Big Data & Society: Scope, Metrics, and Publishing Essentials

Big Data & Society (BD&S) is a peer-reviewed open-access journal that sits at the critical intersection of data science, technology, and humanities. The journal is a dedicated platform for analyzing the societal, political, and economic implications of big data and algorithmic systems.

Whether you are a researcher, academic, or a professional, here is what you need to know about Big Data and Society. Learn about its scope, APC, publication metrics, and more.

Quick Summary

Core Scope and Focus

The main focus of the journal is on the implications, governance, and critical perspectives of data-driven technologies. Here are the core topics that are routinely featured in the journal:

The Ethics of Algorithms:

It discusses topics like Accountability, transparency, bias, and discrimination in machine learning and automated decision-making.

Surveillance and Privacy:

It discusses data collection practices by corporate and state entities, digital footprints, and security implications.

Data Politics & Governance:

Data is power. The journal focuses on how data flows impact power dynamics, public policy, civic engagement, and social justice.

Methodological Innovations:

Critical reflections on big data analytics, digital humanities, and quantitative/qualitative data blends.

Publication Timeline & Peer Review Process

Here is what you need to know about publication time and peer review.

• Peer Review Model:

  It has a double-blind peer review model where both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other.

• Submission to Publication Time:

  On average, authors can expect a turnaround of approximately 11 weeks from initial submission to final publication decisions/online release, though timeline durations vary based on revision rounds and reviewer availability.

• Frequency:

  Continuous publishing model (articles are published online as soon as they are ready, compiled into continuous open-access volumes/issues).

Open Access and Publishing Fees

Big Data & Society is a fully open access journal, so all articles are freely available worldwide immediately upon publication:

• Article Processing Charges (APCs):

  The journal charges an APC (up to approximately $2,000 USD) to offset production costs, though SAGE maintains institutional waiver policies and discounts for qualifying authors from low- and middle-income regions.

• Copyright & Licensing:

  Articles are typically published under Creative Commons licenses (such as CC BY or CC BY-NC), enabling broad sharing while preserving author attribution.

Why Publish in Big Data & Society?

Do you want to publish in Big Data & Society? Here is why you should publish in this journal.

• High Visibility and Impact:

  Boasting an Impact Factor of 7.8 and Q1 rankings in multiple sub-disciplines, papers published here reach a broad, multi-disciplinary global audience.

• Cross-Disciplinary Readability:

  It bridges the gap between technical data experts and social science theorists, making it an ideal home for boundary-pushing, interdisciplinary research.

• Global Reach:

  As a fully digital open-access journal, your work benefits from immediate web visibility, high download counts, and rapid academic citation potential.

Data Collected and Verified by:

Hammad Saleem (BS Sociology from Punjab University Lahore)

Reach at Hammad Saleem | LinkedIn