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Publishing your PhD as journal articles Authoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher: the Endgame

Publishing your PhD as journal articles Authoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher: the Endgame. 10 November 2009 Gita Subrahmanyam. In today’s workshop we will …. Consider publishing journal articles: why and how Hear from the experts: academic journal editors

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Publishing your PhD as journal articles Authoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher: the Endgame

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  1. Publishing your PhD as journal articlesAuthoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher: the Endgame 10 November 2009 Gita Subrahmanyam

  2. In today’s workshop we will … • Consider publishing journal articles: why and how • Hear from the experts: academic journal editors • Look at the work you’ve brought along and support each other in developing effective abstracts and strategies

  3. Why publish in journals? • To publicise your research results • Journals are a depository of knowledge • They indicate the state of the discipline • The publication process includes vetting and peer review • To develop a publications profile … to get jobs!

  4. Where to publish 2 basic types of journal • OMNIBUS or GENERAL JOURNAL covers whole discipline; often run by professional body; hence wider print readership within one country; strong competition to get in; often top-ranked journal in country + field; good for citations if paper is spotted • SPECIALIST JOURNAL focuses on one sub-field; often commercially produced; small print readership; more intense readers with citation circle features; medium citations for successful papers; sometimes hidden cultural/ ideological barriers or editorial processes

  5. Where to publish (2) • There is a hierarchy of journals within each discipline • A journal’s position in the hierarchy depends on a number of factors • Refereeing systems (top is ‘double blind’) • Citation scores • Circulation and journal types • Received wisdom (ask people in discipline) • Aim high but be realistic – and make sure you do your research on the journal prior to submitting an article

  6. Targeting specific journals • What kinds of articles does the journal publish? Make sure your article ‘fits the bill’ • What are the submission guidelines, formatting instructions and other procedures? Most editors will not consider articles that do not follow the criteria • Read editors’ reports to discover the ‘turnaround time’ from receipt to review to decision, acceptance rates and other relevant information • You may want to assess your chances of getting accepted against the time it takes to get a decision

  7. Group exercise 1 Working in groups of two, discuss: • The choice of journal – has the author chosen the correct journal for his/her article? • Risk assessment - what is the journal’s ranking? What is the turnaround time? What are the author’s chances of getting the article accepted?

  8. The publication process • You submit your paper to one (and only one) journal at a time (submission details listed in the journal) • An editor will seek advice from 1 – 3 referees • or reject your submission outright • Referees write a report for you (the author) and a confidential letter to the editor • Editor decides to accept, reject, or return your paper for revision (acceptance rates 5 – 20 %) • If rejected, take comments to heart and send your paper to another journal • Whole process takes several months … or longer

  9. What gets published? Key qualities of a publishable article: • Originality – new knowledge or theoretical development • Scholarship and accuracy • Good quality writing • Interest and importance

  10. Structuring a good article • Aim for c.8000 words (check rules of journal) • Five sections or fewer • Deliver one key message: don’t over-complicate • Front-load the argument and key message (don’t keep readers guessing)

  11. Getting articles out of your thesis • Present findings you plan to publish at seminars/conferences for feedback • A thesis chapter will need (substantial) re-working to be able to stand alone as a coherent article • Target the ‘right’ journal: what journals do you read and admire; get advice supervisor and other academics on what level to pitch at

  12. Journal editor’s perspective • Professor Simon Hix, co-editor European Union Politics

  13. The importance of the abstract • Key point of sale’ for all Internet readers • most won’t have Library access • time window = 1 minute (if they’re already keen from the title alone) • Abstract and title should form close correspondence • Both should contain: • keywords that appear in internet searches • clear and comprehensive information about what is being covered • subject, methodology and/or geographic region(s)

  14. MOTIVATION FOCUS/SCOPE/ RESEARCH PROBLEM METHODS FINDINGS/DATA/ EVIDENCE/ ANALYSIS BOTTOM LINE CONCLUSION and IMPLICATIONS ABSTRACT SEQUENCE FOR A MORE TECHNICAL JOURNAL ARTICLE

  15. MOTIVATION FOCUS/SCOPE/ RESEARCH PROBLEM METHODS FINDINGS/DATA/ EVIDENCE/ ANALYSIS BOTTOM LINE CONCLUSION and IMPLICATIONS ABSTRACT SEQUENCE FOR A MORE TECHNICAL JOURNAL ARTICLE • ATTRACTOR, • MICRO SALES PITCH • Why should the reader • bother to read the article? • Mini-origins – why I was • interested in the topic? • (If you’re not, no one • else will be) • Why is the article • interesting or important?

  16. MOTIVATION FOCUS/SCOPE/ RESEARCH PROBLEM METHODS FINDINGS/DATA/ EVIDENCE/ ANALYSIS BOTTOM LINE CONCLUSION and IMPLICATIONS ABSTRACT SEQUENCE FOR A MORE TECHNICAL JOURNAL ARTICLE • “NEED TO KNOW” • CRITERION • Given the type of journal and its professional audience, • what do potential readers really need to know?

  17. MOTIVATION FOCUS/SCOPE/ RESEARCH PROBLEM METHODS FINDINGS/DATA/ EVIDENCE/ ANALYSIS BOTTOM LINE CONCLUSION and IMPLICATIONS ABSTRACT SEQUENCE FOR A MORE TECHNICAL JOURNAL ARTICLE • RESIDUE PITCH • (‘Take-away’ message) • Why should I remember • this article or message? • Should I copy the article or • incorporate it into my work? • Why should I cite it? • (maybe without reading it • any further) • Should I put the article on • my course reading list?

  18. ABSTRACT SEQUENCE FOR A MORE DISCURSIVE/ THEMATIC ARTICLE • FRAME, MOTIVATION – 1 or 2 sentences • BODY – one sentence each for 3, 4 or 5 substantive sections of the paper (Never have more than 5 sections – over-signposting for standard 8,000 word paper) • OVERALL KEY FINDING – one sentence • IMPLICATIONS – one sentence

  19. Group exercise 2 Working in groups of two, discuss: • Do the title and abstract match up? • Your abstracts – does it follow our template? Does it match with the proposed structure? • Outline – does the outline structure follow the abstract in a logical or chronological way?

  20. ABSTRACT SEQUENCE FOR A MORE TECHNICAL JOURNAL ARTICLE ABSTRACT SEQUENCE FOR A MORE DISCURSIVE/ THEMATIC ARTICLE • FRAME, MOTIVATION – 1 or 2 sentences • BODY – one sentence each for 3, 4 or 5 substantive sections of the paper (Never more than 5 sections) • KEY FINDING – one sentence • IMPLICATIONS – one sentence • MOTIVATION – mini sales pitch 1 or 2 sentences • FOCUS/SCOPE/ RESEARCH PROBLEM – focus on what readers need to know • METHODS • FINDINGS/DATA/ EVIDENCE/ ANALYSIS • BOTTOM LINE CONCLUSION + IMPLICATIONS

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