducing particular longitudinal studies to scientific and policy users and the designers and managers of other studies. It explores new forms of longitudinal data collection, including the exploitation of administrative sources. The journal is also open to publishing edited debates and invited pieces about the research–policy interface, keynote and other invited addresses at SLLS conferences, and reviews of books of special relevance to our readership. The editors seek to ensure that all research reporting is accessible to the journal's multidisciplinary readership and encourage comparisons and collaborations between countries and studies. We are especially eager to showcase findings from parts of the world where longitudinal studies are increasingly being established, such as East Asia, Africa and South America. LLCS strives to maintain the highest quality in accepted papers through double-anonymous peer review, drawing on an international as well as interdisciplinary network of editors and reviewers.
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2021 Impact Factor: 1.122 (2yr), 1.65 (5yr)
Ranking: 81/111 in Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
2021 Journal Citation Indicator: 0.49
Ranking: 128/263 in Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary (Q2)
2021 Scopus CiteScore: 2.1
Ranking: 32/56 in Life-span and Life-course Studies – 43rd percentile