Effectively Communicating Your Research Jeffrey Robens Ph D
Effectively Communicating Your Research Jeffrey Robens, Ph. D Editorial Development Manager 29 June 2016
1 Be an effective communicator Your goal is not only to be published, but also to be widely read in your field Logical manuscript structure Efficient publication strategy Successful journal submission Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
2 Logical Manuscript Structure Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
3 Your readers have 4 key questions Methodology Results What did you do? What did you find? Introduction Literature review Discussion Conclusion Why did you do the study? How does the study advance the field? Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
4 Introduction Why does your study need to be done? Introduce the topic • Worldwide/regional relevance • Broad/specialized audience What is known about topic • Up-to-date studies • Cite broadly worldwide What is not known • Clear description of problem • Use keywords like ‘however’ Aims Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016 Specific aims
5 Literature Review Previous What did earlier studies show? studies How did these lead to more recent studies? What are the knowledge gaps? What is your hypothesis? Current study Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
6 Literature Review What did earlier studies show? How did these lead to more recent studies? What are the knowledge gaps? What is your hypothesis? It’s not who did what Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
7 Literature Review What did earlier studies show? How did these lead to more recent studies? What are the knowledge gaps? What is your hypothesis? It’s the development of your topic and by whom Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
8 Literature Review Describing previous studies • How many studies? – “Many studies have shown…”, “Few studies have investigated…” • Focus of the studies – Data analysis, methodology, modeling • Empirical or theoretical studies? • Are the studies widely accepted or controversial? • Merits and limitations of the studies Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
9 Introduction Your aims should directly address the problem Problem in the field However, little has been conducted to qualitatively assess whether peer attitudes and self-efficacy influence affect the likelihood of college students engaging in academic dishonesty. Variables Outcome Sample Peer attitudes Self-efficacy Academic dishonesty College students Modified from: Nora & Zhang Asia Pacific Educ Rev. 2010; 11: 573– 584. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
10 Introduction Your aims should directly address the problem Problem in the field However, little has been conducted to qualitatively assess whether peer attitudes and self-efficacy influence affect the likelihood of college students engaging in academic dishonesty. Study aims The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of college student peer attitudes on the likelihood of cheating and to establish the significance of self-efficacy in promoting academic integrity. Modified from: Nora & Zhang Asia Pacific Educ Rev. 2010; 11: 573– 584. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
11 Methods What did you do? Who/what was used in the study • Samples or participants • Instruments and data collection How you conducted the study • Methodology and techniques • Measurements and outcomes How you analyzed your data • Quantification methods/software • Statistical tests (consult a statistician) Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
12 Results What did you find? Logical presentation Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016 1. Initial observation 2. Characterization 3. Application
13 Results What did you find? Logical presentation 1. Initial observation 2. Characterization 3. Application Example: 1. Observe a correlation between depression and internet use 2. Characterize severity of depression, time spent online, websites visited 3. Demonstrate decreased internet use improves severity of depression Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
14 Guide your readers through your findings One figure at a time Results Clear subheading 1 • Introduce experiment (figure 1) • Discuss obtained data • Summarize key finding Clear subheading 2 Figure 1. Descriptive figure caption “Figure 1 shows [description of experiment]. ” • Introduce experiment (figure 2) • Discuss obtained data “First we [description of experiment] (Figure 1). ” • Summarize key finding Figure 2. Descriptive figure caption Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
15 Discussion How your study contributes to the field Summarize what you did • Begin with research problem • Briefly describe study design • Summarize key findings Interpret your findings • • Similarities & differences Unexpected/negative results Counter-arguments Limitations Why important to the field Implications Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016 • Main conclusion • Implications
16 Logically linking your ideas Answer the four key questions for your reader Introduce topic Why this study needs to be done Currently published studies Problem in the field Objectives What you did What you found Methodology Results and figures Summary of findings How your study will advance the field Interpretation of findings Implications for the field Logically link your ideas throughout your manuscript Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
