Getting published (during your PhD studies) Professor Jennifer Rowley Department of Information and Communications Manchester Metropolitan University

Why publish during your PhD? Because learning to communicate with other researchers and professionals is an important part of learning to be a researcher. To share your ideas, and participate in research and practitioner communities To receive feedback, critiques and endorsement, and to enhance your learning To increase the chances of your research actually being published! To protect yourself against external examiners! To enhance your CV and career prospects (publishing delay)

What to publish? Get your supervisor on board and ask them for advice… During your PhD, your main findings/contribution is probably not complete, so you are likely to have to look elsewhere. Other options: Masters thesis research Literature review/theoretical context Early stage study e.g. desk research, first case study. Small ‘side’ study with another student

Where to publish? It is unlikely, but not unknown that you will be able to publish your first piece in a top ranking journal – be realistic The objective is to: learn to write for an academic or perhaps a professional journal Think about what you have to say, and identify an audience, and then select a journal accordingly, and write for that journal. Aim for a short piece – say 4000 words – greater length means greater scope for getting something wrong!

Working with a journal Journals have communities – editors, editorial boards, referees, and authors. Most of these people are busy volunteers (academics and practitioners). They are experienced and have seen a lot of articles, but are often sympathetic to newcomers. If your supervisor or someone you know can advise take this advice. Getting an article accepted is about joining the journal community – and a member of the community will look at your work and decide that it is good enough to allow you to join.

Play the game Check that your paper is within scope for the journal Adhere exactly to the author instructions (especially word length, and reference format) Master the manuscript submission system (and take time to write a short covering letter to the editor) Don’t expect too fast a response, but enquire politely if you do not hear anything after 3-4 months. Respond constructively and politely to any comments from the editor or referees. Seek out opportunities to learn and ‘give back’ by refereeing or writing book reviews.

Some things are likely to need help with Being clear about your contribution – not just of your thesis, but of this specific article. Understanding the difference between writing a thesis and writing a journal article Writing an abstract, and the first section of the introduction. Writing recommendations. Keeping to word limits Dealing with some referees’ comments

Any questions???