An insider’s guide to
getting published in
research journals
Yang-Cheng Shen
Business Manager for Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand and Taiwan
E-mail: yshen@emeraldinsight.com Tel+44(0)7966 558276
Aims of the session
• To ‘demystify’ the publishing process
• To provide tips, insider knowledge and key questions to
maximize your chances of publication
• To encourage some of you to go beyond publishing, e.g.
reviewing, book reviewing, editorial roles
• Q&A session: ask anything!
• Follow-up: I’m always available to help
• To get you sharing your knowledge, i.e. to get you
writing
Emerald Group Publishing –
company background
• Emerald Group Publishing Limited (formerly MCB
University Press)
• Founded in 1967 in Bradford, West Yorkshire
• Over 250 employees. Offices in China, India,
Malaysia, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Dubai, USA
• 220+ journals, 241 book series and 300 stand-
alone texts
• Electronic databases: Emerald Management
eJournals
• Over 3,000 institute subscribers, including 98 of the
FT top 100 business schools
• Potential readership of 15 million
Emerald’s engagement with Asia Pacific
• Emerald is leading the way in specialist
international publications with a Asia Pacific
focus.
• Over 200 Editorial Advisory Board members and
over 3,000 published authors from the region.
• Two of our top contributing institutions in the
region are based in Taiwan:
– National Cheng Kung University
– National Taiwan University
Articles from National ChengChi
University
• Problem-based learning supported by digital archives: Case study of Taiwan Libraries' History Digital Library
Type: Article, Research paper
Author(s): Chih-Ming Chen, Chia-Chi Chen
Source: The Electronic Library; Volume: 28 Issue: 1; 2010
• Buyer satisfaction and loyalty intention in online auctions: Online auction web site versus online auction seller
Type: Article, Research paper
Author(s): Jyh-Shen Chiou, Lei-Yu Wu, Yi-Ping Sung
Source: Journal of Service Management; Volume: 20 Issue: 5; 2009
• The effect of community identification on attitude and intention toward a blogging community
Type: Article, Research paper
Author(s): Chung-Chi Shen, Jyh-Shen Chiou
Source: Internet Research; Volume: 19 Issue: 4; 2009
• Psychological ownership and franchise growth: An empirical study of a Taiwanese taxi franchise
Type: Article, Research paper
Author(s): Sheng-Tsung Hou, Mu-Yen Hsu, Se-Hwa Wu
Source: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research; Volume: 15 Issue: 5; 2009
• More….
What do we mean by research you can
use?
Research that
has an impact
Ideas: where to start
• As well as ‘traditional’ research…
• Are you working on a Doctoral or Master’s thesis?
• Have you completed a project which concluded
successfully?
• Are you wrestling with a problem with no clear
solution?
• Do you have an opinion or observation on a subject?
• Have you given a presentation or conference paper?
• If so, you have the basis for a publishable paper
Co-authorship as a possibility
• With supervisor, across departments, someone from a
different institution
• Demonstrates the authority and rigour of the research
• Especially useful for cross-disciplinary research
• Ensure paper is checked and edited so that it reads as
one voice
• Exploit your individual strengths
• Agree and clarify order of appearance of authors and the
person taking on the role of corresponding author
What makes a good paper?
HINT: Editors and reviewers look for …
• Originality – what’s new about subject, treatment or results?
• Relevance to and extension of existing knowledge
• Research methodology – are conclusions valid and objective?
• Clarity, structure and quality of writing – does it communicate well?
• Sound, logical progression of argument
• Theoretical and practical implications (the ‘so what?’ factors!)
• Recency and relevance of references
• Internationality/Global focus
• Adherence to the editorial scope and objectives of the journal
• A good title, keywords and a well written abstract
What should YOU be looking for
ISI is the most well known ranking, but others exist e.g.
• Citations are a good, but not complete, guide to quality
(e.g.
AACSB’s 2008 ‘Impact of Research’ paper)
• Usage is a better measure of utility
• Other factors to consider are recent articles, how
communicative editors are, society-links and
internationality
• Be political (e.g. national vs international) and strategic
(e.g. five articles in ‘low ranked’ journals vs one in ‘top
ranked’ journal)
W h a t r a n k in gs a r e u se d h e r e ?
Target!
“Many papers are rejected simply because they don’t fulfil journal requirements.
They don’t even go into the review process.”
