Doctoral Training Workshops Getting published and the reviewing process Steve Potter and Sue Oreszczyn January 2015

Todays session will focus on the process of getting published and a key aspect - demonstrating rigour in your research. Slides will be placed on the VRE Rigour: applies to all your academic outputs is always assessed in publications will be assessed in your viva is something you need to consider throughout your academic career

Rigour in Birdsong Studies BBC News Magazine 8 May Birds await proof of the medical benefits of their song It's obvious… vs Clinical measures of stress levels and neurological well-being to try and tease out whether it's going for a walk in the countryside or the birdsong itself that makes the difference. PhD student Ellie Ratcliffe

Activity: What is Rigour? In small groups consider: What do you understand by rigour?

You need to: show that you have evidence to: justify your conclusions; that the evidence has been obtained properly that contrary evidence has been sought, but was either not found or found to be relatively unconvincing. ( From Research skills for policy: Finding Out Fast. A. Thomas and G. Mohan, 2007 )

Validity and Reliability Rigour involves the principles of Validity and Reliability Validity is about the design of the research and analysis – the use of an appropriate method, the sample or cases used etc. Are you actually measuring or studying the right thing to draw the conclusions you do? Reliability is about the accuracy and consistency of the research results. If your study were repeated would the outcome be the same?

Indicators of rigorous research Clear goals, well defined and feasible Choice of valid methods for the study Study conducted in a reliable manner Significance of the results: positioning your findings in the field of knowledge Effective communication: sharing work with others with a plan for reporting and dissemination A reflective critique in which one’s own learning is developed.

Activity: My rigour What are the main ways that you will demonstrate rigour in your research?

Thinking about papers early on as a well as later Conferences Reports Blogs The Conversation [OU comms. Wojtek.Lubowiecki

Where to Publish

Open Access Publishing “Making research literature available online without price barriers and without most permission barriers” Green Open Access - eg. Institutional or subject repository, personal web site Gold Open Access – peer reviewed Journal open access - journals charge authors – requires a publication budget

Before submission What are the recent lines of thought or arguments in the journal? – can your work tap into these? Take a look at the information pages for authors What are the aims of the journal? Are you familiar with the work of the people on the editorial board? Make sure you send the paper off in the required format and have checked the refs.

How Reviews are done Usually electronically via journal’s website with invitation 2 or 3 referees appointed Blind vs. Revealed reviewing Forms usually have section for editor and for comments to authors Decisions are 1) Publish; 2) Amend (minor or major); 3) Not yet ready, and 4) Reject Review process and revisions can take a good deal of time Special Issues – Often 2 stages (e.g. select conference papers that then go to reviewers)

Evaluating Papers (and thesis) It is essential that you do not make the reader work too hard. Clear structure, easy to read, good English, diagrams easy to understand, good signposting.

Activity In groups of 3-4 come up with 10 questions that a reviewer might ask in reviewing a paper.