An Orientation

to Our Integral Evaluation Process^{tm, sm}

For Submissions

The purpose of this brief orientation is to help you understand how our Integral Evaluation Process (IEP) will relate to the type of work you submit to IR.

A main idea behind the criteria in our IEP (and the general submission guidelines) is to raise awareness about how we have approached authoring a submission. Part of this involves becoming aware of attitudes and assumptions we bring to it, as well as considering how comprehensive the perspective we bring to the topic is. IR’s criteria will apply differently to certain works submitted, as they may take quite a variety of forms. Editors and reviewers will tailor their use of guidelines to the nature of works received. For example:

·         Submissions of works of visual art, poetry, personal reflections, and dramatic scripts will have a unique way of illuminating readers. The intent and the talent of the creators of such works will be a primary criterion, more so than specifically itemized criteria.

·         Shorter written works may have less scope than longer articles, and may not warrant or reflect all of the criteria (see below). 

·         Some longer works may be either wide or narrow in scope, and for reasons unique to their subject matter, may not warrant or reflect all of the criteria as explicitly as others may (see below).

These examples introduce two valuable possibilities.

·         The first is that part of using an integral evaluation process is paying attention to whether we have included important dimensions that characterize an integral approach—and if not, be able to identify where we can improve our work by including them.

·         That introduces the next possibility: when we can identify (with or without reviewers’ assistance) an area of omission in our work, we can inform our readers by pointing it out to them, right in the work. For example, we might state that we simply do not have sufficient knowledge of a dimension to include it, or that we lack space to sufficiently develop it. We might express the intention to submit a follow-up article to address a missing dimension we have not been able to incorporate, and/or invite others to supply it in their future submissions.

An important benefit of this transparency is that it can contribute to an organic dialogue among readers and subsequent authors, who may be able to augment our writing with their knowledge and experience. Part of IR’s mission is to encourage and foster that kind of productive discourse that helps all of us to notice and develop more integral approaches to individual and social change and development.

Another part of our mission is educating the public about what needs to go into integral approaches. For this reason, IR will work with authors to help them develop an integral approach to their work. Training in how to use the IEP is available from IR’s publisher, ARINA, Inc. in distance learning and in-person formats. Follow the link below for distance learning in using the IEP, or contact ARINA to bring in-person workshops to your site upon request.

Learn how to use ARINA's Integral Evaluation Process ^{tm, sm}

Questions? Comments?   Email the editors