Research Publication Points to Ponder Andrew K G

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Andrew K. G. Tan School of Social Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia (atan@usm. my) CGSS Strategic Plan Retreat Kota Bahru, Kelantan (July 2016)

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Introduction Ø Background: Ø Ph. D & Masters (Agricultural Economics) B. A. (Economics) Areas of expertise/research interest: Consumer & household economics Health economics Environmental economics 2

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Research Defined as … innovative work undertaken on a systematic basis … to advance the frontiers of knowledge. Adapted from: https: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Research 3

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder 8 Major Steps in Research i. iii. iv. v. vii. Identification of research problem Literature review Specifying the objectives Choice of a methodology Data collection Analyzing and interpreting the data Reporting and evaluating results (possibly policy recommendations) viii. Publishing research findings* 4

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Advancing the Frontiers of Knowledge 5 55

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Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Trending Energy Climate Education Quality of life Disaster mgmt. Health Transport Environment Tourism Arts Language Politics History Anthropology 8

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder $$$ Ø University level grants Short–term (ST) • New lecturers (<5 years service) • RM 50 k* • Vot 21 Travel - 15% of total approved budget (Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei) unless for data collection • RM 720/month RA salary • Laptop/computer - case-by-case basis • Final report 9

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder $$$ Ø University level grants Research university (RU) • All academic staff (min 2) • RM 100 k* • Vot 21 Travel (20% of total approved budget) unless for data collection • RM 2500 (Ph. D) / RM 1800 (Masters) RA salary • Min 2 publications + 1 graduate student • Laptop/computer – case-by-case basis • Final report 10

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder $$$ Ø Ministry of Science & Technology (MOSTI) Science. Fund • Public Goods Procurement Auction to Allocate Heritage Conservation Subsidy (http: //ernd. mosti. gov. my/) Ø Ministry of Higher Education FRGS LRGS TRGS (http: //mygrants. gov. my) 11

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Ø $$$ International Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) (http: //www. eepsea. org) Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) (http: //searca. org/) Southeast Asian Studies Regional Exchange Program (SEASREP) (http: //seasrepfoundation. org/) Sumitomo Foundation (http: //www. sumitomo. or. jp/e/) Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability (CDES) Monash University (http: //business. monash. edu/cdes/events/cdes-research-grants) Toyota Foundation (https: //www. toyotafound. or. jp/english/program/research. html) 12

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Writing Proposals i. iii. iv. v. Provide an excellent summary Know the limits/caps (e. g. words, budget) Do not overwhelm with equations Be aware of the objectives of the grant Be aware of grant evaluation criteria (e. g. completeness, capability of project leader/co-researchers, merit, viability, fairness of cost) vi. Write clearly in simple language vii. Provide all details (e. g. Intro, Literature review, Objectives, Methods, Data, Output, Budget) viii. Relate to own previous research ix. Significance of study and expected outcomes (do not oversell) x. International collaboration and networking 13

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Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Publication “ … rotten writing causes more articles to be rejected for publication than rotten t-statistics … Bad writing does not get read. ” D. Mc. Closkey (1985) 15

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Publication Ø Writing the Paper i. iii. iv. v. vii. Ø Ø Ø Title Abstract Introduction Methods/Materials/Data Results Discussion & Conclusions References Choosing the Journal Authorship Cover Letter Decision Time Steps in Writing a Paper Random Thoughts 16

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Writing the Paper i. Title • Subject studied • Clear, informative, and precise • Not fanciful • Consider colons 17

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Writing the Paper ii. Abstract • Summarize paper (10 sentences) • What is known, methods, main findings, contribution to knowledge • Advertises/sells paper/make or break reject? ) • Structured/non-structured (desk 18

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Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Writing the Paper iii. Introduction • Why study undertaken (motivation)? • What is the problem? Research questions? • Who cares? • What others have done? • How are you extending the frontiers of knowledge (novelty/contribution)? 20

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Writing the Paper iv. Methods, Materials, Data • How study conducted? • Equations v. Results • Discuss results only (no policy implications, suggestions) 21

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Writing the Paper vi. Discussions & Conclusions • Do not summarize • Interpretation must be supported by results • Compare with other authors’ results • How has frontier of knowledge been advanced? • Provide limitations/suggestions for future research 22

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Writing the Paper vii. References • Ensure all references are cited and vice-versa • Check for consistency and errors • Follow journal referencing style (e. g. Harvard, Chicago, APA, etc. ) • Ensure all hyperlinks are updated 23

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Choosing the Journal Ø Ø Ø Ø Refer to reference list for ideas Audience to target Suitability of journal (refer to aims of journal) Prioritize journals but be realistic Indexed (ISI or Scopus) or non-indexed Predatory journals Length of review time Submission/page cost 24

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Authorship Ø Ø Number of authors depend on fields Arrangement of authors First Author • Alphabetical • Graduate student Corresponding author • Submits to journal and corresponds with editor • Senior author from university 25

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Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Cover Letter Ø Ø Ø “Speak” to the editor Highlight important points Suggested reviewers 27

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Decision Time Ø If you get a “Revise and resubmit” • Resubmit on time • Alright to disagree with some points but be polite and provide strong supporting arguments • Make it easy for reviewers/editor Point-by-point rebuttal (with page/paragraph/line numbers) Coloured changes 28

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Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Decision Time Ø If you get a “Rejection” • Evaluate if reasons for rejection are fair, if not, seek clarification from editor (but be objective) • Not necessarily a death penalty, “It’s a game!” • Resubmit soon!!! 30

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Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Steps in Writing a Paper Step 6 Title & Abstract Step 5 Introduction Step 4 Methods/Data/Literature review Step 3 Discussions & Conclusions Step 2 Results Step 1 Tables/Figures from data 32

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder Random Thoughts Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Be a reviewer Attend conferences (networking) Seek colleagues’ opinions Collaborate/co-authorship “Can my mama understand what I’m writing? ” Engage language editor Mistakes / typos / inconsistencies Policy implications must be relevant to study/data Website 33

Research & Publication: Points to Ponder References Ahmad, A. L. (2015). “Journey toward Highly Cited Article. ” Malaysian Technical Universities Conference on Engineering and Technology (MUCET). Eastbury, D. and Ahmad, A. L. (2016). “A Publisher’s Guide to Writing and Publishing Scientific Manuscripts”. Science and Engineering Research Center seminar, Universiti Sains Malaysia. (http: //serc. eng. usm. my/index. php/en/download/booking-form). Lubotsky, D. (2013). “Getting Published – Advice from Editors. ” Western Economics Association. (https: //www. aeaweb. org/content/file? id=410). Mc. Closkey, D. (1985). “Economical Writing”. Economic Inquiry. 23(2): 187– 222. Wilson, W. (undated). “Publishing in Economics. ” (https: //www. aeaweb. org/content/file? id=409) 34

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