17 Who’s hungry? First impressions are important! Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
18 Abstracts – First impression of your paper Aims Importance of your topic Results Significance of your study Conclusions Relevance of your study Clarity of your writing Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
19 Abstracts – Good first impression What do you readers want to know? Why did the study need to be done? Introduce topic and problem What did you do? Your aims and methodology What did you find? Key results How study will advance the field? Conclusions and implications Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
20 Abstracts – Good first impressions There have been an increasing number of gaming operators that have incorporated onscreen pop-up messages while gamblers play on slot machines and/or online to help encourage responsible gambling. However, very few studies have been conducted on the utility of pop-up messages in real-world gambling settings. In this study, we investigated the effects of normative and self-appraisal feedback in a slot machine popup messages using a comparative analysis of behavioral tracking data from two conditions, a simple versus an enhanced pop-up message. The study was conducted in a real-world gambling environment using representative random samples of two 800, 000 gambling sessions. We found that pop-up messages did not significantly effect the termination of gambling sessions by participants (p>0. 05). However, the additional normative and self-appraisal content doubled the number of gamblers who stopped playing after they received the enhanced pop-up message (1. 39%) compared with the simple pop-up message (0. 67%). In conclusion, the data suggest that pop-up messages influence only a small number of gamblers to cease long playing sessions and that enhanced messages are slightly more effective in helping gamblers to stop playing insession. Modified from: Auer & Griffiths. Front Psychol. 2015; doi: 10. 3389/fpsyg. 2015. 00339. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
21 Abstracts – Good first impressions Background There have been an increasing number of gaming operators that have incorporated on-screen pop-up messages while gamblers play on slot machines and/or online to help encourage responsible gambling. However, very few studies have been conducted on the utility of popup messages in real-world gambling settings. Modified from: Auer & Griffiths. Front Psychol. 2015; doi: 10. 3389/fpsyg. 2015. 00339. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
22 Abstracts – Good first impressions Background There have been an increasing number of gaming operators that have incorporated on-screen pop-up messages while gamblers play on slot machines and/or online to help encourage responsible gambling. However, very few studies have been conducted on the utility of popup messages in real-world gambling settings. Methods/aims In this study, we investigated the effects of normative and self-appraisal feedback in a slot machine pop-up messages using a comparative analysis of behavioral tracking data from two conditions, a simple versus an enhanced pop-up message. The study was conducted in a realworld gambling environment using representative random samples of two 800, 000 gambling sessions. Modified from: Auer & Griffiths. Front Psychol. 2015; doi: 10. 3389/fpsyg. 2015. 00339. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
23 Abstracts – Good first impressions Background There have been an increasing number of gaming operators that have incorporated on-screen pop-up messages while gamblers play on slot machines and/or online to help encourage responsible gambling. However, very few studies have been conducted on the utility of popup messages in real-world gambling settings. Methods/aims In this study, we investigated the effects of normative and self-appraisal feedback in a slot machine pop-up messages using a comparative analysis of behavioral tracking data from two conditions, a simple versus an enhanced pop-up message. The study was conducted in a realworld gambling environment using representative random samples of two 800, 000 gambling sessions. • In this study, we used [methodology] to evaluate [aim]. • In this study, we evaluated [aim] using [methodology]. Modified from: Auer & Griffiths. Front Psychol. 2015; doi: 10. 3389/fpsyg. 2015. 00339. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
24 Abstracts – Good first impressions Background There have been an increasing number of gaming operators that have incorporated on-screen pop-up messages while gamblers play on slot machines and/or online to help encourage responsible gambling. However, very few studies have been conducted on the utility of popup messages in real-world gambling settings. Methods/aims In this study, we investigated the effects of normative and self-appraisal feedback in a slot machine pop-up messages using a comparative analysis of behavioral tracking data from two conditions, a simple versus an enhanced pop-up message. The study was conducted in a realworld gambling environment using representative random samples of two 800, 000 gambling sessions. Results We found that pop-up messages did not significantly effect the termination of gambling sessions by participants (p>0. 05). However, the additional normative and self-appraisal content doubled the number of gamblers who stopped playing after they received the enhanced pop-up message (1. 39%) compared with the simple pop-up message (0. 67%). Modified from: Auer & Griffiths. Front Psychol. 2015; doi: 10. 3389/fpsyg. 2015. 00339. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