• Identify a few possible target journals/series but be realistic
• Follow the Author Guidelines – scope, type of paper, word length, references style, etc
• Find where to send your paper (editor, regional editor, subject area editor). Check a copy of the journal/series or the publisher’s web site
• Send an outline or abstract and ask if this looks suitable and interesting (or how it could be made so)
• Confirm how an editor would like a submission, e.g. e-mail; hard copy or online submission system
• Read at least one issue of the publication – visit your library for access
Example of author guidelines
Every journal published w ill
have detailed notes and guidelines
How to sell your paper
• Use a short descriptive title containing main
keyword – don’t mislead
• Write a clear and descriptive abstract containing the
main keywords and following any instructions as to
content and length
• Provide relevant and known keywords – not obscure
new jargon
• Make your references complete and correct – vital
for reference linking and citation indices
• All of this will make your paper more discoverable
which means more dissemination and possibly more
citation
Emerald has introduced
structured abstracts
• A structured abstract – in 250 words or less (no more than 100 in any one section)
• Purpose – Reasons/aims of paper
• Design – Methodology/’how it was done’/scope of study
• Findings – Discussion/results
• Research limitations/Implications (if applicable) – Exclusions/next steps
• Practical implications (if applicable) – Applications to practice/’So what?’
• [NEW] Social implications (if applicable) – Impact on society/policy
• Originality/value – Who would benefit from this and what is new about it?
www.emeraldinsight.com/structuredabstracts
Before you submit your article: your own
peer review
• Let someone else see it – show a draft to one
or more friends or colleagues and ask for their
comments, advice and honest criticism
• We are always too close to our own work to
see its failings
• Always proof-check thoroughly – no incorrect
spellings, no incomplete references. Spell
checkers are not
fool-proof
Research
Editorial supply chain and journal
management structure: journals
Author Editor
Publisher/ Managing
Editor
Production Users
Quality research papers
EAB and reviewers Solicits new papers Handles review process
Promotes journal to peers
Attends conferences Develops new areas of coverage
The link between the publishing company and editor
Helps editors succeed in their role and build a first class journal Overall responsibility for journal
Promotion and marketing
Attends conferences Handles production issues
QA – sub-editing and proof reading Convert to SGML for online
databases
Print production Despatch
Added value from publisher
Access via library
Hard copy Database Third party
Once you have submitted your article
A request for revision is good news! It really is
• You are now in the publishing cycle. Nearly
every published paper is revised at least once
• Don’t panic!
• Even if the comments are sharp
or discouraging, they aren’t personal
Process of acceptance for a journal –
just one example
How to revise your paper
• Acknowledge the editor and set a revision
deadline
• Clarify understanding if in doubt – ‘This is what I
understand the comments to mean…’
• Consult with colleagues or co-authors and tend
to the points as requested
• Meet the revision deadline
• Attach a covering letter which identifies, point by
point, how revision requests have been met (or if
not, why not)
If your paper is rejected …
• Ask why, and listen carefully!
Most editors will give detailed comments about a rejected
paper. Take a deep breath, and listen to what is being
said
• Try again!
Try to improve the paper, and re-submit elsewhere. Do
your homework and target your paper as closely as
possible
• Don’t give up!
At least 50% of papers in business and management
don’t get published. Everybody has been rejected at least
once
• Keep trying!
Titles you may wish to contribute to
Asian Journal on Quality
www.emeraldinsight.com/ajq.htm
Journal of Advances in Management Research www.emeraldinsight.com/jamr.htm
Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies www.emeraldinsight.com/jaee.htm
Journal of Chinese Human Resource Management www.emeraldinsight.com/jchrm.htm
Journal of Science and Technology Policy in China www.emeraldinsight.com/jstpc.htm
Nankai Business Review International www.emeraldinsight.com/nbri.htm
Journal of Asian Business Studies - URL coming soon
How to promote your work
• Why? Influence policy = credibility; Raise
profile of institution and discipline area;
Attract collaborators and funding; New areas
and opportunities for you (consulting, media)
• How? Use your network, press releases,
associations/societies, engage, hone your
media skills, ‘brand image’
• See Support and services for authors and
Editors on the Emerald website for more info
Emerald supporting authors
• More than 80,000 authors worldwide are members of the Emerald Literati Network– a huge ‘expert network’
• Complimentary journal issue and five reprints upon publication
• For Researchers www.emeraldinsight.com/research – Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards
– Research Fund Awards – How to… guides
– Emerald Research Connections
• For Authors www.emeraldinsight.com/authors – How to… guides
– Meet the Editor interviews and Editor news – Editing service
– Annual Awards for Excellence
– Calls for Papers and news of publishing opportunities
Other useful resources
• www.isiwebofknowledge.com (ISI ranking lists and impact factors)
• www.harzing.com (Anne-Wil Harzing's site about academic publishing and the assessment of research and journal quality, as well as
software to conduct citation analysis)
• www.scopus.com (abstract and citation database of research literature and quality web sources)
• www.cabells.com (addresses, phone, e-mail and websites for a large number of journals as well as information on publication guidelines and review information)
• www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk (a general resource for academic writers, designed primarily with international students whose first
language is not English in mind)
