Professor accepts role in international journal

The European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology recently reached out to one of Portland State’s own: Berrin Erdogan, an associate professor in the School of Business, recently accepted a job as associate editor for the publication.

The journal publishes articles that relate to all perspectives of work and organizational psychology. With a global approach, EJWOP employs an editorial board that represents 14 different countries.

Erdogan’s position for the journal will revolve around the management of the review process for publications. Generally, when a paper is being submitted, it goes through a “blind review” process, in which neither the reviewers nor the are, Erdogan said.

The integrity of the process falls into the associate editor’s hands, which ensures that the reviews written are timely, developmental and relevant.

“Once the reviews about the paper come back, I will be in charge of making a decision,” Erdogan said. “Do we accept the paper pending minor changes? Should the authors be given a chance to revise the paper and resubmit? Or should the paper be rejected outright?”

According to Erdogan, reviewers often disagree on their feedback, and it is therefore the associate editor’s job to make sense of the often-divergent comments, make a decision and communicate the decision to the manuscript’s author.

This type of work will not be unfamiliar to the well-traveled Erdogan. She has written and coauthored dozens of articles, chapters and two textbooks, experience that she deems integral to her role as an editor.

“I know what authors care about—helpful, objective, un-biased and timely feedback about their manuscript,” Erdogan said.

She has also reviewed hundreds of journal articles in the same blind review process she will be managing.

Erdogan grew up in Turkey, but left when she was 24 years old to pursue her doctoral studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2002 she began her career at PSU, even though she had never visited Portland before.

“What amazed me when I visited PSU for the first time was the sheer number of supportive, kind and engaged people who are passionate about what they do, regardless of whether it is research or teaching,” she said.

Erdogan will continue her role regularly teaching her course on organizational behavior and global human resources in PSU’s Masters in International Management program.

Erdogan has studied organizations that range from textile manufacturers to pharmaceutical companies. She sees all this as a good window into organizational psychology, the focus of EJWOP.

“Because our students tend to also work while going to school, I enjoy talking to them and learning from their experiences as well,” she said. “PSU as an institution is definitely a good place to observe organizational psychology. Much like in any other organization, people make the place, and employee attitudes, perceptions and goals determine their actions.”

A global academic herself, Erdogan is excited about her knew role because of its alignment with PSU’s internationalization initiative. The goal of the initiative is to internationalize the curriculum and faculty research through partnerships, grants and outreach programs.

“Working with EJWOP will directly put me in touch with scholars and scholarship originating from around the world, which is bound to trickle down to my research and teaching,” Erdogan said. “I will also represent PSU and the U.S.A. among an international community of scholars. I see this as a great learning opportunity, as well as an exciting challenge.”

Erdogan will officially start working with EJWOP on May 15. ?