October 20­-22, 2023 SSSR + RRA Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah

The Mormon Social Science Association welcomes paper submissions for its annual meeting, held conjointly with the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion + Religious Research Association annual meeting in Salt Lake City from October 20 to 22, 2023.

Given the Salt Lake City location this year, we are hoping to have a robust slate of programming, which will include multiple MSSA sessions, journalist Peggy Fletcher Stack as the Glenn Vernon lecturer, and at least one off-site event. 

We invite contributions on all topics relevant to the social scientific study of Mormonism, with special interest in those featuring multiculturalism, gender/sexuality, post-colonialism, generational change, and questions of disaffiliation/retention. The theme of the 2023 SSSR+RRA annual meeting is Religion: Empowering or Oppressing People and Communities?”

The MSSA invites proposals for:

  • Individual Papers
  • Session Proposals
  • Panels
  • Author-Meets-Critics sessions

Submissions Open: February 1, 2023
Submissions Close: March 24, 2023

Submit paper proposals through this link by March 24.

Questions: Dr. Jana Riess, flunkingsainthood@admin

DOWNLOAD CONFERENCE POSTER PDF

Join the MSSA

As an interdisciplinary and international association, the MSSA promotes the social scientific study of Mormonism and facilitates communication and collaboration among researchers, educators and students. Membership is open to all. We sponsor scholarly conferences, publications, panel discussions, paper sessions,  and the biennial Glenn M. Vernon Lecture. Join us today.

April 15, 2023 MSSA One-day Conference at Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah

Our One-Day MSSA conference is being revived after several years of pandemic-related hiatus, and we are delighted that Dr. Nancy Ross of Utah Tech University, has agreed to coordinate the event. Rather than having competing breakout sessions, we will all be meeting in the same room, with plenty of time for discussion.

The MSSA invites submissions for:

  • Individual Papers
  • Session Proposals
  • Panels
  • Author-Meets-Critics sessions
  • Posters

Submit paper proposals through this link by March 20, 2023.

Submissions Open: February 1, 2023
Submissions Close: March 20, 2023

Questions: nancy.ross@utahtech.edu

DOWNLOAD CONFERENCE POSTER PDF

Inaugural Issue 2021 | Journal of the Mormon Social Science Association (JMSSA)

Call for Papers – Inaugural issue of the JMSSA

The Journal of the Mormon Social Science Association (JMSSA) is accepting submissions for our inaugural issue in 2021. Papers accepted for the inaugural issue will receive a $500 honorarium. To be considered for the inaugural issue, the initial submission must be received no later than March 1, 2021. JMSSA is a peer-reviewed academic journal sponsored by the Mormon Social Science Association. Founded in 1979, the MSSA is an interdisciplinary scholarly society promoting the study of social life within the Latter Day Saint movement.

Aims and Scope

The Journal of the Mormon Social Science Association publishes original research, synthetic reviews, and theoretical or methodological essays on topics relevant to the Latter Day Saint movement from a social science perspective. We welcome papers from all social science disciplines, as well as work in other disciplines with a social science approach. We encourage submissions from students, junior scholars, and underrepresented voices in Mormon Studies. The journal is atheological and nonpolemical. The journal does not consider previously published work except by invitation. The journal does not consider papers simultaneously submitted elsewhere for review.

Submissions

Journal of the Mormon Social Science Association accepts papers of any length, including research notes. All submissions are screened by the editor or editorial board to determine their suitability for the journal. Papers deemed suitable are forwarded for peer-review. Subsequent to peer-review, papers may be rejected, returned for revision, or accepted for publication.

The journal conforms to the “author-date” citation system outlined in The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition (Chapter 15). All submissions must be accompanied by an abstract not to exceed 250 words. Abstracts should state the research question(s), identify basic methods, and summarize main findings. Footnotes should be used for essential clarification only, and not for excurses.

Send submissions in MS Word format to: benjamin.knoll@centre.edu
For more information, contact Rick Phillips, rick.phillips@unf.edu

MORMON SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION 2020 CALL FOR PAPERS

October 23-25, 2020 | Westin Convention Center | Pittsburgh, PA

The Mormon Social Science Association (MSSA) invites proposals for individual papers, panels or author meets critics sessions for the 2020 annual conference, held conjointly with the meetings of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Religious Research Association (SSSR). We invite contributions on all topics relevant to the social scientific study of Mormonism, with special interest in those featuring multiculturalism, gender/sexuality, post-colonialism, generational change, and questions of disaffiliation/retention. Proposals should include a paper/panel title, a 250-word abstract, and the names, contact information, and institutional affiliation of all participants.

