How an Academic Book with Hidden Research came to have a Global Impact.
Universities and research institutions generate thousands of dissertations, journal articles and research papers each year with new ideas and insights that have the potential to change the world. However, for all the effort and brainpower invested in these research projects, much of the research is hidden away within highly specialized journals that are known to a small number of researchers, or in academic archives, or academic databases. This is one of the most paradoxical situations in today's academic world: research that could have a significant impact on the industry, education, healthcare, public policy and society doesn't reach the people who could benefit from it the most.
It's not that they don't know or have no idea. The true problem is what lies in plain sight and what people don't know about it communicating. Research is not the key to impact, it's strategically published and clearly communicated research. To this end, the notion of the high impact academic book has come to the fore. As opposed to conventional scholarly writing, high impact academic book takes complex research and makes it accessible and influential, resonating beyond the academic community. It connects the world of scholarship and society.
The academic publishing industry is in a state of change. Traditionally, the basis for success in academia was journal publications, citations and conference presentation. These are all important, but the research environment in recent years has seen a rise in the value of public engagement, interdisciplinarity and applicability. With the advent of the new era of research, researchers are now expected not only to create knowledge but also to effectively communicate with a larger audience.
This is achieved in a high impact academic book, through combining the rigor of scholarship with clarity and readability. It tackles real life problems, offers original insights in an interesting manner and makes these conversations go beyond the university. These kinds of books are referenced, discussed, applied and remembered because they make complexity comprehensible.
The process starts with envisioning the re-imagining of research. What is often a question for the researcher is not 'how do you publish your research' but 'how can your research make an impact?'. This transformation transforms research in a one-way street from being a static academic product to a potent intellectual instrument that has an impact on industries, policies, leadership and education.
It's also crucial to pinpoint the main idea and know your target audience. Good academic books can be written for policy makers, teachers, business people, students and the general public, and are neither excessively dumbed down nor lacking in scholarship. Research can be more engaging and influential without being too complex, with the help of simplifying language, storytelling, and theory to practice.
Being the first to publish an academic book in a good position has also accountability. It can lead to keynote speaking engagements, consulting positions, media coverage, institutional partnerships and recognition for leadership. Today, books are not just academic products but intellectual assets that can take an integral role in the longer-term intellectual legacy in the knowledge economy.
More recently, digital platforms have revolutionised the world of academic publishing by making it accessible all over the world, for instance on Amazon Kindle, Google Books and LinkedIn. Researchers not only have to go to traditional academic gatekeepers to get their ideas out, but they also have to account for new gatekeepers.Aside from the traditional academic gatekeepers, there are new gatekeepers to consider. Information is now at our disposal at a second to none for international audiences, which provides us with the opportunity to have a wider influence and interdisciplinary cooperation.
Finally, the future of research will be the property of those who will be able to produce the knowledge, and to disseminate it effectively. Research is most valuable when it is accessible, influential and can shape conversation around the globe and not kept in archives. Transformative ideas are not overlooked and don't stay hidden — they become springboards to change the world with high impact academic publications.
Read More: https://www.globalxpublications.com/blog/high-impact-academic-book-publishing
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