An insider’s guide to getting published in research journals

An insider’s guide to getting published in research journals Yang-Cheng Shen Business Manager for Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand and Taiwan E-mail: yshen@emeraldinsight.com Tel+44(0)7966 558276

Aims of the session • To ‘demystify’ the publishing process • To provide tips, insider knowledge and key questions to maximize your chances of publication • To encourage some of you to go beyond publishing, e.g. reviewing, book reviewing, editorial roles • Q&A session: ask anything! • Follow-up: I’m always available to help • To get you sharing your knowledge, i.e. to get you writing

Emerald Group Publishing – company background • Emerald Group Publishing Limited (formerly MCB University Press) • Founded in 1967 in Bradford, West Yorkshire • Over 250 employees. Offices in China, India, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Dubai, USA • 220+ journals, 241 book series and 300 stand-alone texts • Electronic databases: Emerald Management eJournals • Over 3,000 institute subscribers, including 98 of the FT top 100 business schools • Potential readership of 15 million

Emerald’s engagement with Asia Pacific • Emerald is leading the way in specialist international publications with a Asia Pacific focus. • Over 200 Editorial Advisory Board members and over 3,000 published authors from the region. • Two of our top contributing institutions in the region are based in Taiwan: • National Cheng Kung University • National Taiwan University

Articles from National ChengChi University • Problem-based learning supported by digital archives: Case study of Taiwan Libraries' History Digital LibraryType: Article, Research paperAuthor(s): Chih-Ming Chen, Chia-Chi ChenSource:The Electronic Library; Volume: 28 Issue: 1; 2010 • Buyer satisfaction and loyalty intention in online auctions: Online auction web site versus online auction sellerType: Article, Research paperAuthor(s): Jyh-Shen Chiou, Lei-Yu Wu, Yi-Ping SungSource:Journal of Service Management; Volume: 20 Issue: 5; 2009 • The effect of community identification on attitude and intention toward a blogging communityType: Article, Research paperAuthor(s): Chung-Chi Shen, Jyh-Shen ChiouSource:Internet Research; Volume: 19 Issue: 4; 2009 • Psychological ownership and franchise growth: An empirical study of a Taiwanese taxi franchiseType: Article, Research paperAuthor(s): Sheng-Tsung Hou, Mu-Yen Hsu, Se-Hwa WuSource:International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research; Volume: 15 Issue: 5; 2009 • More….

What do we mean by research you can use? Research that has an impact

Ideas: where to start • As well as ‘traditional’ research… • Are you working on a Doctoral or Master’s thesis? • Have you completed a project which concluded successfully? • Are you wrestling with a problem with no clear solution? • Do you have an opinion or observation on a subject? • Have you given a presentation or conference paper? • If so, you have the basis for a publishable paper

Co-authorship as a possibility • With supervisor, across departments, someone from a different institution • Demonstrates the authority and rigour of the research • Especially useful for cross-disciplinary research • Ensure paper is checked and edited so that it reads as one voice • Exploit your individual strengths • Agree and clarify order of appearance of authors and the person taking on the role of corresponding author

What makes a good paper?HINT: Editors and reviewers look for … • Originality – what’s new about subject, treatment or results? • Relevance to and extension of existing knowledge • Research methodology – are conclusions valid and objective? • Clarity, structure and quality of writing – does it communicate well? • Sound, logical progression of argument • Theoretical and practical implications (the ‘so what?’ factors!) • Recency and relevance of references • Internationality/Global focus • Adherence to the editorial scopeand objectives of the journal • A good title, keywords and a well written abstract

What should YOU be looking for ISI is the most well known ranking, but others exist e.g. • Citations are a good, but not complete, guide to quality (e.g. AACSB’s 2008 ‘Impact of Research’ paper) • Usage is a better measure of utility • Other factors to consider are recent articles, how communicative editors are, society-links and internationality • Be political (e.g. national vs international) and strategic (e.g. five articles in ‘low ranked’ journals vs one in ‘top ranked’ journal) What rankings are used here?

