Nash Authorworkshops2008

www.emeraldinsight.com information ideas insight

Increasing your chances of successful publication in academic journals

By Prof. K. NarasimhanRegional Advisor (India) to Emerald Group Publishing [email protected]

Workshop held at ………….. On……….


Key Outcomes of the sessionBy the end of the session participants should be able to:

– Gain an appreciation of EMERALD Group & its structure

– Understand the importance of getting published

– Learn how authors write their papers and get their work published in journals

– Know & apply the review process

– Understand the benefits of choosing EMERALD


Emerald Group Publishing –

•It aims to be international, inclusive, and supportive of scholarly research and dissemination.

• Formerly MCB University Press founded in 1967 by academics of Bradford Management School.

•Now employs over 200 employees with regional offices in Australia, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, & USA.

•Launched the Emerald Fulltext database in 1996 and Emerald Management Xtra in 2005.


The Emerald PortfolioJournals:

– 150+ business and management; – 28 library and information services;– 16 engineering journals

36 are Thomson Scientific ranked (formerly ISI) and 85% are peer reviewed (normally double blind).

Electronic database discovery tools:– Emerald Management Xtra– Emerald Fulltext– Emerald Management Reviews (of 400 journals)– Emerald Abstracts– ManagementFirst.com.


The editorial supply chain & journal management structure

Author

EditorManaging editor Productio

nUsers


The editorial supply chain & journal management structure

Author

EditorManaging editor Productio

nUsers

Quality research and new papers

Manage EAB and reviewers

Solicit new papers

Handle review process

Promote journal to peers

Attend conferences

Develop new areas of coverage

The link between the publisher and the editor

To help editors succeed in crafting top-class journals, manage strategy and positioning

Overall responsibility for journal

Promotion and marketing

Attend conferences

Handle production issues

QA

Covert to SGML for online databases

Hard copy production

Despatch

Added value from publisher

Access via library

Hard copy and

EMX/EFTResearc

h


Why publish in academic journals?Academic journals do not pay the authors for publishing articles/papers.

That being the case why do scholars seek publication?


Objectives of publishing a scholarly paper •To disseminate trustworthy knowledge.

•To provide sufficient information for readers to:

– Assess observations made;

– Repeat the experiments/studies if they wish;

– Determine if the conclusions drawn are justified

•To improve through the intervention process.


Basis for publishable papers

‘Traditional’ research…

Doctoral or Master’s thesis

A project which concluded successfully.

Consultancy for a company.

A strong opinion or observation on a subject.

A speech given or a conference paper presented.


What stops academics from publishing?Please get into pairs and discuss 3 factors that has stopped you from publishing.

And those that have published:Please explain 3 strategies that you have used to overcome the problems.


Process of acceptance for a journal - example


Why do Articles Get Rejected?

Could those that have published please list any reasons given for the rejection of their work the first time round.


Why do Articles Get Rejected? (2)

“Many papers are rejected simply because they don’t fulfil journal requirement. They don’t even go into the review process.”

Problem: an article is not aimed at the journal's readership or does not fall within the subject area of the journal


Why do Articles Get Rejected? (3)Other reasons for the rejection of a manuscript are:

1. Poor organisation or structure

2. Poor writing style

3. Poor design of study

4. Insufficient data and/or poor handling of data

5. Limited scope of the study

6. The topic is not relevant

7. The paper does not add any new knowledge

8. Not sufficiently grounded in theory


Assessing for suitability for publication Please form into groups of 3 and assume that you are the Editor of the following journals.

You have received three abstracts and you are to advise the authors whether the intended articles are suitable for publication in the respective journals.

You have a copy of the guidelines for authors of journals. Assess the abstracts and decide what advise you will give the authors.

Briefly explain the reasons for your decision.


Before a journal is targeted:•Read at least one issue of the journal.

•Read the Author Guidelines to determine scope

•Find where to send your paper.

•Send the outline or abstract and ask for views.

•Confirm how an editor would like a submission - e-mail; hard copy

“Many papers are rejected simply because they don’t fulfil journal requirement. They don’t even go into the review process.”


Questions to Ask before Targeting

Purpose – what is the article about?

Significance/originality – why is it important or different?

Implications for research – what further studies are implied?

Implications for practice: how can it be applied?


5 key questionsReadability Does it communicate?

Originality Why was it written? What’s new?

Credibility Are the conclusions valid? Is the methodology robust?

Applicability How do findings apply to the world of managerial practice? How do they provoke further research?

Internationality Does it take an international, global perspective?


