In converting your dissertation to a journal article, you may want to know why you should publish in a journal. I will discuss the reasons why I think you should publish in a journal below.
Why publish in a journal?
Global reach is critical as a researcher and academic. Many times, we conduct valuable research and no-one has access to it. Journals and open access journals allow for greater availability and access to your work. Another important aspect of publishing in a journal is the peer-review journey. I call it a journey because with each peer-review, I learn something new. I learn a new concept, idea, or way of thinking. I would like to suggest that you use the peer-reviewers’ suggestions as feedback and feedforward. With each peer-review, our knowledge is enhanced.
As an early career academic, publishing in a journal helps to build your scholarly profile. It shows that you are conducting research, writing and publishing which gives you an added edge over someone else who is not doing so. It also helps in the PhD process. Moreover, it helps you to obtain academic positions since most Universities look for lecturers who publish regularly and have a robust repertoire of publications. Journal publications are highly valued in academia. If you wish to move up the academic ladder, you need to publish in journals.
Differences between dissertation and journal article
There are several differences between the dissertation and the journal article. I have chosen to use the acronym O (outline) P (Purpose) A (Audience) (German for grandfather) to indicate the differences. There are differences in the outline which is organized into chapters in the dissertation but in the journal article it is organized into headings and sub-headings. The purpose is different for the dissertation where there are academic expectations of the supervisor and internal and external examiners. However, the peer-reviewers’ expectations are different. The audience is also different. The dissertation is directed at the supervisor and examiners with limited audience, however, the journal article is read by a diverse group of people and has more reach.
Finding the Right Journal
In order to find the right journal, you should identify the most suitable journal. First of all, list the available journals within your research field. This will give you an idea of the range of suitable options and, with further examination, learn more details concerning the adequacy of your paper to its scope and the fulfillment of your expectations regarding the journal’s profile (e.g. audience and/or rank). You can also identify the journal that appears most in the reference list of your thesis. Ask yourself: Which journals have I used in my dissertation? Additionally, you can read the journal’s aim and scope in order to determine its fit for your proposed article. There are also similar sections on editorial policies which should be read in order to evaluate the fit and any specific content requirements. You also need to pay special attention to the topics published in the journal. Look at the topics covered in the journal and determine its fit for your article. Peruse past issues, abstracts, table of contents- are there similar papers that have been published?
Ensure that your target journal accepts the kind of article you want to publish. Use previously published papers (at least three) from the target journal as examples for the format of the paper. They help in understanding what the peer-reviewers would expect. The Impact Factor is an important measurement but also remember to consider the prestige of the authors publishing in it and see if your research is at a similar level. Read the review process and the length of time taken for responses and feedback to manuscripts submitted. How will your paper be reviewed? The journal’s website should mention the details of the peer review process. Check details of copyright/license agreements and whether publication before or after your thesis submission is allowed.
Using websites to find the journal-fit
Elsevier offers a wide range of journals. Therefore, choosing the best one to publish your research paper should be easier with proper support and guidance. Using the JournalFinder, you can match your journal article and learn more about each journal available.
- https://journalfinder.elsevier.com/
- Enter the title and abstract of your paper.
- Indicate the keywords.
- Indicate the Field of Research (note that there is no field for education).
- Click on Find Journal.
Using Journal Finder-Open Access, click on the following link https://doaj.org/. You can search by journal, search by: Title, ISSN (International Standard Serial Number), Subject, and Publisher, or search by journal article: Title, Abstract, Subject, Author. You can also use Journal/Author/Name/Estimator (JANE) at https://jane.biosemantics.org/. This relies on Pub Med as the database where journals are sourced. It gives good information on other journals with similar information. You can also enter your abstract and get additional information on the topic.
Good luck and all the best with converting your dissertation into a journal article.
Dr. Charmaine Bissessar is Senior Lecturer and Director of Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CoETaL) at the University of Guyana. Dr. Bissessar is also interim Director of Educational Onlining Support Services (EdOSS). Her research interests encompass education, professional development, quality assurance in education and online learning and teaching.
