Research Workshop FEMS, UWC 21 May 2015

1. Research WorkshopFEMS, UWC21 May 2015 Emeritus Professor Johann Maree Mentor and Research Facilitator

2. Topics to be covered • Publication preparation: • Selecting a journal • The writing process • Responding to review feedback • Pre-conference preparation: • Developing an abstract • Making a good presentation • Designing a poster

3. Publication: Selecting a journal • Make sure it is an accredited journal • To check whether it is accredited, go to UWC’s library home page, hover with your cursor over Research Support on the menu at the top, then click on Research Portal. In new window, click on Accredit Journals on menu down the left hand side. • Note that any journal listed by either the DHET, IBSS or ISI Web of Science is accredited. • Select a journal you regularly read; • Or the journal of your professional association. • If neither of the above apply, what then?

4. Selecting a journal: Continued • Browse through journals in the same disciplinary field(s) as your article • This can be done electronically via your library’s website (on right hand side: under Quick Links click eJournals A-Z, then login to EZproxy)

5. Selecting a journal: continued • Select the journal you are most “comfortable” with. • Usually it will have articles: • using similar research methods to yours • Addressing similar issues as your article • Espousing the same values and goals you have

6. More advanced criteria • In South Africa the only criterion the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), and hence your university, requires is that the journal is accredited. • However, many other countries use more advanced criteria. Basically, that it is a highly rated journal by its professional body. • The National Research Foundation (NRF) also uses more advanced criteria.

7. The Writing Process • Assumption: you have completed your masters dissertation or PhD thesis and you now want to publish an article or articles based on your dissertation/thesis. • Masters dissertation • Identify the major findings and focus your article on them • An article requires the same components as your dissertation, such as hypotheses, research method, field work, etc, only say it more briefly.

8. The Writing Process: Continued • PhD thesis • You can usually get more than one article out of a PhD thesis: up to three or four even. • See how you can break your thesis up into sub-themes you can publish separately. • Each article must still meet all the criteria of a research publication: research question, research method, field work, etc.

9. Responding to review feedback • The big things is not to get discouraged. • Remember, even Snoopy had to deal with setbacks!

11. Preconference preparation • Developing an abstract • Be clear, brief and precise. • Say (a) what the paper is about (b) what research method was used (c) what the main findings are • Follow the length guide usually provided by the conference organisers

12. Making a good presentation 1 • The golden rule is not to try to cram everything in your paper into the presentation. • Identify the main, most interesting findings of your paper. • Focus on getting only your main findings across in your presentation. • Do not clutter your slide with too much information in small font.

13. Making a good presentation 2 • When making the presentation, get straight into your topic. • Do not first thank the organisers or tell a lengthy joke. • It is amazing how quickly time flies when you are presenting. • Speak around what is on the overhead, basically, elaborate on what is up there.