Preparing Future Faculty Workshop

November 8, 2008

Dr. Charles Carver

Department of Psychology

Publishing:Getting Your Workto Your DesiredAudience

Presentation at conferencesversus publication in journals

Different disciplines havedifferent customs

Using meetings to present vsstaying up with the field

Consult within your discipline

(An entire separate sessionon issues in writing)

To publish well:

Aim for clarity, simplicity, linearityAfter you polish, get a couple of

people to read it

Choose an interesting problemto examine (duh)

Masthead statements for content

Select an appropriate journal

Indices of quality (opinions, toimpact factor, to readership)

Know early what indices of qualityare emphasized by your department

(e.g., opinions vs impact factor)

Understand the hierarchy in an area

Accept that your work will notalways make it at the best journal

Aim high, but not ludicrously so

In your reading, think aboutwhat differentiates articles in better

versus less-good journals

Editors, Associate Editors,editorial boards, ad hoc reviewers

The review process

Variability in process among“Action Editors”: “Vote counters”

versus “deciders”

On first submission, virtuallynothing is accepted

The decision letter

A rejection with an opportunityto resubmit a revision is a

terrific outcome

Anything that leaves the dooropen a crack is a good outcome

Criticism stings, and reviews area large dose of criticism

The revision process

Let the sting fade before jumpingin, but don’t wait too long

Line by line report of how youchanged in response to reviews

It will be used as road map tonavigate the revised paper

A reply letter is often very long

Disagreeing with reviewer points

Tone should be grateful for thehelp, if possible, but at least not

argumentative

The odds go up if you havethe chance to revise

Revise for Journal A,or turn to Journal B?

Sometimes you would have torevise in unacceptable ways

Presumably you have gone to the better journal first

If the prior reviewers have haddifficulties, other people will too

Even if you do turn to Journal B,revise before you do so

It is not unheard of for Journal Bto go to some of the same people

as Journal A used

Persistence is an importantkey to success in academia

You must be able to toleraterejection and criticism,

if you are going tosurvive and prosperin this line of work

(1) Research on normal educational practices

Exempt from requirementsof 45 CFR 46 :

(2) Research using educational tests, unless there is link from subject to a test result that would place subject at risk

(3) Research on public officials or candidates for office

Exempt from requirementsof 45 CFR 46 :

(4) Research on existing data: if publicly available, or if data are recorded without link to the subject

(5) Research by agency heads on public benefit programs

Exempt from requirementsof 45 CFR 46 :

(6) Food quality, or taste, research

You cannot decide for yourself whether your project is exempt

Catch 22:

Submit the protocol, claim exempt status (specify category),cross your fingers

If staff review and chair concur, you are approved, done forever, as long as there are no changes

No continuing report, no follow-up