The culmination of a PhD degree is the submission of a research paper to the review committee. Merely penning down a research paper and earning the title of ‘Dr’ will not do any value to one’s academic career. To be recognised as a professional researcher and make progress in the academic field, one should aim at publishing the research paper.
Research paper publishing presents academic/scientific study, scholarship to the research community and other readers. Most of the research paper is published in the academic book, journal article, or thesis form.
It should be noted that a paper consisting of original research results are only published and the research or findings will be considered valid only after the peer review process.
The paper publishing process, segregated into two phases: the peer review and production, begins upon the submission of research paper to a publisher. The peer review process is organised by the editor of the target journal and is accomplished when the content, together with associated figures or images, are accepted for publication. On the other hand, the production process is managed by a production editor or publisher. The research paper then goes through typesetting, copy editing, inclusion in a particular issue of a journal, followed by printing and online publication.
Today, publishing in reputed or high-impact journals remains the most crucial process after obtaining the PhD degree. However, not all researchers give a second thought about submitting the research paper to the journals. The main reason being ignorant or unaware of the benefits of publishing the paper.
In recent times, research papers are being published across the internet and several other publishing platforms. Each research has its own impact and presenting them to the research community is considered as a stepping stone to success in the academic field.
Some of the benefits of publishing the research papers in reputed journals include:
Demonstrates ability to conduct research – Publishing process can be compared to that of natural selection. Publishing helps in selecting scholars who stand out among the crowd. Because competition for academic positions is fierce, to get acceptance from a high-quality journal, a researcher would require to compete against others who are much more experienced than you. Thus only the strongest and best are selected. Being able to stay ahead of the competition and get published indicates that you are mindful about what you are doing and have the potential of progressing in your field of study.
Manifests underlying values in the field of study – By getting your paper published, you can reflect the fundamental values & goals of the specific field. Many studies are limited by borders. By sharing the findings and evidence, you can help in minimising the borders and contribute to the utilisation of evidence to obtain a solution of an issue. For instance, by publishing a paper on public health, you can reflect the principles of the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) and contribute to the health practice.
Offers recognition – Publications is regarded as an asset in the academic journey as it enables the researcher to gain acknowledgement and recognition as experts in a particular field not just at national but also at international levels. In many cases, if the research theme pertaining to major global significance is included in a publication, there is a greater chance that the researcher’s country, region obtaining the recognition. In addition to this, publication in peer-reviewed journals provides international recognition for individual, department, university, or institutions.
Contributes to the field of study – Implementing study and publishing the key findings is important for a career in academics. While conducting research is half of the story, publishing it is another half of the story. If the program documentations or results of the studies are published, the particular field of study can develop and grow. Also, other researchers will know the evidence or solutions, thereby will not try to study the same issue resulting in reduced usage of resources (especially in the field of science).
Provides appreciation – When the research is published, the readers, research community, or reviewers, learn about the evidence or solution, and provide feedback. That is either they would criticise or appreciate the research. This gives a scope for further improvement/advancement in that particular topic or would encourage you to perform more studies on other topics.
Exhibits thought leadership – Journal publication is a strong sign of thought leadership. This recognition will not just help in academic but also in non-academic career as the majority of the sectors look for thought leaders. The papers are proof that you are contributing to the existing knowledge base and engaged with the latest advancements in your field. Also, conference organisers prefer speakers with publication records (even for topics that are not pertaining to research), as they want speakers who are recognised as opinion leaders.
To become an influential scientist and to make an impact on society through your work, you will have to ensure that your research reaches the general public. To achieve this, identify the journal that suits your study and get it published.