The most crucial academic step a researcher can make is a completed thesis.
This requires years of research, a keen intellect and careful consideration to turn it into a well-published piece of work. When a thesis is converted to a perfect publication it becomes a credible work of study that enhances both the researchers career and advances knowledge universally. Yet many researchers' failures result not from flawed work, but from failing to observe necessary factors like, formatting, publication journal selection, ethical considerations and the final submission process.
In this day and age, the academic world is so competitive and research has become far more accessible than in the past via resources such as Google Scholar. A minor error in structure, reference or in presentation can lead to an article being rejected, losing credibility and impacting the researchers' academic career for years to come. Therefore, publishing a thesis successfully will involve being methodical, tactical and precise, not hastly.
The publication strategy of a researcher needs to be defined in order to transform the research carried out into a publishable work. The aim will determine if the researchers will publish their research in journals, as a book or merely upload it to repositories. Once the objectives of publication are set the work carried out can then be shaped for that form of publication.
The work must then be made ready for publication. A lengthy research thesis is unsuitable for a publication journal and will be need to be sectioned in to 2-3 focused research papers. Redundant literature review sections of a thesis will need to be kept to a minimum, where the contributions made to the subject may be more prominently portrayed.
The literature review needs to be brought up to date, to ensure it represents what has been researched on the chosen topic. A solid methodology section will further enhance its credibility, reproducibility and the likelihood of accepting the paper. A clear academic structure has to be observed throughout; with the following being the usual order of sections of the academic paper, title, abstract, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion and referencing. Concise keywords will allow for a more descriptive title, whilst a good abstract will attract more readers.
Plagiarism must not exist within the research; thorough rephrasing will be necessary and all sourced work should be referenced. Styles of referencing such as, APA, MLA or Harvard must be applied accurately and consistently. The style of academic language that is to be adopted must be clearly understood by the researcher; for instance, directness and brevity will assist in producing an article which can be easily comprehended.
An article should be professionally edited, so that grammatical and formatting mistakes do not detract from its contents, and the impact of its overall effect is strengthened. The research paper must then be sent to a suitable journal where careful consideration is needed for selecting a publication journal with the correct criteria. One will need to observe the journals target readership and the types of research published within it. The right choice of journal will allow a smooth submission and a positive peer review process.
During the peer review process researchers should endeavor to be professional in their interpretation of criticism. Research must adhere to a stringent ethical code. It has been discussed that a considerable increase in researchers, and the tools they are using has allowed them to excel beyond the average researcher. Digital tools such as, grammarly.com or citation managers such as zotero or mendley can assist researchers. Although, none will replace dedicated research, critical analysis, writing and formatting. Not getting accepted after the first few tries will be very common for researchers; persistence will be key.
Finally, submission to a journal or a repository does not indicate the end of the work as the work should be publicised by authors on academic profiles, forums, and at conferences etc. This will ensure that the impact of the work and its influence in academic circles continues to grow. A long term research focus must always be maintained.
In conclusion, creating a perfect publication from a thesis is not just possible but also paramount for any aspiring researcher; meticulous attention to detail coupled with a solid publication strategy will yield worthwhile results.
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