Writing Publications by Prof Philip Baker

WRITING PUBLICATIONS                            by Prof Philip Baker             (26/4/2012)

• a manuscript that has been published is scholarly
• it establishes leadership and authority
• each journal has guidelines 
• find a gap who wants to read your work
• journal might hold back your manuscript to gather a few other manuscripts to categorize them according to themes, so don't get disheartened to wait but no longer than 6 months
• no hard or fast rules in how to write manuscripts, you may have your own style of writing..nevertheless keep in mind to have your thought flow systematically...some suggestions:-

1. objective
2. methodology
3. results
4. introduction / discussion 

should keep linking back the methods and results to the objective of the study..in that way you will not get the reader's thought to be deviated.. and your study makes sense too 

• state the benefits of your study design and compare it with other studies and state clearly why did u choose this particular protocol/method..is it beneficial? is it more accurate? etc...
• your  study may lead to other publications - methodology challenges and state clearly how effective methods are to the results
• You may email editors of other journals simultaneously while submitting your manuscript to a distinguished journal to be reviewed. do not send the entire manuscript to the editor just a brief email telling him/her about your study and whether he/she is interested to publish it?never send to more than one journal simultaneously as this is unethical and u must attache a cover letter when u submit your manuscript to a particular journal stating a declaration of not submitting to other journals.
• look for journals which has published work similar to your study...

(the author is an adjunct professor at the School of Public Health and Services, Queensland, Australia and is also a peer reviewer and an editor to the Cochrane collaboration)

http://www.cochrane.org/contact/centres (on asia regional )

http://www.cochrane.org/search/site/philip%20baker ( on philip baker)

GUIDE TO WRITING A JOURNAL ARTICLE

By SAGE publishers

* US$ 3,000 to publish an article via SAGE

1. Abstract
 -  do not just introduce the title/topic
 -  get the reader to have the interest
 -  use it as a tool to sell your article
 -  don't have an abstract that reads like a plan
 -  have a plan/structure
 -  shout out to the readers
 -  do not include footnotes/citations

2. Example of a good abstract
 -  why u embark on the project?
 -  a gap/debate/persistent social problem
 -  state why/what/how
 -  state your agruments
 -  state your recommendations

3. Why articles are rejected?
 -  too narrow/broad/poor structure/insignificant/dogmatic
 -  too defensive/not really original/too many spellings and grammatical errors
 -  NO ARGUMENT!!

4. 5 R's in Selecting journals:-
 -  Relevance - aims/scope
 -  Ranking on JCR
 -  Reputation of journal and editors
 -  Research the referencees
 -  Rejection rate

5. Query Letters to the Editors:-
 -  how many journals recieved per year?
 -  what is the turn around time?

6. Guidelines:-
 -  is the right reference?
 -  have you compelled with the word limit?
 -  past tense

*submit manuscript via SAGE track:- http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/

WHAT DOES YOUR SUPERVISOR EXPECT FROM YOU?

by Dr. Vishalache Balakrishnan (PhD from Victoria University in Wellington, NZ)

- your research proposal is a good indicator that you are prepared for to uptake your PhD/MSc
- audit papers e.g. Research Methodology which can help you in your research
- attend conferences/seminars and share your work by presenting to experts in the field to get feedbacks/advices/suggestions to validate your work.

by Prof Datuk Dr. Abdul Rahman Idris (PhD from Manchester, UK)

- PhD is an acedemic pursuit
- there is a huge difference between the education system between the US and the UK.
- US-more opportunity to learn whereas in the UK more to apply and contribute

by Emeritus Prof Dato Dr Abu Bakar Nordin (PhD from USA)

- PhD is not solving the world's problem, but rather than looking at a world's problem from a tiny window. Must describe your window properly - that is called conceptualize framework
- present papers in seminars and conferences

Thesis Management (what the examiners look for during viva?):-
- thesis- hypothesis- to test whether to accept/reject?
- u want the readers to know your point
- managing the format (is given by most universities/institutions)
- contents - test - background of the theory
- from the background of the theory, produce a focul theory that is the sythesis of the thesis (an inverse pryamid)
- from the focul theory, churn the conceptualize framework.
- a theory explains and predicts
- data realibility and validity
- contribution - development

Tips given by Dr. Visha's supervisor:-
1. plan your chapters well - crucial
2. type in 500 words everyday - make it a habit to type in anything but not lesser than 500 words
3. virtual library -Endnote - extremely important to build your reference library
4. keep a good group of friends - who can cheer and keep you motivated when tides are rough
5. ethics & integrity - be honest as its your work, take pride in it! never plagiarize!!if youre good in language, you are at an advantage of rephrasing intelligently.
6. enjoy your journey!!! :)

http://studenization.blogspot.com/2011/03/equity-investment-division-manager.html

Naimisharanya: JOURNAL PUBLISHING: SKILL OR SERENDIPITY ?

Naimisharanya: JOURNAL PUBLISHING: SKILL OR SERENDIPITY ?: "JOURNAL PUBLISHING: SKILL OR SERENDIPITY ?by Prof Tony Morris ~ Scholl of Sport & Exercise Science & Institute of sport, Exercise &a..."

JOURNAL PUBLISHING: SKILL OR SERENDIPITY ?

JOURNAL PUBLISHING: SKILL OR SERENDIPITY ?

by Prof Tony Morris ~ Scholl of Sport & Exercise Science & Institute of sport, Exercise & Active Living, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia

Components:-

1.       Scholarly expertise

-          Review literature reviews

-          Rationale for paper

-          Presenting methods clearly & appropriately

-          Reporting results precisely & effectively

-          Interpret findings of research

-          Draw out implications

2.       Strategy

-          Choose most suitable journal then only start writing your article

-          What kind of research they publish/policy/research designs

-          Style of papers, length, structure, citations

3.       Knowledge

-          Know the topic

-          What has been done?

-          Why is it important?

-          How does it advance knowledge?

-          What makes it special?

-          Convince reviewers that valuable contribution

-          Convince editors that it is important to publish

*justify well if publishing a replication of a research done previously

4.  Skill

-     Just knowing the discipline is not enough

-    Need to learn how to deliver the message clear, concise, yet convincing

5.  Luck

-     Identify the editor’s opinion

-     Reviewer’s views

-     Limited space in journal issues could be a factor why the article is not published

6.  Volume

        -     Publish more rather than focussing to perfecting one article.

        -     By writing more articles, it gives more practice

        -     Do not submit articles parallel but sequential to journals for publishing

7. Perseverance

        -    Listen to feedbacks and rework on the article

        -     If want to publish, then do what has been corrected, and return to journal

        -     Review, amend, and resubmit

        -     Choose a more suitable journal if rejected

8. Status

        -     Intangible area (the speaker finds this component to be cynical)

        -     Number of authors might influence decisions of the reviewer and editor

        -     Higher status of the co-authors could be at an advantage

-     Despite being reviewed blindly, the style/topic of your writing may be recognized by    

                     the reviewer

9. Who you know?

        -     Knowing people in the field may help

        -     Editors may have the tendency to be more favourable

                -     Reviewers tend to be less critical

                -     Know the editors – “meet & greet” during conferences for eg.

Where to publish?

1. Appropriateness – article-journal
2. Discipline – more likely to be known
3. Support – help to develop but might cost you
4. Ranking – jobs/promotion; university preferred list change
5. New journals – usually a little easier
6. Opportunity – special issues

* In order to convince the editor/reviewer -:Introduction – insert at the beginning and end – why is it important/precious/special/needs to be published?