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The Journal of Consumer Research (JCR) is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal founded in 1974 that publishes empirical, theoretical, and methodological research on consumer behavior. Published bimonthly by Oxford University Press on behalf of Journal of Consumer Research, Inc., JCR is indexed across major citation databases and included on the Financial Times 50 (FT50) journal list. It carries a Clarivate journal impact factor of 7.2 and a 5-year impact factor of 10.5. Researchers, faculty, and doctoral candidates consult JCR to study consumption phenomena and evaluate publication venues across marketing, psychology, sociology, and behavioral economics.
What It Is
The Journal of Consumer Research is an international academic journal dedicated to describing, explaining, and advancing understanding of consumer behavior. Owned by Journal of Consumer Research, Inc., a nonprofit entity governed by a multi-association Policy Board, JCR investigates both micro-level psychological processes of individual choice and macro-level cultural, sociological, and economic consumption systems.
Unlike commercial marketing publications, JCR prioritizes theoretical advancement over tactical managerial prescriptions. It publishes six issues per year under standard international serial numbering:
| Specification Parameter | Journal Detail | Verification Source |
|---|---|---|
| Official Title | Journal of Consumer Research | Crossref / OUP (checked 2026-11-09) |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press | Crossref Metadata (checked 2026-11-09) |
| Print ISSN | 0093-5301 | Crossref API (checked 2026-11-09) |
| Electronic ISSN | 1537-5277 | Crossref API (checked 2026-11-09) |
| Founding Year | 1974 | JCR Editorial Portal (checked 2026-11-09) |
| Two-Year Impact Factor | 7.2 | Journal Citation Reports via OUP (checked 2026-11-09) |
| Five-Year Impact Factor | 10.5 | Journal Citation Reports via OUP (checked 2026-11-09) |
| Publication Frequency | Bimonthly (6 issues per volume year) | Oxford Academic (checked 2026-11-09) |
| Peer Review Model | Double-anonymized review | JCR Review Process (checked 2026-11-09) |
| Publishing Model | Hybrid subscription (Oxford Open available) | DOAJ Search / OUP (checked 2026-11-09) |
| Submission Platform | ScholarOne Manuscripts | JCR Author Instructions (checked 2026-11-09) |
Who Runs It and What It Covers
The Journal of Consumer Research is owned by Journal of Consumer Research, Inc., a nonprofit corporation governed by a Policy Board appointed by thirteen scholarly organizations, including the Association for Consumer Research (ACR), American Marketing Association (AMA), American Sociological Association (ASA), American Anthropological Association (AAA), American Statistical Association (ASA), and INFORMS. The Policy Board sets editorial policies and oversees corporate governance. Editorial leadership consists of a team of co-editors, Associate Editors (AEs), and an international Editorial Review Board.
JCR evaluates manuscripts across seven formal categories:
- Conceptual Papers: Manuscripts advancing novel theoretical frameworks or syntheses without new empirical data.
- Theory-Driven Empirical Papers: Studies testing hypotheses via behavioral experiments, surveys, or field trials.
- Substantive Phenomena Papers: Empirical investigations of real-world consumption issues that challenge existing theory.
- Consumer Culture Research Papers: Qualitative, ethnographic, or cultural analyses of consumer identity and market practices.
- (Multi-)Methods and Empirical Quantitative Papers: Advanced econometric models or quantitative methodologies tailored to consumption data.
- Registered Reports: Methodological protocols evaluated and conditionally accepted prior to data collection.
- Brief Commentaries: Shorter articles discussing emergent methodological debates or responding to published papers.
How to Search or Use It
Researchers access JCR articles through institutional library subscriptions on Oxford Academic or via open-access options. Authors submit manuscripts through ScholarOne Manuscripts, navigating a seven-step sequence:
- Step 1 (Type, Title, & Abstract): Select manuscript type. Enter title in Chicago Manual of Style headline case. Add abstract (maximum 200 words).
- Step 2 (File Upload): Upload primary manuscript in Word, RTF, or PDF format (maximum 40 MB). Supplementary material must be uploaded as a single “Web Appendix” file.
- Step 3 (Attributes & Keywords): Select up to two article type and discipline keywords, and up to five topic keywords to facilitate reviewer matching.
- Step 4 (Authors & Institutions): Enter co-authors in order of contribution, confirming institutional affiliations and email addresses.
- Step 5 (Reviewers & Editors): Recommend Associate Editors and qualified reviewers, or specify non-preferred reviewers with documented conflicts.
- Step 6 (Details & Comments): Submit cover letter, Consumer Relevance and Contribution Statement, Data Collection Statement, and disclosures of prior related submissions.
- Step 7 (Review & Submit): Inspect the converted PDF proof and confirm submission.
Manuscripts must not exceed 60 double-spaced pages in 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins, inclusive of title, statement, abstract, body text, embedded tables, figures, appendices, and references. By default, JCR requires anonymized data to be deposited in a third-party data repository (such as Dataverse) with a corresponding Data and Materials Availability Statement.