Submissions Open: January 10, 2020
Submissions Close: April 20, 2020
Decision Notification: April 30, 2020

Please submit proposals to Janna Riess flunkingsainthood@gmail.com and Gordon Shepherd at: gordons@uca.edu

As an interdisciplinary and international association, the MSSA promotes the social scientific study of Mormon­ism and facil­itates communication and collaboration among re­searchers, edu­cators and students. Membership is open to all. We sponsor scholarly conferences, publi­ca­tions, panel discussions, paper sessions, and the biennial Glenn M. Vernon Lecture. Join us today.

Download a printable PDF of the Call for Papers

CANCELLED – CALL FOR PAPERS MSSA 5th Annual One-Day Conference March 25, 2020

This event was cancelled.

Utah Valley University | Orem, Utah

The Mormon Social Science Association (MSSA) invites individual papers for our 5th Annual One-Day Conference 2020. We invite contributions on all topics relevant to the social scientific study of Mormonism, with special interest in those featuring:

  • gender/sexuality
  • multiculturalism
  • globalism
  • disaffiliation/retention concerns

Proposals should include a paper title, a 250-word abstract, and the names, contact infor­mation, and institutional affiliation of all authors.

Please submit proposals to both Gordon Shepherd at gordons@uca.edu and to Jana Riess at flunkingsainthood@gmail.com

Submissions Open:      November 15, 2019
Submissions Close:     February 15, 2020
Decision Notification:   March 1, 2020

The Mormon Social Science Association (MSSA) promotes the social scientific study of study of Mormon­ism. The MSSA is interdisciplinary and international, and facil­itates communication and collaboration among re­searchers, edu­cators, and students. Membership is open to all. Our annual meeting is held con­jointly with the Society for the Scientific Study of Reli­gion (SSSR).

Join us today.

Call for Papers | MSSA Annual Conference 2019 | October 25-27 | Hyatt Regency at the Arch | Saint Louis, Missouri


The Mormon Social Science Association (MSSA) invites proposals for individual papers, panels or author meets critics sessions for the 2019 annual conference, held con­jointly with the meetings of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Religious Research Association (SSSR/RRA). We invite contributions on all topics relevant to the social scientific study of Mormonism, with special interest in those featuring multiculturalism, gender/sexuality, post-colonialism, and questions of disaffiliation/retention. Proposals should include a paper/panel title, a 250-word abstract, and the names, contact infor­mation, and institutional affiliation of all participants.

Submissions Open: January 25, 2019
Submissions Close: March 20, 2019
Decision Notification: April 30, 2018

Please submit proposals to Gordon Shepherd at: gordons@uca.edu

2019 MSSA KEYNOTE ADDRESS | We are delighted to announce that Dr. Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp, Archer Alexander Distinguished Professor at the John C. Danforth Center for Religion and Politics, will deliver the 2019 Vernon Lecture at the upcoming Annual Meeting in Saint Louis. 


As an interdisciplinary and international association, the MSSA promotes the social scientific study of study of Mormon­ism and facil­itates communication and collaboration among re­searchers, edu­cators and students. Membership is open to all. We sponsor scholarly conferences, publi­ca­tions, panel discussions, paper sessions, and the biennial Glenn M. Vernon Lecture. Join us today. #MormonStudies

Call for Papers | MSSA 4th Annual One-Day Conference | March 6, 2019 | Utah Valley University

The Mormon Social Science Association (MSSA) invites individual papers for our 4th Annual One-Day Conference 2019 which will take place on March 6, 2019 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

We invite contributions on all topics relevant to the social scientific study of Mormonism, with special interest in those featuring gender/sexuality, multiculturalism, globalism, and disaffiliation/retention concerns.

Proposals should include a paper title, a 250-word abstract, and the names, contact infor­mation, and institutional affiliation of all participants. Please submit proposals to Gordon Shepherd at: gordons@uca.edu

Submissions Open: November 20, 2018
Submissions Close: February 1, 2019
Decision Notification: February 8, 2019

The Mormon Social Science Association (MSSA) promotes the social scientific study of study of Mormon­ism. The MSSA is interdisciplinary and international, and facil­itates communication and collaboration among re­searchers, edu­cators, and students. Membership is open to all. Our annual meeting is held con­jointly with the Society for the Scientific Study of Reli­gion (SSSR). Join us today.     #MormonStudies

Printable PDF Poster of Call for Papers

CFP 2019_MSSA_One-Day Conference

Call For Papers for the MSSA 2018 Annual Meeting

Individual Papers | Panels | Session
Proposals | Author Meets Critics
October 26-28, 2018
Tropicana Hotel | Las Vegas, Nevada

The Mormon Social Science Association (MSSA)
invites proposals for individual papers, panels or author
meets critics sessions for the 2018 annual conference
held conjointly with the meetings of the Society for the
Scientific Study of Religion and the Religious Research
Association. We invite contributions on all topics relevant
to the social scientific study of Mormonism, with special
interest in those featuring gender, post-colonialism,
queer studies, and critical race studies. Proposals
should include a paper/panel title, a 250-word abstract,
and the names, contact information, and institutional
affiliation of all participants.