25 Abstracts – Good first impressions Background There have been an increasing number of gaming operators that have incorporated on-screen pop-up messages while gamblers play on slot machines and/or online to help encourage responsible gambling. However, very few studies have been conducted on the utility of popup messages in real-world gambling settings. Methods/aims In this study, we investigated the effects of normative and self-appraisal feedback in a slot machine pop-up messages using a comparative analysis of behavioral tracking data from two conditions, a simple versus an enhanced pop-up message. The study was conducted in a realworld gambling environment using representative random samples of two 800, 000 gambling sessions. Results We found that pop-up messages did not significantly effect the termination of gambling sessions by participants (p>0. 05). However, the additional normative and self-appraisal content doubled the number of gamblers who stopped playing after they received the enhanced pop-up message (1. 39%) compared with the simple pop-up message (0. 67%). Conclusions In conclusion, the data suggest that pop-up messages influence only a small number of gamblers to cease long playing sessions and that enhanced messages are slightly more effective in helping gamblers to stop playing in-session. Modified from: Auer & Griffiths. Front Psychol. 2015; doi: 10. 3389/fpsyg. 2015. 00339. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
26 Abstracts – Good first impressions Background There have been an increasing number of gaming operators that have incorporated on-screen pop-up messages while gamblers play on slot machines and/or online to help encourage responsible gambling. However, very few studies have been conducted on the utility of popup messages in real-world gambling settings. Methods/aims In this study, we investigated the effects of normative and self-appraisal feedback in a slot machine pop-up messages using a comparative analysis of behavioral tracking data from two conditions, a simple versus an enhanced pop-up message. The study was conducted in a realworld gambling environment using representative random samples of two 800, 000 gambling sessions. Results We found that pop-up messages did not significantly effect the termination of gambling sessions by participants (p>0. 05). However, the additional normative and self-appraisal content doubled the number of gamblers who stopped playing after they received the enhanced pop-up message (1. 39%) compared with the simple pop-up message (0. 67%). Conclusions In conclusion, the data suggest that pop-up messages influence only a small number of gamblers to cease long playing sessions and that enhanced messages are slightly more effective in helping gamblers to stop playing in-session. Modified from: Auer & Griffiths. Front Psychol. 2015; doi: 10. 3389/fpsyg. 2015. 00339. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
27 Abstracts – Good first impressions There have been an increasing number of gaming operators that have incorporated onscreen pop-up messages while gamblers play on slot machines and/or online to help Why study needed tostudies be done encourage responsible gambling. However, very few have been conducted on the utility of pop-up messages in real-world gambling settings. In this study, we investigated the effects of normative and self-appraisal feedback in a slot machine pop-up messages using a comparative analysis of behavioral tracking data from two conditions, a simple What you did versus an enhanced pop-up message. The study was conducted in a real-world gambling environment using representative random samples of two 800, 000 gambling sessions. We found that pop-up messages did not significantly effect the termination of gambling sessions by participants (p>0. 05). However, the additional normative and self-appraisal What was found content doubled the number of gamblers who stopped playing after they received the enhanced pop-up message (1. 39%) compared with the simple pop-up message (0. 67%). In conclusion, the data suggest that pop-up messages influence only a small number of contributes to themessages field are slightly more gamblers to cease long How playingstudy sessions and that enhanced effective in helping gamblers to stop playing in-session. Modified from: Auer & Griffiths. Front Psychol. 2015; doi: 10. 3389/fpsyg. 2015. 00339. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
28 q Logically organized manuscript Where to submit? Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
29 Efficient Publication Strategy Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
30 Publication goals Publish quickly and have impact in the field Choose the most appropriate journal • Novelty of your findings • Relevance of your findings Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016 Communicate study’s relevance • In your manuscript • In your cover letter
31 Choose the appropriate journal Where are the findings relevant? Worldwide Choose an international journal to reach a worldwide audience Locally Choose a regional journal to reach a local audience Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