Submissions undergo double-anonymized peer review. The handling co-editor and assigned Associate Editor recruit three reviewers, leading to one of five formal editorial outcomes:
- Conditional Accept: Core contribution is established; only minor, low-risk revisions are required.
- Revision: Substantial revision with clear, achievable guidance outlined in the AE report.
- Risky Revision: Manuscript holds potential, but remedying identified weaknesses carries substantial risk or the solution path is uncertain.
- Straight Reject: Work does not meet publication standards; revision is not permitted.
- Desk Reject: Returned without external peer review due to out-of-scope content or insufficient theoretical advance.
Strengths and Limits
JCR offers distinct advantages alongside rigorous structural constraints.
Strengths
- Top-Tier Prestige: Tracked on prestigious evaluation lists including the FT50 and recognized globally across business schools.
- Methodological Pluralism: Publishes experimental, qualitative (CCT), econometric, and conceptual scholarship.
- Developmental Editorial Reports: Associate Editors synthesize and prioritize reviewer concerns rather than relying on vote counts.
- Open Science Rigor: Default repository data sharing strengthens reproducibility.
Limits
- Low Acceptance Rate: Competition is intense, with acceptance rates historically estimated below 10%.
- Hard 60-Page Limit: Complex multi-study experimental designs require concise presentation and offloading detail to web appendices.
- Non-Managerial Scope: Manuscripts focusing on executive marketing tactics or consulting advice face desk rejection.
- Hybrid APCs: Immediate open-access publication requires optional article processing charges (APCs) via Oxford Open.
Alternatives
Authors evaluating where to submit consumer behavior scholarship can compare JCR against four leading peer-reviewed journals:
| Journal Title | Publisher | Primary Disciplinary Focus | Review Model | Access Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal of Consumer Research (JCR) | Oxford University Press | Interdisciplinary consumer behavior and consumption theory | Double-anonymized | Hybrid Subscription / Oxford Open |
| Journal of Consumer Psychology (JCP) | Wiley / Society for Consumer Psychology | Psychological mechanisms and cognitive processes in consumer behavior | Double-anonymized | Hybrid Subscription / OnlineOpen |
| Journal of Marketing Research (JMR) | SAGE / American Marketing Association | Quantitative marketing models, research methodology, and consumer analytics | Double-anonymized | Hybrid Subscription / SAGE Choice |
| Journal of Marketing (JM) | SAGE / American Marketing Association | Strategic marketing, managerial implications, and market systems | Double-anonymized | Hybrid Subscription / SAGE Choice |
| Journal of Consumer Behaviour (JCB) | Wiley | Applied consumer behavior, international consumer research, and empirical studies | Double-anonymized | Hybrid Subscription / OnlineOpen |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current impact factor of the Journal of Consumer Research?
Clarivate Journal Citation Reports via Oxford University Press lists JCR with a 2-year impact factor of 7.2 and a 5-year impact factor of 10.5.
What is the acceptance rate for the Journal of Consumer Research?
JCR’s acceptance rate historically ranges between 7% and 10%, reflecting rigorous theoretical and empirical review criteria.
Does JCR use single-blind or double-blind peer review?
JCR uses a double-anonymized review process. Author identities are withheld from reviewers and Associate Editors, and reviewer identities are concealed from authors.
What is the page limit for manuscript submissions to JCR?
Manuscripts must not exceed 60 double-spaced pages in 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins. This limit includes all titles, abstracts, statements, text, embedded tables, figures, appendices, and references.
Is the Journal of Consumer Research an open-access journal?
JCR is a hybrid subscription journal. Articles are accessible via institutional subscriptions, with optional open access available through Oxford Open upon payment of an article processing charge.
Where are manuscripts submitted to JCR?
Manuscripts must be submitted through ScholarOne Manuscripts at mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jcr. JCR does not accept submissions via email or postal mail.
Sources
- Crossref API: Journal Record 0093-5301 — Verified publisher, ISSN metadata, and DOI catalog (checked 2026-11-09).
- Journal of Consumer Research Editorial Portal: About the Journal — Scope, founding history, governance, and citation metrics (checked 2026-11-09).
- Journal of Consumer Research Editorial Portal: Policy Board — Sponsoring associations and board governance structure (checked 2026-11-09).
- Journal of Consumer Research Editorial Portal: Manuscript Preparation — Formatting rules, 60-page limit, and ScholarOne submission guidelines (checked 2026-11-09).
- Journal of Consumer Research Editorial Portal: Overview of Review Process — Double-anonymized review workflow and 5-tier decision taxonomy (checked 2026-11-09).
- Journal of Consumer Research Editorial Portal: Paper Evaluation Criteria — Seven formal manuscript categories and evaluation standards (checked 2026-11-09).
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) Search — Verification of non-DOAJ hybrid publishing status (checked 2026-11-09).
