Developing a Successful Research Stream Stephanie Bryant Dean, College of Business, MSU

Attribution Parts of this presentation were generously shared by Jim Hunton, Trustee Professor of Accounting at Bentley University Parts of this presentation were generously shared by Jim Hunton, Trustee Professor of Accounting at Bentley University “Evolving Standards for Academic Publishing: A q-r Theory,” G. Ellison, Journal of Political Economy 2002, v100(5, Oct), “Evolving Standards for Academic Publishing: A q-r Theory,” G. Ellison, Journal of Political Economy 2002, v100(5, Oct),

Outline I. Top 5 Biggest Mistakes by New Scholars I. Top 5 Biggest Mistakes by New Scholars II. Developing a Successful Research Stream that Builds Your Reputation as a National Scholar (Turning out quality research) II. Developing a Successful Research Stream that Builds Your Reputation as a National Scholar (Turning out quality research) III. Keys to Successful Publishing III. Keys to Successful Publishing IV. Final Words IV. Final Words

Top 5 Biggest Mistakes by New Scholars (and some old scholars!) 5. In a hurry to get something….anything… published (focus on quantity vs. quality) 5. In a hurry to get something….anything… published (focus on quantity vs. quality) 4. Accepting co-author invitations randomly 4. Accepting co-author invitations randomly 3. Working with too narrow a set of co-authors 3. Working with too narrow a set of co-authors

Top 5 Biggest Mistakes by New Scholars (Cont’d) 2. Sending a paper to a journal without having been vetted enough 2. Sending a paper to a journal without having been vetted enough 1. Not having a cogent stream of research that establishes you as a nationally-recognized scholar in your area. 1. Not having a cogent stream of research that establishes you as a nationally-recognized scholar in your area.

What Do You Want to Be Known For? Especially new researchers, but also applicable to intermediate level scholars or those wanting to re-tool in a new area Especially new researchers, but also applicable to intermediate level scholars or those wanting to re-tool in a new area Dissertation is a common starting point, but, this may evolve over time Dissertation is a common starting point, but, this may evolve over time

In an Ideal World You know what you are most interested in, or you figure it out over time (interests can change) You know what you are most interested in, or you figure it out over time (interests can change) Try to tie each of your publications around a common area Try to tie each of your publications around a common area Content-oriented, not methodology-oriented. Content-oriented, not methodology-oriented.

The Goal For people to say your name when a given topic comes up at a conference, etc. For people to say your name when a given topic comes up at a conference, etc.

II. Developing a Successful Research Stream that Builds Your National Reputation You have to develop a reputation for high quality research You have to develop a reputation for high quality research What does “high-quality” mean exactly? What does “high-quality” mean exactly?

A “q-r” Theory “Evolving Standards for Academic Publishing: A q-r Theory,” G. Ellison, Journal of Political Economy 2002, v100(5, Oct), “Evolving Standards for Academic Publishing: A q-r Theory,” G. Ellison, Journal of Political Economy 2002, v100(5, Oct), types of quality: q and r 2 types of quality: q and r

q-Quality Motivation Motivation Contribution Contribution Theory Theory

r-Quality Methodological rigor Methodological rigor Data collection Data collection Literature review Literature review Statistical analyses Statistical analyses Robustness of findings Robustness of findings Generality of results Generality of results Future extensions Future extensions

Motivation Motivation Contribution Contribution Theory Theory Methodological Rigor Methodological Rigor Data Collection Data Collection Literature Review Literature Review Statistical analyses Statistical analyses Robustness of findings Robustness of findings Generality of results Generality of results Future Extensions Future Extensions q-Quality post hoc Fatal Flaw post hoc Maybe fixable Depends…? post hoc Probably Fixable r-Quality

Ideal Effort Expenditure EFFORTEFFORT 0% 100% Creating q-Quality ≈ 50% Developing r-Quality ≈ 25% Exposing & Revising ≈ 15% Submitting & Publishing ≈ 10%

Observed Effort Expenditure EFFORTEFFORT 0% 100% Creating q-Quality Developing r-Quality Exposing & Revising Submitting & Publishing ≈ 50% ≈ 5% ≈ 35% ≈ 10%

Ideal versus Observed Effort EFFORTEFFORT 0% 100% Creating q-Quality Gap Developing r-Quality Gap Exposing & Revising Gap Submitting & Publishing Gap - 40% + 25% - 10% + 25%

III. Keys to Successful Publishing Before Submitting to a Journal

Keys to Successful Publishing C ontribution C ontribution Before Submitting to a Journal What have you contributed to the extant state of knowledge?

Keys to Successful Publishing C ontribution C ontribution R elevance R elevance Before Submitting to a Journal Does the study have theoretical and/or practical importance?

Keys to Successful Publishing C ontribution C ontribution R elevance R elevance E xhaustiveness E xhaustiveness Before Submitting to a Journal Do you know the literature, and have you suitably interpreted and incorporated prior findings?