Submissions Open: February 20, 2018
Submissions Close: March 31, 2018
Decision Notification: April 30, 2018

CFP 2018_MSSA_Annual Meeting

Please submit proposals to Gordon Shepherd at:
gordons@uca.edu

Call for Papers for MSSA Mini-Conference at UVU

Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah
March 29, 2017

In conjunction with the annual Utah Valley University Mormon Studies Conference, the Mormon Social Science Association looks forward to hosting a one-day mini-conference on the campus of Utah Valley University.
We invite and encourage a range of proposal topics relevant to the scientific study and understanding of contemporary Mormonism. Those interested in presenting a paper or organizing a panel for this conference should submit a one-page proposal which includes a tentative paper/panel title, a brief description of the focus of the presentation, your institutional affiliation, and your contact information.

Submissions Open: February 1, 2017
Submissions Close: March 1, 2017
Decision Notification: March 10, 2017

Please submit your proposals to David Knowlton at: dknowlton@uvu.edu

2016 MORMON MEDIA STUDIES SYMPOSIUM: Mormonism and Global Media

2016 MORMON MEDIA STUDIES SYMPOSIUM

 CALL FOR PAPERS, PANELS, AND PRESENTATIONS

 

Theme: Mormonism and Global Media

Conference site: BYU Hawai‘i campus in Lā‘ie, Hawai‘i

Conference date: November 3 & 4, 2016

Proposal submissions due July 1, 2016 (early submission strongly encouraged)

Symposium website: http://mormonmediastudies.weebly.com/

Sponsored by Department of International Cultural Studies and the College of Language, Culture and Arts, BYU Hawai‘i

Mormonism grows in a world with a variety of religion-society and religion-media relationships. Its historical, cultural, social, and political insertions into host countries may differ significantly from place to place. Thus Mormonism’s treatment by the media, its attempts to publicize itself through the media, and its members’ use of media technologies in religiously relevant ways—to name a few types of relationships with the media—may differ significantly from U.S. Mormon-media patterns. A conference on Mormonism and media surveys the current situation, raises new questions, and encourages new conversations about a globally growing religion and the part media play in particular cultures.

Submission of Paper and Panel Proposals

Academics, professionals, and students are invited to submit competitive papers or panel proposals about any aspect of Mormons and the media. Papers and panels may be broadly interdisciplinary; international perspectives are strongly encouraged; all rigorous scholarly methodological frameworks and theories are welcome. Submissions should be either full papers (preferred; approx. 6,000–8,000 words, with 100-word abstract) or extended abstracts (approx. 500 words). Proposals for audio and/or visual presentations (including short films) with rigorous analysis are welcome. Papers recently presented or published elsewhere may be considered (please provide details).

Examples of topics include but are not limited to:

  • Analyses of media content by or about Mormons (textual, rhetorical, thematic, etc.) in various cultures
  • Mormon-produced media (contemporary, historical, international, etc.): Internet, social media, newspapers, magazines, books, television, radio, film, etc.
  • Content, producers, and effects of recent and historical depictions of Mormons in news and popular culture
  • Mormons, media & politics, U.S. and international
  • Mormon media uses and effects, including social media
  • Mormon media images and depictions (contemporary & historical)
  • Concepts of voice, identity, and community in media by or about Mormons
  • Content and effects of LDS public relations, advertising, messaging
  • Audience studies: meaning-making, effects, responses, influences, behavior and attitudinal changes
  • Institutional LDS perspectives on media: responses and effects
  • Mormons as media creators, producers, publishers, inventors, disseminators, editors, writers, etc.; or others in these categories who have produced LDS-related media or content
  • Mormon-related film, TV programming, reality show participation, etc.
  • Comparative studies (Mormons and media as compared to other religions or institutions)
  • Historical, sociological, literary, rhetorical, legal, international, psychological, etc. perspectives on Mormons and media
  • Mormon-related entertainment, theater, music, and popular culture productions

Papers presented at the symposium will be given special consideration, at authors’ discretion, for publication in the Journal of Media and Religion.

Paper, panel, and presentation proposals must be submitted by July 1, 2016 in Word or PDF format as an email attachment to Dr. Chiung Hwang Chen at chenc@byuh.edu or Dr. Daniel Stout at daniel.stout@byuh.edu. Early submission and registration are strongly encouraged. For more information, please visit the symposium website at http://mormonmediastudies.weebly.com/