1. Where is the Publication Puck Going? Making Research Available "Upstream" of Publication
Could scholarly publishers' skills and capacity be re-positioned to serve researchers at earlier stages in the research process, "upstream" of publication? In this post in the Scholarly Kitchen Blog, Charlie Rapple shares findings from a survey of the communications needs of almost 10,000 researchers.
The blog post says (quote): 95% of respondents considered that being able to demonstrate broader communications and impacts is important to their future funding and career progression. This is partly driven by funder expectations (64% felt these were changing) but 94% also felt personally motivated to ensure widespread awareness and application of their work........(Unquote)
The full entry can be read Here.
2. Self-citation: What is it and should you try to avoid doing it?
An author writing a research paper includes and cites their own previously published work. This is fine, up to a point, but there can be an issue here when authors list their own work to the exclusion of other published papers or to simply boost their own citation rates. Self-citation happens all the time and can occur in various ways; one recent study points to geographic biases in this practice. Apparently, authors from some parts of the world are more likely to excessively self-cite than others: hundreds of extremely self-citing scientists are revealed in a new database and, indeed, in some cases, do seem to be heavily self-promoting. This is generally something to avoid in your own writing, notes this post in Charlesworth Author Services.
The blog post says (quote): One key thing to keep in mind is that you are likely not the only researcher working in a particular area: for this reason, it’s important to keep your citations balanced and fair. Just because you disagree with someone does not mean you should not cite them in your work; indeed, we can teach you techniques to set up your arguments and frame your hypotheses that necessitate the inclusion of papers that disagree with your own views. Excessive self-citation is also a red flag to editors and peer reviewers........... (Unquote)
The full entry can be read Here.
3. Journal Indexing: Core standards and why they matter
The ways in which journals are indexed online is essential to how they can be searched for and found. Inclusion in certain indexes is also closely linked to quality assessment, with research funders often requiring their grantees to publish in outlets listed in certain indexes. In this post in the LSE Impact Blog, Danielle Padula explains the importance of good journal indexing and how journals that apply key standards can increase the reach and impact of their publications.
The blog post says (quote): Indexing is vital to the reputation, reach, and consequently impacts of journal articles. Reports in recent years have found that academic indexes, such as Google Scholar, PubMed, MathSciNet, and the Directory of Open Access Journals are the top research starting points for most scholars. Additionally, many scholars prioritize referencing and submitting to journals that are included in leading indexes, because indexing is a marker of journal quality..........(Unquote)
The full entry can be read Here.
4. Guest Post — A Case for Universal and Simplified Journal Systems
If publishers truly are service providers, then better care should be taken in setting up journal submission guidelines and formats. This guest post by Mriganka Awati in the Scholarly Kitchen Blog, shares author feedback on the frustrations with the current submission processes and offers solutions for consideration.
The blog post says (quote): The most strongly expressed sentiment with respect to journal systems and guidelines was that they require authors to spend excessive time. Many authors viewed time spent on formatting as unproductive and adding little value to their work. Some felt that journals should not demand total compliance with formatting instructions at the time of submission, when the fate of a manuscript is not clear...........(Unquote)
The full entry can be read Here.
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