Iolanthe II leaves the Hauraki Gulf under full sail – Auckland-Tauranga Race, 2007 John Morris Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University Computer Science/ Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Auckland Research Methods and Techniques Iolanthe III racing off Jomtien, with full gennaker set

JOURNAL and CONFERENCE PAPERS Process

PREPARATION

Preparing your paper Outline for a journal or conference paper –Similar to any other report or your thesis Typical pattern 1.Introduction 2.Hypotheses and methods 3.Results 4.Analysis 5.Conclusion 6.Future work 7.Acknowledgments 8.References | Bibliography Commonly each item will be a separate section –Variations OK – eg combine 2 & 3 or 3 & 4 –Some authors make ‘Literature review’ or ‘Related work’ subsection of Introduction to a separate section

Additional sections Abstract –Always necessary for a paper –Important – may be read more times than your paper! Tables of contents –Only for long survey papers or book chapters Glossaries of terms, symbols and acronyms –Very good idea if you have space –In particular, not all acronyms are obvious to even expert readers Index –Long documents only Lists of tables, figures –Actually of limited use, but can be generated automatically Rarely in a journal paper Never in a conference paper (not enough space!) Consider making one Even for a conference paper (always limited space!)

Technical Reports Many university departments publish research first in a Technical Report –Faster Can be sent to colleagues and other researchers immediately –Publication delays Small conference – 3 months Large international conference – 6 months Journals – up to 2 years! –NOT refereed Informally by your colleagues only! This informal review is valuable –Helps you to improve the paper –Reduces time for formal review by a journal Wait for formal reviews - main reason for publication delay –Referees review papers in their own time –It is not part of our formal job! Remember this when planning to get your (required) journal paper published

Preparing your paper Choose a journal –Impact factor is essential –There are many ‘fake’ or ‘for-profit’ conferences now! –Your first paper? Choosing a `prestige’ (high impact factor) journal –Good idea but time consuming –Review time is long –Acceptance rate is lower –Google ensures that your paper will be found As long as it is in an indexed journal! –If it can be found, it will be cited if it’s good Citation counts are valuable in your CV too! High citation count will compensate for a low impact factor! Recommendation for your first paper Find a journal with a non-zero impact factor that has reasonable publication delay You can choose a high impact journal for your 2 nd paper!

Detailed paper preparation Read topic list for your chosen journal Check papers already published in that journal –Make sure your paper fits with others in the same journal –If your paper is beside others on the same topic, it will be read more often! Read the ‘Instructions for authors’ –Usually available on journal web sites now –Also in front or back of printed journals

Detailed preparation Instructions will specify how to format your paper –One or two columns –Font style and size –Style and position of abstract –Style for references –English or American spelling – etc Often you can download templates –LaTeX –Word Format your paper so that it matches the guidelines –EXACTLY! –If you don’t do it now, it will just slow the process down! –This will take a long time – the first time! –Next time it will be easy!

Blind reviewing Some journals and conferences review papers without authors’ names on them –To prevent bias Reviewer may not believe the work of someone –he’s had an argument with or –who criticized the reviewer’s work before!

Blind reviewing Preparing for blind reviews 1.Remove your names and institution from the author list I usually substitute some dummy names like – Author X, Author Y, etc – University ABC 2.Check for references to your institution in the text.. in the Photogrammetry Laboratory at Auckland changes to.. in the XYX Laboratory at PQR University 3.Remove citations to your own work from reference list Again I usually substitute something like – Self citation 1: some journal, 2006 Substituting dummy names makes it easy to put the real ones back when the paper is accepted! –Layout of the paper will not be changed

Reviewing Journal editor will send your paper to at least two experts in your area –They will be asked to write a review of your paper –They will comment on Errors Experimental methods Presentation Results Analysis Writing style in fact everything!

Reviewing Editor will send the reports back to you If you agree with the comments of the referees –Amend the paper to satisfy referees’ objections –Submit again If you don’t agree, then –Write a carefully argued response and send to the editor Do not attack the referees personally! –Editor may accept your comments and publish your paper or –Send them back to the referee This may take several iterations –Actual procedure depends on journal policy and editor –and may take some time! Allow many months!

Reviewing Referees are anonymous –You will not be told who they are –Don’t even ask!! It’s a big mistake of some authors to argue personally with the referees Journal editors will not allow it If you start such an argument, your paper is likely to be rejected immediately –You will be considered unprofessional You must accept the referees’ comments as reasonable –Even if you don’t agree with them! Anonymity is important in the reviewing process –Allows the referees to express their opinions freely! –Even a junior lecturer can criticize a senior professor IF he or she can justify the criticism!!

Final preparation Editor has advised you that your paper is accepted –Make any corrections that the editor or the referees have requested –Prepare a final copy of your paper Often referred to as the ‘camera ready’ copy –It will be photographed and bound into the journal –Check it carefully!! Any mistakes will end up in print forever! –Check formatting requirements too Some journals will ask for original LaTeX files and separate image files

Your name You should decide NOW how to spell your name –Choose ONE of the many transliterations of your name! Use it consistently –Search tools are using the text of your name Not it’s sound! You want –ALL your papers to be found with the same search –ALL your citations to be grouped together If you change your name –Consider continuing to use your original name on papers –Otherwise your publications will not be found so easily

Translators Google and other translators cannot do everything for you!! Some tips –Don’t ask them to translate transliterated versions of European names! Put the Latin characters in –Same for acronyms like DC, AC PID, PIO,.. …. –Amazingly, Google sometimes understands them … –Mainly use Google for single words and terms It makes a good dictionary –It’s really bad at turning Thai into grammatical English

Next Assignment – due Aug 12 Search the literature for background on your research topic Write a summary of at least two relevant papers in the form that you would put into your thesis or a paper Direct active English, please! –Use the translator to help, but check its output! –Elaborate grammar NOT needed.. –Follow guidelines given in lectures to write simply and well! Submit by to with subject “Research Don’t forget to put your name on your report! It should have a title (but no abstract) just like a regular paper About 2 pages – maximum 5 pages.. + references