Selecting Outlets For Research

1. Selecting Outlets For Research • STEM Discipline

2. Research Outlets

3. Academic Outlets • Research can be published in a wide variety of forms • Journal papers (and refereed book chapters) • Conference papers • Internal technical reports • Posters • These provide an outlet for all types and levels of research, whether a work-in-progress or a fully developed paper • Getting published is competitive, and requires selecting appropriate outlets

4. Journals Publishing in journals is required at many institutions Can be physical journals or e-journals Require more developed research and results Publication process is slow in print but faster online – use DOI

5. Conferences • Can take shorter papers or work in progress • Good for brainstorming ideas • In STEM, can often publish initially in a conference and then more thoroughly in a journal • Many conferences are linked to journals • The papers are published in a special edition of the journal • There are other benefits to attending conferences

6. Technical Reports • Used internally to review work • Technical reports can be made available externally as well • There will be “house guidelines” on publications of this form • Reports may be available outside the university • Often freely available on the Web, which is good for publicity • The research can still be documented in other formats later • Research not suitable for external publication could also be salvaged in an internal report

7. Posters • Used to publish research in brief or provide overviews • Can be reused internally and externally • Good for self-promotion • Require least developed levels of research • Can be developed into a full paper later

8. Archival View • Some disciplines (mainly in the Sciences) assume that the journal paper will be the only type that will be archived • i.e. material published initially at a conference will need to be later recorded in a more complete form in a journal • Although views are changing, it’s important to respect the needs of your own discipline

9. Get Advice • Choosing the correct outlet isn’t always a personal decision • Speak with internal colleagues to discover any requirements for publications • Find out where they have published • Use their contacts • Publication in journals is important in STEM • Get familiar with the top journals (and conferences) in your field and their relative rankings • Look for the “impact factor” in ranking lists • See which journals/conferences appear most when you search for your topic

10. Example Impact Factors http://sciencewatch.com/dr/sci/09/sep27-09_2

11. Research Journal Publication

12. Identify The Journal • Find an appropriate journal to target • Look at journal rankings • Talk to colleagues and contacts who have recently published • Look at the style of papers they have published • Review their publishing requirements • Are they achievable? • Is the proposed topic suitable? • What are their requirements for writers?

13. Contact The Editor • Find out if the paper you’re considering writing fits the needs of the journal • Send an email to the editor • Include a short outline/abstract/overview • Note how this ties in with other material that they’ve published recently • Allow 7 days for a reply • If not send a reminder • If you don’t hear back, or the paper is unsuitable, repeat with other journals

14. Write The Paper • Follow the publication guidelines • Mirror the style of other papers in the journal • Include citations to other papers in the journal • And strategic citations (yourself, colleagues, contacts)

15. Submit The Paper • Most likely an online system • Occasionally, this can still be paper or email based • Ensure you’ve supplied all the required information • Pay attention to formatting requirements • e.g. some journals require all tables and figures at the end of the document

16. Get Acknowledged • Traditionally, the journal editor will briefly review the paper to check that it fits their journal • If it doesn’t, they won’t send it out to reviewers • Expect to receive an acknowledgement within 14 days • If all is okay, the paper will go out for peer review • If the paper isn’t suitable, revise it or target another journal

17. Peer Review • This checks the integrity of the paper being submitted • The exact checks vary from field-to-field, but could include elements such as the academic argument, the suitability of the journal, the writing style, or the Mathematics • Reviewing is usually anonymous • But, it generally doesn’t take a lot of detective work for a reviewer to identify an author • Reviewers can be opinionated • Good practice is to provide constructive feedback • Reviewers can give conflicting advise • The editor makes the final decision

18. Wait! The review process can be slow! If, after 3 months, you’ve not heard back, it’s acceptable/encouraged to contact the journal editor for updates

19. Receive The Feedback • Some of the outcomes include: • Paper accepted as is (very unlikely!) • Paper may be accepted, but changes required • Paper rejected

20. If The Paper Is Rejected… Review the feedback Decide whether to rework the paper for another journal

21. If Changes Are Required • Decide on the extent of these changes • Asking for a lot of changes can be a polite way of avoiding having to reject the paper • Rework the paper • Keep a list of bullet points of how changes have been made to address the reviewer comments • Return the reworked paper with the list of changes • Hopefully, this will now be accepted

22. Proof Check The Typeset Version • Before publication, you’ll receive a version of the paper laid out in the journal’s style • Most likely a PDF, but could be on paper • Review this carefully for accuracy • Note any changes that are required • Try and ensure that these do not change the overall page layout – which can be expensive

23. Receive The Finished Version • That’s it! The paper is published in the journal • You may get a copy of the journal, or offprints • May be printed offprints or e-offprints • Offprints can usually also be purchased • Can be circulated to colleagues or used for publicity • Publicise the paper • Work on the next one!

24. Conference Publications

25. Truncated Process • Main benefit of conference publication is that this is a fast process • Designated dates for paper submission, reviews, acceptance and final versions • Generally less competitive • But varies by field • Look for peer review • Beware of conferences that accept everything, regardless of quality

26. Types Of Conference Publications • Full papers • Require your finished paper in a “ready to print” state • Can still review this after reviewer comments • Extended Abstracts • Generally used more outside STEM • Do not require the data to have been collected and analysed • The full paper may or may not be peer reviewed • Posters • Workshops • Good for interactive research

27. Insider Knowledge

28. Sign Up As A Reviewer • This enables you to see the work going on in your field • And to experience the peer review process from the other side of the spectrum • Conference publications are a good place to start • Papers are often shorter • They are receptive to new reviewers • Can choose to review papers in your areas of interest

29. Present Your Research Internally • Deliver research seminars to your peers • Show them what you’re working on • Develop collaborative opportunities • Look for internal conferences • Good to network across the university • Look for external conferences and workshops • Can often attend for free/or at a reduced rate • Can sometimes submit a poster, even if outside your main field

30. Any Questions?