Your own peer review

•Let someone else see it - ask for their comments and honest criticisms

•ALWAYS: proof-check thoroughly – no incorrect spellings, no incomplete references

Finally…

•Make sure your references are up to date – no one will publish old work


Reviewers Evaluate the Following

•Value/significance of Paper•Relevance to International Readership•Quality of Research Design•Quality of Data Analysis•Quality of Presentation (structure, style, clarity, spelling, punctuation etc.)•Attention to Relevant Literature•Conciseness of Paper (including table, figures, references)


Make electronic dissemination easy•Use descriptive titles

•Write clear and descriptive structured abstracts (used for searching)

•Relevant keywords

•Make your references complete and correct

•Make your paper word-perfect

•Read publisher copyright statements


How to Write a Scholarly PaperBe clear about 6 wise men of Rudyard Kipling

Why: Reason for studyWhat: Questions asked, findings, and meaningWhen: Timing Who: Co-authorsWhere: Local, national. internationalHow: Methodology


The basic structure of a paper

•Title : Concise, informative, memorable•Author(s)•Abstract•Introduction•Methods•Findings/Results•Discussion/Conclusions•References


Prepare a quality structured abstract

Purpose Reasons/aims of paper

Design Methodology/’how it was done’/scope of study

Findings Results/discussion

Research limitations/Implications Exclusions/next steps

Practical implications Applications to management practice

Originality/value Who would benefit from this and what is new about it


Introduction

•Tell readers why the study was undertaken.•Clarify what the work adds to knowledge.•Keep it concise. •Demonstrate awareness of earlier studies.•Convince the importance of this study.•State how the study is designed.•Do not give conclusions.


MethodsGive details of

•How the study was designed– For example, how randomisation was achieved.

•How the study was carried out– How participants were recruited, chosen, why

excluded– Materials and equipments used, treatment given– Ethical features

•How data collected were analysed.– What tests were use for statistical analysis


Findings/Results: Structure

•Characteristics of participants/objects of study•Comparability of participants/objects•Answers to main questions posed

– One topic per paragraph: from most important to least•Differentiate clearly between results and data.•Emphasise important results:

– Omit data from text: use tables and figures– Condense results– Use a result as a topic sentence– Do not use table/figure headings as topic sentences


Discussion: Format

•Clear and concise statement of key results

•A critical review of method used

•A comparison of results with other major studies

•Implications for practice

•Suggestions for further work

•Conclusion


Summarise and conclude

•Re-state main arguments

•Present key conclusions

– recommendations– ideas for others – prompts for further research


Author How To GuidesA series of guides for academic and practitioner authors from the experts How to... promote your work How to... collaborate on writing an article How to... survive peer review and revise your paper How to... proofread your work

How to... structure your article How to... write an abstract

http://info.emeraldinsight.com/authors/guides/promote.htm


If you get rejected…

• Ask why, and listen carefully! – Most editors will give detailed comments for a

rejected paper. Listen to what is being said.

• Try again! – Try to improve the paper, and re-submit elsewhere.

Do your homework and target your paper .

Don’t give up! – At least 50% of papers in business and management

don’t get published. • Keep trying!


Revising

A REQUEST FOR REVISION IS GOOD NEWS! 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.


How to revise your paper

•Acknowledge the editor and set a revision deadline

•Clarify understanding - “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

•Explain point by point, how revision criteria have been met (or if not, why not)


The Emerald difference – why choose us?

•We genuinely value our authors•Faster submission to publication times•Worldwide dissemination – potential readership of 15 million users•Liberal copyright policy•We work directly with business schools to help provide for their needs•You will be assured of excellent post-publication care


The Literati Network (1)

•More than 26,000 authors worldwide are members – the largest ‘expert network’

•Authors’ Charter – uniquely provides authors with a range of benefits and sets out levels of service

•Complimentary journal issue and 5 reprints

•Priority Calls for Papers and news of publishing opportunities


The Literati Network (2)

•Editing service

•Research Register

•Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards

•Annual Awards for Excellence


Emerald Management Xtra


Emerald Management Xtra –authors’ resources

Comprehensive help and advice every step of the way

•How to… guides

•Meet the Editor interviews and editor news

•Premium help with placing your paper for publication

•Publishing opportunities and Calls for Papers


Talk to us, use us!

•Tell us how we can help you – give us ideas

•Use the Emerald database

•Use Emerald Management Xtra

•Use the Literati Network

•Register with the Emerald Research Register

•Encourage your students to use too.

•Write for us!


References (1)Duncan, S. S.(1995), Writing for Publication, Journal of Industrial Teacher Education, 32(2), pp. 95-102. Accessed on 24/06/05 Available at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JITE/

Emerald (No date), Author How to Guides, Accessed on 28/05/08 Available at http://info.emeraldinsight.com/authors/guides/index.htm

Johnson, S. D., (1996), Writing for Publication, Journal of Industrial Teacher Education, 33(2), pp. 3-7. Accessed on 24/06/05 Available at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JITE Loughborough University, Writing for publication Accessed on 24/06/05 Available at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/std/writingforpub/writing-title.html


Morland, N. (no date), Writing for publication: Some Guide Lines, Accessed on 24/06/05 Available at http://www.wlv.ac.uk/sed/research/writing.htm#2.01

Hall, G. M. (Ed) (2008), How to write a Paper, 4 ed., London: BMJ Books, Blackwell Publishing

Bowers, D., House, A., and Owens, D. (2006), Understanding Clinical papers, 2 ed., Chichester: John Wiley

References (2)


Thank you. Any questions?

For any answers you didn’t get today (or were too shy to ask) …

please e-mail

K. Narasimhan [email protected]

Documents

Nash Authorworkshops2008