A Guide to Writing
Research Papers
Rob Briner
Organizational Psychology
Birkbeck
Outline
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Types of research publication/output
Disciplinary differences
Why write research papers?
What’s the target and audience?
Planning to write
Writing
Submission and the review process
Concluding comments
Types of research publication/
output
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Journal article (refereed/non-refereed)
Conference paper (refereed/non-refereed)
Book/monograph
Chapter in edited book
Report for organization
Professional journals and magazines
Theoretical, empirical, critique, review
Disciplinary differences
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Humanities
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Social sciences
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Mixed
Physical sciences
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Books often more valued than research papers
Usually papers most valued, conference and
posters
Why write research papers?
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You have something to say
Duty to the field
Obligation to others (supervisors, coinvestigators)
Career
Test ideas with a wider audience
What’s the target and audience? [1]
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Target
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Audience
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Topic specific or discipline-wide journal
Specialist or generalist conference
Status of target – rejection rate, impact factor
Size
Other PhD researchers, established researchers in
the field, others in related parts of discipline?
What’s the target and audience? [2]
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The Conversation Metaphor
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Who are the people having the conversation in your
field
More importantly, what are they saying? What are
main debates issues?
What will you contribute or add to this on-going
conversation?
How will those people react to what you say?
What’s the target and audience? [3]
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Some trade-offs and choices
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What status journal/publisher – go for the best
means higher chance of rejection
Getting your ideas out there quickly versus
spending time on numerous rewrites
Narrow highly specific focus versus big debate
Easy hits versus the-best-paper-you-could-writeever
Finish thesis versus getting publications
Planning to write
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What, exactly do you want to say?
Why do you want to say it?
What contribution does it make to the field?
How can you support what you have to say
(theory and evidence)
Get the argument and structure clear before
you write
Discuss and negotiate with potential co-authors
Writing
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Develop detailed structure based on argument
If you aren’t sure why you’re writing what you’re writing
stop and go back to argument
Revise argument and structure as often as is
necessary
Try to set deadlines for sections and final draft
Ask for others to read and comment
Re-read many times yourself
Revise and craft as much as you can bear to
Submission and the review process
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Accompanying letter and other documentation
Accepted for or rejected without review
Reviews returned
Reject, or revise and resubmit
Maybe many iterations
Final decision – accept or reject
If reject don’t give up! – Different journal?
Rework paper?
Concluding comments
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Do write research papers
Be clear about the contribution you want to make and
who your audience are
Get as much help as possible
Look for external deadlines (e.g. special issues,
conferences)
Can be an extremely good way of focusing and
developing your PhD
Try to enjoy it! It’s your research topic and there are
things you want to say about it…