From PhD to Publishing

Elaine Wallace

Marketing Discipline

Where to target?

• Consider at least 3 journals to target with your PhD (this may be a Viva question).

• Aim high.

• Ask your supervisor about where you should target.

• Where are the best people in your field publishing?

• Where were the most important papers from your PhD published?

• Use quality lists, e.g. for Business: ABS list, Harzing list.

10 Writing Do’s1. Abstract: include the RQ, method, N, contribution.

2. Keep the title SHORT (8 words?), use relevant keywords.

3. Make your paper about 1 key idea.

4. State your contribution.

5. Define all terms in your paper (e.g. “self-congruence”).

6. Be concise! (c. 8,000 words).

7. Conduct a top-up literature search before you submit.

8. Highlight the implications (contribution).

9. Keep to the journal guidelines!

10.Think about impact once paper is published.

10 Writing Don’ts

1. Don’t ‘salami slice’.

2. Don’t fear targeting high quality journals (DO aim high!).

3. Don’t make assumptions about journals and methods.

4. Don’t submit replication studies.

5. Don’t use passive voice.

6. Don’t be vague about whether you are doing x or y.

7. Don’t repeat the same point again and again and again…

8. Don’t forget to label all diagrams and tables.

9. Don’t omit implications for theory, practice and policy.

10. Don’t ignore journal guidelines: you risk desk rejection.

Dealing with reviewer comments

• We all get papers rejected all the time.• If you get a chance for revision (even ‘risky’), take it!• They might be wrong, but they are reviewers, be

respectful.• Don’t delay responding, but do it well, and fully.• If they recommend additional papers, use them.• Respond only when you have addressed every

comment.• Suggested response:

– Comment– Response– Action (and say where in the paper)

Useful sources

• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

• LSE Impact Blog (online, also on twitter)