32 Choose the appropriate journal Should regional findings only be published in regional journals? NO! Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
33 Choose the appropriate journal If regional findings have worldwide relevance, they should be published in international journals You must emphasize the global implications of your regional findings in your manuscript Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
34 Choose the appropriate journal For whom are the findings relevant? Your field only Choose an specialized journal to reach readers in your field Your and other fields Choose a broad-focused journal to reach readers across disciplines Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
35 Choose the appropriate journal How much accessibility do you need? Subscription Only academics with access to the journal can read your article Open access Freely available to everyone worldwide Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
36 Benefits of open access • Fulfill funder or institutional mandates • Increase accessibility to your findings worldwide • Increase the number of downloads of your article • Allows you to retain the copyright to your work • Published quickly online • Fewer restrictions on word and figure limits Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
37 Not all open access journals are good How to identify a trustworthy journal? Reputable publisher Springer Nature, Elsevier, PLo. S, etc. Editorial board International and familiar Indexed by common databases Authors Do you recognize the authors? Fees Only paid after acceptance Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
38 Think – Check – Submit (www. thinkchecksubmit. org) Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
39 Think – Check – Submit (www. thinkchecksubmit. org) Only submit to a journal if you can answer yes to all of these questions! Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
40 q Appropriate journal q Logically organized manuscript Ready to submit! Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
41 Journal editors are busy! Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
42 Successful Journal Submission Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
43 Journal editors are busy! Most journal editors are not full-time journal editors Full-time professors Department heads Journal editors when they have time You are competing with many other researchers for the journal editor’s limited time Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
44 Make the best first impression for journal editors Cover letter Significance and relevance of study Suitable to be published by their journal Interesting to their readers? Clear and concise writing style? Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
45 Cover letters – What to include (~1 page) Introduce your manuscript Why study is important What you found • Manuscript title • Article type • Brief background • Research problem & aims • Study design • 1 or 2 key findings Why suitable for the journal • Conclusion • Interest to the readership Additional information • Include/exclude reviewers • Publication ethics Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
46 Convince journal editor manuscript is suitable Peer review Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
47 Peer review is a positive process Experts give advice on how to improve your study and your manuscript Ensures only relevant studies are published Peer review helps to advance the field Cartoon by Nick D Kim, scienceandink. com. Used by permission. Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
48 Writing response letters Clearly discuss all of your revisions Most common mistake Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016 Only state that revisions have been done, not what the revisions were
49 Writing response letters Clearly discuss all of your revisions Most common mistake Only state that revisions have been done, not what the revisions were Journal editors are very busy! Make revisions easy to review Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016 ü Briefly state what was revised ü Always refer to page and line numbers ü In manuscript, highlight revised text
50 Writing response letters What are journal editors looking for? Do you agree or disagree? • Why do you agree/disagree? • Support disagreement with evidence What revisions were done? • State new experiments • How revised the text & figures Where can revisions be found? Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016 • Page and line numbers • Updated figure numbers
51 Once you are published, now you just have to wait for all those citations to start rolling in… Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
52 Promote your article after publication Don’t wait for people to find it! Present at conferences • Interact with others in your field • Key target audience • Establish new collaborations Promote on social media • Research. Gate & Academia. edu • Linked. In & Twitter • Benefit of open access! Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
53 Be an effective communicator ü Logical manuscript structure ü Effective publication strategy ü Successful journal submission You will increase your chance of publication and your research impact Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
54 Thank you! Any questions? Dr. Jeffrey Robens Editorial Development Manager jeffrey. robens@springernature. com Kazakhstan / 29 June 2016
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