Introduction: Thesis Completion to Perfect Publication.
A thesis is a critical stage of research and represents a year(s) of work that has involved critical analysis, research, writing, learning and thought. It is however only through its conversion to a polished article or publications that its true academic merit can be revealed. As publication lends the researcher legitimacy and credibility within the international scientific community. Unfortunately it is at this stage that many authors encounter problems, not as a result of a poor thesis but often through failing to recognize crucial aspects of the publication process, such as formatting guidelines, selection criteria, research ethics and manuscript submission.
As it has become critically important today to publicize research given that it is visible globally through indices such as Google scholar and various databases it has become apparent that the smallest of mistakes could detract from one's publication, research and academic standing. It is for this reason that producing a publishable article is more than the act of writing; it is also a highly strategic, step-by-step process involving an excellent degree of precision.
The initial stage towards publication is to produce a coherent strategy, i.e. Identifying the overall research aim, its suitability to journals or other publication types (book chapters, institutional repository). Once the objective of publication is identified it should also be recognized that there should be a restructuring of the thesis towards a format appropriate for publication.
Following that, it becomes a matter of restructuring the thesis into publishable materials. Journal articles must be focused and concise and most publications that derive from a thesis need to involve partitioning into numerous research articles or to completely remove certain thesis aspects of writing so as to produce key results and novel outcomes.
Updating the review of previous work, making the research relevant through appropriate citing and finding research gaps must occur. Research must also be substantiated through transparent methodology so as to be reproducible for further work. It becomes imperative that academic conventions are adhered to in a structured format (e.g. Title, abstract, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, reference, etc.). An effective title and a well-written abstract will significantly increase the visibility of one's research. It becomes a moral and ethical obligation to not copy work from other sources; thus adequate paraphasing and use of plagiarism detection tools becomes indispensable, as it also helps to achieve appropriate referencing style. Academic language should also be clear and easy to understand, avoiding technical jargon. Poor grammar, spelling errors etc. Reduce the quality and readability of one's work. Researchers need to select an appropriate journal based on its relevance and impact and it is paramount to adhere to its submission guidelines if one is to avoid automatic rejection. Reviewers may offer useful advice that should be followed, and research must be completed within accepted ethical boundaries.
In essence, turning a thesis into an international level research article requires strategic planning and continuous discipline throughout a step-by-step process.
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