Background

Randomized experiments provide many scientific disciplines with one of their core empirical methods.  Experiments excel in terms of identifying causal mechanisms, which is why experiments are so important.  That said, generalizing results can often be difficult because experimental settings can be overly artificial and low on external validity.  

In recent years, however, researchers have made groundbreaking advances in methods for drawing strong causal inferences with observational data.  These advances have also revealed that some mechanisms, with social influence a prominent example, can be challenging to identify even with experimental data.    

The evolutionary human sciences have much to gain from these methods.  Social influence drives cultural evolution and is central to the evolutionary study of human behavior.  More generally, experiments are simply not possible for many fundamental questions, and so one of our most powerful methods is not an option.

About the call  

Evolutionary Human Sciences is putting together a special themed issue on causal inference, and we welcome submissions that examine key concepts, review existing literature, or highlight the potential of modern causal inference with original empirical research.  

Consistent with the broad scope of the journal, we are happy to receive submissions related to diverse fields in the evolutionary human sciences.  Possibilities include but are not limited to genetics, behavior, phylogenetics, neuroscience, gene-culture coevolution, language, and the arts.  

Deadline

The deadline for initial submissions is 31 March 2023.  We welcome and encourage submissions earlier than this date.  The online format of the journal ensures that authors with papers accepted early in the process do not have to wait for publication.  Early papers can appear immediately, with all papers accumulated as accepted on a rolling basis.

Editors

Ruth Mace, Editor-in-Chief 

Charles Efferson, Associate Editor 

Joseph Bulbulia, Guest Editor 

James Holland Jones, Guest Editor