Keys to Successful Publishing C ontribution C ontribution R elevance R elevance E xhaustiveness E xhaustiveness A ccuracy A ccuracy Before Submitting to a Journal Are you properly analyzing your data and drawing inferences?

Keys to Successful Publishing C ontribution C ontribution R elevance R elevance E xhaustiveness E xhaustiveness A ccuracy A ccuracy T heory T heory Before Submitting to a Journal To what extent is the theoretical development and/or application correct?

Keys to Successful Publishing C ontribution C ontribution R elevance R elevance E xhaustiveness E xhaustiveness A ccuracy A ccuracy T heory T heory E xposure E xposure Before Submitting to a Journal Have you received sufficient input from researchers on and off your co-author team?

Keys to Successful Publishing C ontribution C ontribution R elevance R elevance E xhaustiveness E xhaustiveness A ccuracy A ccuracy T heory T heory E xposure E xposure Before Submitting to a Journal Create value!

Keys to Successful Publishing After Submitting to a Journal

Keys to Successful Publishing R esponsive R esponsive After Submitting to a Journal Reply in detail to each comment made by the editor and reviewers.

Keys to Successful Publishing R esponsive R esponsive E xplanatory E xplanatory After Submitting to a Journal Thoroughly, yet politely, explain how and why you responded to each comment; and, how and why you performed questioned procedures, methods, analyses, etc.

Keys to Successful Publishing R esponsive R esponsive E xplanatory E xplanatory P ersistent P ersistent After Submitting to a Journal Stand your ground when appropriate, have faith in your study, and do not let the review process defeat you! If rejected, learn from the constructive input you received and remember-- there is a home for all good work, so never give up!!

Keys to Successful Publishing R esponsive R esponsive E xplanatory E xplanatory P ersistent P ersistent L audatory L audatory After Submitting to a Journal Most editors and reviewers expend a great deal of valuable time and energy on their reviews, so take the occasion to compliment them on their hard work and helpful input where appropriate—not gratuitously, but earnestly.

Keys to Successful Publishing R esponsive R esponsive E xplanatory E xplanatory P ersistent P ersistent L audatory L audatory Y ielding Y ielding After Submitting to a Journal It is acceptable to hold firm on a position when you believe you are right, but, many times you are so close to your work that it is difficult to see a legitimate alternate perspective. Be flexible and adaptive to review comments—most of the time your paper is significantly enhanced through the review process!

Keys to Successful Publishing R esponsive R esponsive E xplanatory E xplanatory P ersistent P ersistent L audatory L audatory Y ielding Y ielding After Submitting to a Journal REPLY with care!

Researching, writing and publishing takes a long, long time. Researching, writing and publishing takes a long, long time. Rough Estimates: Rough Estimates: Creating q-Quality12 Months Creating q-Quality12 Months Developing r-Quality 6 Months Developing r-Quality 6 Months Exposing and Revising 6 Months Exposing and Revising 6 Months Submitting and Polishing24 Months Submitting and Polishing24 Months First round: 3-8 months First round: 3-8 months Your response: 3-6 months Your response: 3-6 months Second round: 3-8 months Second round: 3-8 months Your response: 3-6 months Your response: 3-6 months Last round: 2-4 months Last round: 2-4 months Your response: 1-3 months Your response: 1-3 months Publication: 1-6 months Publication: 1-6 months How Long Does the Process Take?

You need to have a portfolio of multiple projects on-going at all times. At a minimum: You need to have a portfolio of multiple projects on-going at all times. At a minimum: Year One: Two projects Year One: Two projects Year Two: Four Projects Year Two: Four Projects Year Three: Six Projects Year Three: Six Projects Thereafter: When one project in the portfolio of six drops off (hopefully via publication acceptance), add another and try to maintain at least six projects in your portfolio at all times! Thereafter: When one project in the portfolio of six drops off (hopefully via publication acceptance), add another and try to maintain at least six projects in your portfolio at all times! How Many Projects to Have?

IV. Final words… Write every day, or at a minimum, on a regularly established schedule Write every day, or at a minimum, on a regularly established schedule Set aside a regular time to just read in your area Set aside a regular time to just read in your area Go to conferences and MINGLE Go to conferences and MINGLE Identify ahead of time who you would like to meet in your area Identify ahead of time who you would like to meet in your area

Final words… Teaching will expand to fill all your time if you let it Teaching will expand to fill all your time if you let it Work to the top of your ability, not just what you need to get by at your current school Work to the top of your ability, not just what you need to get by at your current school Do some sole-authored papers Do some sole-authored papers Present your work every chance you get! Present your work every chance you get!

Final words… While everyone wants to get tenure (who doesn’t?), try to remember that this is about you as a nationally-recognized scholar While everyone wants to get tenure (who doesn’t?), try to remember that this is about you as a nationally-recognized scholar