Publishing

Simon Frenchsimon.french@mbs.ac.uk

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Why publish?

• There are a host of reasons

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The good …

• To share ideas

• To share results and data

• To join debate

• To shape and advance– Science– Practice

• To change the World

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The bad …• To get a job

– So you publish before the ideas or results are fully ready

• To get a PhD– Puts peer review into the role of examiner

• To set up a grant application• Because you want to go to that conference• Because you have been told to

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The ugly …

• To keep a job– Publication targets

• To meet research assessment requirements

[Depends on country]

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Types of Publication• Academic or Professional • Peer-reviewed or not• Journal or conference• Paper or electronic• Invited or submitted• Book or paper• Thesis• e-Science

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So how do you decide …• What are your objectives?

– Specifically for this paper– More generally as part of a publication strategy

• Broad objectives and imperatives will vary over time

• Think about your message• Think about your audience• Think about your career

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Choosing an outlet• Subject and profession specific

– Impact factors– Journal rankings– Don’t aim too low!

• Topic– Where are similar papers published

• Which beaches are near the conference?

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Writing the paper (1)• Make your objectives explicit

– So you know them!– So your readers do

• Set up the technology– Nowadays it is easier to format as you go– Use ‘styles’

• understand your document architecture• Housestyle – may need decision on destination

– References• Bibtex, Endnote, Reference Manager

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Writing the paper (2)• Fit your contents to your objectives and

audience• Plan the sections and what goes into

them– Plan the length of the sections

• Remember what took you a lot of effort may not be the most important part of the message!

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Writing the paper (3)

• Find your style– You should be comfortable with it– So should your audience– But you will need to tailor it to the style of

the journal/conference/whatever

• As you write, seek critical comment from colleagues/supervisors

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Publication strategy

• You need one!!!– For the project– For you

• Balance is everything

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Refereeing – the other side• Peer Review

– The basis of good science– Open double blind

• Skim the paper and decide roughly what you think• If you recommend accept

– Provide reasons to accept– Provide detailed constructive criticism

• If you recommend rejection– Provide key reasons to reject– But consider how much effort to put into very detailed criticism

• If you are not sure– Say so!!!– Explain your reasons– Be detailed in your comments

• In all cases, remember it might be your paper!!!• And keep to deadlines