Masja Horn’s Post

In light of recent discussions, I thought I would whip up this post. Publishing an academic article is hard work, but is often still a crucial part of an early career researcher's journey. This post is designed to give you some idea as to what to expect over the course of publishing, with some tips on doing so effectively. #publication #dissertations #phd #research #academicwriting https://lnkd.in/dfq7EXDG

At times, the academic publishing process feels rigid and unnecessarily cumbersome. And.....it feels more like a scam: "Oh you have a new idea? Nice! Well, put them together, write your research, but make sure it adheres to my preferred guidelines [not the competitor`s]. Condense your work to just 10 pages, use only the formatting style I prescribe, or it won't be accepted. Add roughly $3,000 for the APC, and give me 60-90 days to decide if I like your ideas—especially if they align with our established standards. If I don’t, you'll have to revise it [and re-present your ideas] properly, maybe, all over again....oh, in fact, don't forget to cite 2 of my papers". Because [you think] your career is at stake, it perpetuates feelings of 'publish or perish'. Ain't this a scam?

If you set a target of two publications, your ........ will meet it by publishing two. If you raise the target to four, they’ll also achieve that. This suggests they can produce more, but only when driven by a specific goal. The fact that they don’t publish as much without a set target raises concerns about their motivation and focus. It reveals that their primary aim is meeting external expectations rather than a genuine passion for advancing knowledge, which can hinder academic progress and innovation. This same issue has impacted NIRF rankings. For those who could step up when given higher targets, the question arises: why didn’t they do more in the past, even though they had the potential to do so? This underscores missed opportunities where more outstanding contributions could have been made earlier....You likely lack the necessary skills if you cannot achieve the required number. In that case, focus on developing those skills to meet the expectations moving forward.

On selecting journals (or tells that a journal might be predatory). Predatory journals—also called fraudulent, deceptive, or pseudo-journals—are publications that claim to be legitimate scholarly journals, but misrepresent their publishing practices (https://lnkd.in/eYADRzpw). Publishing in a predatory journal can be a career killer for early career scholars. Why? BC the years of work that you put into a paper can result in little to no credit when it comes time for annual evaluations or promotion. So what to do? Aggressively screen where you send your papers. Mirza Jahanzeb Beg has published a simple 9-step rubric for evaluating whether a journal is predatory. Give it a look: https://lnkd.in/eyYk9NYD It is a great start for early career scholars trying to sort out which journals to submit to in your field. And what to do next? Monitor journal quality and practices. I recently was surprised to learn that a journal that I liked, appears to have shifted editorial practices, and looks more and more predatory. I won't submit there again for a while, while I step back and look at it carefully over a series of years, to be sure it's run in an ethical manner. As your career starts and as your career unfolds, take care to submit to not only the best known, but also, the best run journals. Only then, can you be sure that your work receives the attention it deserves. #predatoryjournals #MDPI #researchintegrity

Dear Friends, I completely agree that academic journals often charge exorbitant subscription and publication fees, yet they do not compensate reviewers for their time and expertise. It's ironic that while they profit heavily, much of the work—writing, reviewing, editing—is done by scholars for free. This turns journal publishing into a highly profitable business model. Why aren’t universities addressing this issue more actively? We’re bound by these journals for promotions and career growth, yet they don’t seem to contribute fairly to the academic ecosystem. #AcademicPublishing #PeerReview #ResearchImpact #OpenAccess #HigherEducation #ResearchEthics #AcademicCareers #ScholarlyPublishing #UniversityPolicy #PublicationFees #AcademicJournals #CareerGrowth #ResearchCommunity #AcademicFreedom

🔹Unlock the secrets to high-impact publishing! Join our Research Skill Development Workshop, which will cover insider insights and expert guidance to boost citations and amplify your research reach. Accelerate your scholarly impact and advance your academic career. Don't miss out! #Empowering_Your_Future

On why you should only write papers that matter to you. Some think academics have unlimited time. We don’t. We do many things. * teach * advise * research * review * admin As your career progresses, these activities expand to consume more and more time. Making research just one of many things that you must attend to. So. Form a habit early in your career, of writing papers that matter to you, to the people around you, and that you enjoy working on. Then. As you advance in your career, you will find it easier to allocate time to work on them. If you fail to work on what you find important, you will work on the many other tasks that fill academic life - and lose sight of the research picture. #academiclife

Are you a researcher, grad student or one who carries out any form of research, then this is for you. When it comes to research tone, maintain a scholarly tone by adhering to academic conventions. Cite relevant literature, use appropriate terminology, and structure your writing in a manner consistent with academic standards. Demonstrate ethical awareness in your tone, especially when discussing sensitive topics. Respect the confidentiality and privacy of your research participants. I hope this helps you. #UniqueConsults #ResearchDoctor #research

Academic publishing tip 49: Publishing with an independent press or with a University Press? Check your universities requirements for tenure. If there require publishing with a UP, just comply. You’ll have plenty of time after tenure to publish with us 😉

Here is how your masters degree unfolds: 👉 Year 1: course work 👉 Year 2: trying to make sense of the literature and finding something to publish. ✅ As a budding researcher, your job isn't to understand and maneuver the entire landscape of academic publishing. Your job is to find a specific gap, fill it meaningfully, submit, publish, graduate. 📢 Don't do what you don't have to do. Be strategic.