University of Leicester

1. Publication Workshop :
Developing your work for
(journal) publication
Frances Bell
Research in Learning Technology
http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/
Workshop given on 25 June , 2013 at
Institute of Learning Innovation,
University of Leicester

2. Aim
An interactive session designed to help develop your
skills and knowledge in relation to writing for
publication in a journal
Opportunity to ask questions, review drafts

3. Gestation or Night in
Close colleagues:
•Presentation/ feedback
•Local peer review
Conference:
•Presentation/ feedback
Personal network:
Blogging and comments
Journal:
Read content
Check audience
Offer to review
Submit , and resubmit
No such thing as failure

4. Who is your audience?
Where should you publish?
Looking at possible journals helps you imagine their
audience better
Thinking about your audience helps you choose a
journal outlet
Research research!

5. Common Problems
S C O P E
SCOPE
So what?
Knowledge gap

6. Coherence
Abstract

7. Title
Title Audience
One approach is:
Does it do what it says on the tin?
Rachael Jacobs. Aesthetic development in pre-service teacher
education: An interdisciplinary dialogue
Search engine optimisation
Alternative approach:
Catchy title
Flying not flapping: a strategic framework for e-learning
and pedagogical innovation in higher education
institutions

8. 5 minute exercise –
Who might be interested in this paper?
Would they find it easily?
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0

10. Research the competition
Check here – including the word Facebook seemed to be
quite a good idea in 2011
http://top25.sciencedirect.com/subject/social-sciences/23/archive/33/ and
some of those are still there

11. Write about
… what interests you
Whilst making sure you are likely to attract
an audience
Blogging Au Plein Air, after Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot
by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital
Man using iPad by C. Regina

12. A few practical tips – or don’t
annoy the editor!
If you are not sure if your work fits the journal, can
email abstract to editor
Follow style and structure guidelines – word length,
Headings, etc., citations, references
Check images (resolution, etc.)
Proof read before sending

13. • Read first, (re-)written last
• Features
• Concise
• Precise
• Informative
• Language matches likely search
The abstract

14. 1-2-3 - the ten minute abstract
ONE
• identify a research question, objective
• write a title (5 minutes)
• share with your neighbour, question, clarify, improve (5
minutes)
TWO
• write an abstract (10 mins) - see handout
THREE
• swap with your neighbour, read and feedback (10 mins)
-Thanks to Rhona Sharpe for this exercise

15. Designing an Article
Possible article structure
• (Abstract, keywords)
• Introduction
• Backdrop and purpose
• Methodology
• Varies according to
article type
• address ethics
• Literature Review
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
Emerald advice on abstract
structure
Purpose
Design/methodology/approach
Findings
Research limitations/implications
(if applicable)
Practical implications (if
applicable)
Social implications (if applicable)
Originality/value

16. Example of article
http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/view/14430/html
‘Standard Structure’
(Abstract, keywords)
Introduction
Methodology
Literature Review
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Cross-discipline investigation of the relationship
between academic performance and online resource
access by distance education students
Abstract/Keywords
Introduction
Part of justification /
backdrop – identifies the gap
to be filled
Background
Context
Methods
Justification/ design
Results
Conclusion
Links back to stated purpose?

17. The beginning
Abstract
Keywords: distance education; online resources;
academic performance; virtual learning environments;
e-learning
Introduction

18. Introduction
Part of justification / backdrop – identifies the gap to be filled
“Distance education requires less physical infrastructure and resources and can offer students
access to higher education for a reduced living cost (Betts, Hartman, and Oxholm 2009). Distance
education enables institutions to access a global student market (Tennant, McMullen, and
Kaczynski 2009) that extends to non-traditional populations, particularly those with family and/or
work obligations that prevent attendance at university campuses (Betts et al. 2009). Furthermore,
distance education is material to the heightened global interest in higher education and the growth
in international students (Ragusa and Steinke 2011). “
Purpose/aims
“The present study seeks to fill knowledge gaps in the research literature by examining how and
if the use of pedagogically driven technologies enhances or detracts from higher education delivery
in two large and diverse introductory subjects at an Australian University. By providing an
evaluation of online communication and resources used by distance students in a range of natural
and social science courses, as well as the humanities, our research sample includes students with
widely varying pre-tertiary performance abilities that we term ‘perceived academic capacity’.”

19. The middle
Background
Context
Methods
Justification/ design
Results

20. The end
Conclusion
Links back to stated purpose?
Our research evidenced that the provision of low-cost
and easy-to-create online resources quantitatively
enhanced students’ academic performance: students
who accessed the online resources achieved greater
academic success.

21. Think like a reviewer/editor
- Write a review of 2 papers
- More useful
- Less useful

22. Reviewer Guidelines: Research
in Learning Technology
• Does the paper have clear aims and objectives / research questions that can be
achieved within the scope of a Research in Learning Technology journal paper?
Does the paper make a contribution to knowledge?
Is the work suitably grounded in the literature to justify its contribution and
frame the analysis/evaluation?
Is the research/evaluation methodology justified, clear and appropriate?
(including ethical considerations / approval where appropriate)
Does the analysis/ evaluation have a clear flow and logical argument?
Does the analysis/evaluation link to an appropriate discussion and conclusions?
Is it presented in a way which is suitable for Research in Learning Technology’s
international audience?
http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/about/editorialPolicies#f
ocusAndScope

23. Questions
Informal consultation…..
And now!

24. Good advice from the
ThesisWhisperer
http://www.slideshare.net/ingermewburn/write-that-
journal-article-in-7-days-12742195

25. Resources
Emerald – How to write effectively
We used today
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/authors/guides/write/a
bstracts.htm
Oxford University Press ACS Style Guide
Reviewing a Manuscript for Publication Allen S. Lee
http://www.slideshare.net/ingermewburn/write-that-
journal-article-in-7-days-12742195