Publishing

Faith

Hi guys,

For my fourth year dissertation, I did a research project and received a mark of 78% for it. I'd like to look into getting it published (I want to get my foot on the publications ladder). I have absolutely no idea how to go about it though. I don't know if I'd be laughed out of the place, or if it's a viable idea. I've since graduated, so I can't talk to my lecturers about it. I was hoping someone here could give me some advice and hopefully point me in the right direction!

2Scoops

You'll first have to establish if the study is novel and, if yes, how worthwhile the novel aspects are. This can only be done by reviewing the literature. That will then help you decide a suitable home for the work. Once you've settled on an appropriate journal, format the paper according to their guidelines and submit for peer review.

If you did this study under the supervision of a lecturer, it would be bad form to keep them out of the loop. Someone must have helped guide you through the project? You should contact them and discuss it.

Faith

2Scoops wrote: »

You'll first have to establish if the study is novel and, if yes, how worthwhile the novel aspects are. This can only be done by reviewing the literature. That will then help you decide a suitable home for the work. Once you've settled on an appropriate journal, format the paper according to their guidelines and submit for peer review.

It's more of a review really. It critically evaluates current theories in the field, and compares and contrasts the two major schools of thought. It contains no novel data or anything, as it was purely a library-based project (that was all I could do).

If you did this study under the supervision of a lecturer, it would be bad form to keep them out of the loop. Someone must have helped guide you through the project? You should contact them and discuss it.

I was assigned a supervisor, but he was useless. I met him twice, I think - once at the start, and once a few days before it was handed in. He called me the wrong name in an email, so I doubt he has a clue who I am! I pretty much did it all myself.

2Scoops

Faith wrote: »

It's more of a review really. It critically evaluates current theories in the field, and compares and contrasts the two major schools of thought. It contains no novel data or anything, as it was purely a library-based project (that was all I could do).

Hmm, that will be a little bit harder. Most/many reviews are 'invited' i.e. the journal asks the researcher to write it, so it depends on the individual journal. You may have to ask them if they will accept uninvited reviews. The second problem is that, as you have no previous publications, your credibility to write a review, even if the review itself is excellent, is minimal.

It's still possible, but it would help you greatly if you could stick someone a bit more senior on it, and even though your supervisor was poor, he is the obvious choice. There is also the possibility that he would feel slighted if this got published without his name on it, even if his contribution was tiny, and he could make trouble for you and force the paper to be retracted (worst case scenario, admittedly!).

narac

2Scoops wrote: »

Hmm, that will be a little bit harder. Most/many reviews are 'invited' i.e. the journal asks the researcher to write it, so it depends on the individual journal. You may have to ask them if they will accept uninvited reviews. The second problem is that, as you have no previous publications, your credibility to write a review, even if the review itself is excellent, is minimal.

Not really true - it largely depends on your target journal and your field. I have had several journals published that are reviews (and only a couple were critical/comparative reviews) and none were invited.

A lot depends on the ethos of the journal you submit to - some don't like review journals, while others accept them as a necessary part of science/engineering publication.

If you don't mind me asking, what field was the study in?

Sparks

And don't forget that journals are not the sole publication option; conference publication is also possible.

tallaght01

One of my est mates wrote an uninvited review for a journal. It was extremely good, and he's a real talent. But he only got it accepted in a very low level journal (which I'd never heard of). I think, even then, the only reason he got it accepted was because it's a very niche area.

Comparing and contrasting 2 major schools of thought in whatever discipline it is will be something a lot of people can probably do.

I may be in a similar situation to you. I'm very junior in the world of research. I've got three papers on the go at the minute. I'm still collecting data for them. BUt I just got them by emailing people in fields I'm interested in and asking if they need anyone to do pleb work on research. I think it just takes persistence and a bit of initiative.

I wanted to do some work on swine flu. I work in a department where there's lots of data on swine flu. There's another unit down the road where they keep lots of different data. So, I sent an email to everyone in both units, and told them there would be a meeting of the "department xyz collaborative research group" on a particular time and day. I've no real knowledge of research. BUt I built it and they came.

I emailied another HIv consultant and told him I'm interested in HIV research. He knew another doc that had a load of HIV data that he hasn't had time to do anything with. So, I'm analysing the data.

I've another one in the pipeline too, from a cold calling email.

I'm not saying I'm great. None of this stuff may ever get published. It's a hard slog. The ethics process is a whore, and I'm having to learn how to use different databases, as well as getting up to speed on the literature currently out there.

But these are all the reasons why publications are a good thing to have as a junior. They show you can navigate the process, and have a degree of initiative. I'd argue that's why publications are useful when prospective PhD supervisors are looking at you.

Just resending your thesis into a journal won't give you those other experiences. The other experiences are a pain in the arse. But you've gotta learn how to play the game.

So, I'd advise emailing about. It seems LOADS of people have unfinished projects lying around.

Good luck.

genericguy

tallaght01 wrote: »

I'm very junior in the world of research. I've got three papers on the go at the minute. I'm still collecting data for them. BUt I just got them by emailing people in fields I'm interested in and asking if they need anyone to do pleb work on research. I think it just takes persistence and a bit of initiative.

fair play to you for your get-up-and-go attitude man, that's very impressive.