PhD writing papers workshopDr. Dianne Dredge

29th October 2013

https://sites.google.com/site/writingpapersfromyourthesis/home

Writing the journey: Writing papers during your PhD

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Why is the journey just as important as the end thesis?

A. Because you have to, to graduate!B. Because it’s through writing that

you make sense of your topicC. Because the journey will reveal

something that you may not of have thought of

D. Because writing a good thesis takes practice

E. Because it’s important for your resume

Why publish as you go?

https://sites.google.com/site/writingpapersfromyourthesis/home

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About this workshop

• Why is the journey important? • Things you should know• How do I devise a publication

strategy to suit my journey• What is my strategy? • How do I get started?• Where can I find help?

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But first…

Bibliometrics

Altmetrics

Journal rankings

Career developmen

t

Authorship

Where do I start?

Quality & Impact Considerations

Resources

StrategyWriting

Technical Issues

Journal submission

process

How do I write

it?

Deciding what’s

important

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Things you should know

• Our first publication - what it says about us

• Who we publish with – the power of association

• Does collaboration improve productivity?

• The hook – the importance of getting noticed

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Devising a publication strategy

Two approaches:• Thesis by publication• Publications that supplement your thesis and

form part of the overall product

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Thesis by publication

• Core chapters are published as separate papers

• Papers must form a coherent whole, linked thematically and structurally

• Pitfalls?– Time associated with publication in top journals– Lack of coherency– It’s still controversial

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Opportunities for publication in the ‘traditional’ thesis

• Literature review

• Research approach and methods

• Findings chapters

• Side journeys or detours*

• Others?

* These are not dead ends… but important in developing your research and exploring its boundaries!

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Types of literature review papers

• Meta analysis – systematic review, reintegrates findings, detects patterns in the field

• Meta-synthesis – integrates, interprets, transforms a pool of individual papers into a new perspective

Types of literature reviews:• Traditional narrative -

critiques the body of literature, identifies gaps, issues, etc.

• Systematic review – database analyses of a topic

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Goals of a literature review paper

Goals of a literature review:• Conceptual paper

– Brings the literature together– Presents a new framework

• Assesses progress in the field– Shows the history of a field– Plots a line of reasoning or philosophical influences for example

• Appraises gaps/identifies missing information and identifies new research agendas

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Significance and contribution

• Significance– Addressing a ‘big’ societal issue– A new way of thinking– Challenge the status quo

• Contribution– Theory– Practice/management

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Choosing an outlet

• Conference or journal• Quality• Timing• Authorship• What is your strategy?

Journal submission

process

Career developmen

t

Journal rankings

Authorship

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Tourism ManagementTourism Management is the leading international journal for all those concerned withthe planning and management of travel and tourism.Tourism comprises a multitude of activities which together form one of the world's fastest growing international sectors. The journal takes an interdisciplinary approach and includes planning and policy aspects of international, national and regional tourism as well as specific management studies.The journal's contents reflect its integrative approach - including primary research articles, discussion of current issues, case studies, reports, book reviews and forthcoming meetings. Articles are relevant to both academics and practitioners, and are the results of anonymous reviews by at least two referees chosen by the editor for their specialist knowledge

Tourism AnalysisThe aim of Tourism Analysis is to promote a forum for practitioners and academicians in the fields of Leisure, Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality (LRTH). As a interdisciplinary journal, it is an appropriate outlet for articles, research notes, and computer software packages designed to be of interest, concern, and of applied value to its audience of professionals, scholars, and students of LRTH programs the world over. The scope of the articles will include behavioral models (quantitative-qualitative), decision-making techniques and procedures, estimation models, demand-supply analysis, monitoring systems, expert systems and performance evaluation, assessment of site and destination attractiveness, new analytical tools, research methods and related areas such as validity and reliability, scale development, development of data collection instruments, methodological issues in cross-national and cross-cultural studies, and computer technology and use.

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Writing the abstract

Structure of an abstract• Background• Aim• Method• Results• Significance

• Makes people want to read it

• Contains more information

• Generally receive higher downloads

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Writing – the general approach

• Look at the scope, aims of the journal• Examine the structure of articles in that

journal• ‘Map out’ your paper • Write and craft• Use critical friends• Use your supervisor

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Writing the introduction…in movements

• Move 1 – establish your territory– Why is the topic an issue, why is it important/relevant

• Move 2 – establish your niche by identifying gaps or weaknesses in the existing approaches

• Move 3 - Occupy the niche – how are you going to make it right?– Outline the purpose of the research– List the aims and objectives– Create curiosity by pointing to the findings (i.e. lead the

reader on…)

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Writing the literature review*

• Move 1 – Overview the issues• Move 2 – State of existing knowledge– Compare and contrast with literature (taking note of

different perspectives, different cultural biases, different methodological influences

• Move 3 – Gaps and weaknesses– Gaps and weaknesses in the literature lend themselves to

your particular research approach and methods

*There is sometimes a tendency to focus on this section!

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Writing the approach and methods

• Move 1 – Broad approach– Why the issue lends itself to the research approach adopted– Clarify the researcher’s positionality

• Move 2 – Research methods adopted– What research methods, choices available (brief),

relationship between methods (if relevant)

• Move 3 – Detailed procedures– Implementation, challenges and resolutions

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Writing the results*

• Move 1 – state the main findings in order of importance– Compare and contrast with the literature– Observations of whether methods influenced findings

• Move 2 – State secondary findings– Compare and contrast with literature– Discuss relationship with main findings

*The ART is in crafting a good story!

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Writing the discussion

• Move 1 – Restate the findings• Move 2 – Evaluate how these findings fit in

with previous research• Move 3 – List potential limitations• Move 4 – Interpretation, listing any possible

criticisms• Move 5 – State the implications and

significance and any further research

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Where to get help?

• Critical friends – reflection, support and collegiality

• Supervisors• Writing group• Other staff• Editors and co-ordinating

editors

https://sites.google.com/site/writingpapersfromyourthesis/home

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WRITING

Thank you