Digital Humanities Quarterly Editorial Policy and Mission
Digital Humanities Quarterly (DHQ) stands as a pioneering publication dedicated to the dissemination of digital humanities practices—the intersection of computing and the disciplines of arts and humanities. By bridging the gap between traditional scholarship and modern technology, the journal provides a platform for born-digital scholarship to be recognized and critiqued within the academic community.
Key Facts
- Committed to open access and open standards for content delivery.
- Published under a Creative Commons license.
- Specializes in the peer review of born-digital scholarship.
- Provides multilingual reviews and translation services.
- Affiliated with the international character of the Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations.
Advancing Born-Digital Scholarship
One of the most significant contributions of Digital Humanities Quarterly is its approach to born-digital scholarship, which refers to academic work created specifically for digital environments rather than being digitized from print. The journal is recognized as one of the few initiatives to successfully implement a peer-review process for this unique medium.
To ensure that these works reach the widest possible audience, DHQ adheres to open access principles. This means the content is freely available to the public and distributed using open standards and a Creative Commons license, removing traditional paywalls that often hinder the spread of knowledge.
Expanding the Scope of Critical Review
Beyond traditional articles, the journal seeks to increase the visibility and academic acceptance of digital humanities through a specialized review model. While these are modeled after traditional book reviews, they focus specifically on digital projects.
This critical scrutiny is applied to various innovations, including:
- Software tools designed for humanities research.
- Digital websites and archives.
- Other technological innovations that require contextualization and academic assessment.
By applying the same rigor to a software tool as one would to a printed monograph, DHQ ensures that digital innovations are held to high scholarly standards.
Global Reach and Collaboration
Reflecting the international nature of the Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations, the journal emphasizes global inclusivity. This is achieved through the development of translation services and the publication of multilingual reviews, ensuring that digital humanities practices are shared across linguistic and geographic borders.
| Feature | Policy/Approach |
|---|---|
| Access Model | Open Access via Creative Commons |
| Review Focus | Born-digital scholarship and digital projects |
| Internationalization | Multilingual reviews and translation services |
| Affiliation | Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is born-digital scholarship?
Born-digital scholarship refers to academic research and creative works that are created natively in a digital format, rather than being converted from a physical source like a book or paper manuscript.
How does DHQ handle digital project reviews?
DHQ treats digital projects—such as software tools and websites—with the same critical scrutiny as traditional books, providing contextualized reviews to assess their value and innovation.
Is the content of Digital Humanities Quarterly free to access?
Yes, the journal is committed to open access and open standards, publishing its content under a Creative Commons license.
Does the journal support non-English speakers?
Yes, in alignment with the Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations, the journal develops translation services and offers multilingual reviews to maintain an international character.
What is the primary goal of the journal?
The primary goal is to heighten the visibility and acceptance of digital humanities by disseminating practices to the wider arts and humanities community and beyond.