Target! “Many papers are rejected simply because they don’t fulfil journal requirements.They don’t even go into the review process.” • Identify a few possible target journals/series but be realistic • Follow the Author Guidelines – scope, type of paper, word length, references style, etc • Find where to send your paper (editor, regional editor, subject area editor). Check a copy of the journal/series or the publisher’s web site • Send an outline or abstract and ask if this looks suitable and interesting (or how it could be made so) • Confirm how an editor would like a submission, e.g. e-mail; hard copy or online submission system • Read at least one issue of the publication – visit your library for access

Example of author guidelines Every journal published will have detailed notes and guidelines

How to sell your paper • Use a short descriptive title containing main keyword – don’t mislead • Write a clear and descriptive abstract containing the main keywords and following any instructions as to content and length • Provide relevant and known keywords – not obscure new jargon • Make your references complete and correct – vital for reference linking and citation indices • All of this will make your paper more discoverable which means more dissemination and possibly more citation

Emerald has introduced structured abstracts • A structured abstract – in 250 words or less (no more than 100 in any one section) • Purpose – Reasons/aims of paper • Design – Methodology/’how it was done’/scope of study • Findings – Discussion/results • Research limitations/Implications (if applicable)– Exclusions/next steps • Practical implications (if applicable) – Applications to practice/’So what?’ • [NEW] Social implications (if applicable) – Impact on society/policy • Originality/value – Who would benefit from this and what is new about it? www.emeraldinsight.com/structuredabstracts

Before you submit your article: your own peer review • Let someone else see it – show a draft to one or more friends or colleagues and ask for their comments, advice and honest criticism • We are always too close to our own work to see its failings • Always proof-check thoroughly – no incorrect spellings, no incomplete references. Spell checkers are not fool-proof

Research Editorial supply chain and journal management structure: journals Publisher/Managing Editor Production Users Author Editor Access via library Hard copy Database Third party Quality research papers EAB and reviewers Solicits new papers Handles review process Promotes journal to peers Attends conferences Develops new areas of coverage QA – sub-editing and proof reading Convert to SGML for online databases Print production Despatch Added value from publisher The link between the publishing company and editor Helps editors succeed in their role and build a first class journal Overall responsibility for journal Promotion and marketing Attends conferences Handles production issues

Once you have submitted your article A request for revision is good news! It really is • You are now in the publishing cycle. Nearly every published paper is revised at least once • Don’t panic! • Even if the comments are sharp or discouraging, they aren’t personal

Process of acceptance for a journal – just one example

How to revise your paper • Acknowledge the editor and set a revision deadline • Clarify understanding if in doubt – ‘This is what I understand the comments to mean…’ • Consult with colleagues or co-authors and tend to the points as requested • Meet the revision deadline • Attach a covering letter which identifies, point by point, how revision requests have been met (or if not, why not)

If your paper is rejected … • Ask why, and listen carefully!Most editors will give detailed comments about a rejected paper. Take a deep breath, and listen to what is being said • Try again!Try to improve the paper, and re-submit elsewhere. Do your homework and target your paper as closely as possible • Don’t give up!At least 50% of papers in business and management don’t get published. Everybody has been rejected at least once • Keep trying!

Titles you may wish to contribute to Asian Journal on Quality www.emeraldinsight.com/ajq.htm Journal of Advances in Management Research www.emeraldinsight.com/jamr.htm Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies www.emeraldinsight.com/jaee.htm Journal of Chinese Human Resource Management www.emeraldinsight.com/jchrm.htm Journal of Science and Technology Policy in China www.emeraldinsight.com/jstpc.htm Nankai Business Review International www.emeraldinsight.com/nbri.htm Journal of Asian Business Studies - URL coming soon

How to promote your work • Why? Influence policy = credibility; Raise profile of institution and discipline area; Attract collaborators and funding; New areas and opportunities for you (consulting, media) • How? Use your network, press releases, associations/societies, engage, hone your media skills, ‘brand image’ • See Support and services for authors and Editors on the Emerald website for more info

Emerald supporting authors • More than 80,000 authors worldwide are members of the Emerald Literati Network– a huge ‘expert network’ • Complimentary journal issue and five reprints upon publication • For Researchers www.emeraldinsight.com/research • Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards • Research Fund Awards • How to… guides • Emerald Research Connections • For Authors www.emeraldinsight.com/authors • How to… guides • Meet the Editor interviews and Editor news • Editing service • Annual Awards for Excellence • Calls for Papers and news of publishing opportunities

Other useful resources • www.isiwebofknowledge.com (ISI ranking lists and impact factors) • www.harzing.com (Anne-Wil Harzing's site about academic publishing and the assessment of research and journal quality, as well as software to conduct citation analysis) • www.scopus.com (abstract and citation database of research literature and quality web sources) • www.cabells.com (addresses, phone, e-mail and websites for a large number of journals as well as information on publication guidelines and review information) • www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk (a general resource for academic writers, designed primarily with international students whose first language is not English in mind) What do you use?

Talk to us, use us! • Tell us how we can help you • Give us feedback online • Use Emerald Management eJournals For any answers you didn’t get today (or were too shy to ask) … Get in touch with Yang Cheng SHEN at yshen@emeraldinsight.com Write for us!

An insider’s guide to getting published in research journals