Publication Processes and Strategy 20121109, Chalmers, Göteborg Robert Feldt Based on slides by Claes Wohlin, Mary Shaw, Axel van Lamsverde and Xindong Wu måndag 12 november 12
Why should you publish? Communicate your findings publication = ultimate/finished result of scientific research “Research is never finished until published” Let community know about your work recognition, contacts, collaboration Get useful feedback from peers external, independent, frank (anonymous) Strengthen CV and career Show that you have learnt the skills of research måndag 12 november 12
Where should you publish? Journal Conference Workshop Research article Research paper Research paper Short articles Experience reports Experience reports Letters/Comments/ Industry paper Industry paper Reviews Magazine article Poster Position paper Poster måndag 12 november 12
Where should you publish? Journal Conference Workshop 12-40 4-10 4-10 Research article Research paper Research paper 4-8 4-8 4-8 Short articles Experience reports Experience reports 1-4 2-10 2-10 Letters/Comments/ Industry paper Industry paper Reviews A1/A2 2-15 1-4 Magazine article Poster Position paper A1/A2 Poster # Pages måndag 12 november 12
Where should you publish? måndag 12 november 12
Where should you publish? Journal Conference Workshop Faster process More impact Fastest process (sometimes) (especially long-term) More highly rated Direct contact & Direct contact & (except by some/CS) discussions (more) discussions (Much) deeper More community More tentative / preliminary reviews awareness results Sometimes more More space Work in progress selective Wider target Best papers for journals Early feedback audience (often) Fast-track special issues måndag 12 november 12
Where should you publish? 5-18 4-7 2-5 Journal Conference Workshop Faster process More impact Fastest process (sometimes) (especially long-term) More highly rated Direct contact & Direct contact & (except by some/CS) discussions (more) discussions (Much) deeper More community More tentative / preliminary reviews awareness results Sometimes more More space Work in progress selective Wider target Best papers for journals Early feedback audience (often) Fast-track special issues # Months måndag 12 november 12
Where should you publish? Journal vs. Conference - Not Exclusive Expanded version of conf paper sent to journal Specify additions clearly and up front Rule of thumb: at least 30-50% new material/results/insights Avoid Poor-quality journals/conferences Check impact factors, rankings, history, peer experience måndag 12 november 12
Where should you publish? Check Previous papers in the fora Ensure that your paper is within scope (formal scope always listed on journal home page or conference “Call for Papers” (CfP)) For conferences check “Topics of interest” in Call for papers Who is in the PC (suitable reviewer for your paper? are they well known?) måndag 12 november 12
Who should be an author? Each author should have contributed Order of authors should reflect weight of contribution In producing results and/or idea In writing the paper But often considered best to be among first 2 or to be last. First two should be mentioned when cited (“Feldt and Torkar showed...”, otherwise “Feldt et al showed...”) Better to be inclusive than exclusive You can get enemies if you disregard contributions Never disregard the importance of the basic idea For Empirical SE, authors from industry can add “relevance” måndag 12 november 12
Who should be an author? måndag 12 november 12
Who should be an author? måndag 12 november 12
Who should be an author? måndag 12 november 12
Whom are you publishing for? For the reader, NOT for you (Or really for the reviewer :) ) Paper = Pedagogical explanation of the results “You and me together” A journey from where the reader currently is (knows) to the place where you are (understands) måndag 12 november 12
Whom are you publishing for? Golden rules: Know your readers and their background Imagine yourself as a reader Ask yourself questions Is this interesting? Is this relevant? Is this comprehensible? Does this follow from what I have already said? What questions are coming to the readers mind? Do not speak highly of yourself or your work Leave that to the reader Avoid “strong” adjectives like ”extremely”, use balanced language måndag 12 november 12
What to claim in a paper? Typical claims: First time...: Solves a problem for the first time Describes a common problem/process for the first time Improves / Extends existing results/alternatives in 1-2 of dimensions: Behavior: X has (Higher quality output / Higher success rate / Easier to understand) than Y+Z... Coverage: X applicable in more situations than Y+Z... Efficiency: X is faster or uses less resources than Y+Z... Useability: X is easier to learn/use than Y+Z... måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Before submission) Check: Ensure that your paper is within the scope Check guidelines and use checklist (often only for journals) Check formatting and follow them! Use the given templates or stylesheets! (Latex makes it much easier to switch templates) Ensure relation to your previous related papers is clear (if any) Inform all authors and send the final submission version to them a few days before deadline At submission: Inform co-authors and attach pdf and confirmation letter or number måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (IST - At submission) Web-based submission system Upload you paper pdf, fill in all info about authors, abstract, keywords etc Then system generates a complete PDF (dl and save) IST: 1 “Editor in Chief” (EiC) & 3 “Associate editors” (AE) Complete PDF forwarded to EiC EiC checks for sanity and scope (within 1 hour - 7 days) Article then divided between EiC and AEs => One “Handling Editor” (HE) måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (IST - 1st Screening) Within scope of journal? Fulfills basic requirements on article (abstract, conclusions, overall structure, length)? Already published same or too similar? If in doubt, EiC quickly reviews paper EiC has lot of power and possibility to take decisions måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Scope of journals) måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Scope of journals) måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Scope of journals) måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Finding reviewers) Finding a reviewer: IST internal database ScienceDirect or other DB searches within field Reference list in paper People EiC or HE knows or that are well-known (not too well- known is often best) Web search Reviewer is invited via an email from web system Try to personalize emails to motivate Normally 2 reviewers at this point (some have 3) måndag 12 november 12
måndag 12 november 12
måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Finding reviewers) Reviewers hopefully replies Reminder is sent if no response within a week Response: “Yes”, “No”, or “Yes with later deadline” Normal is to get 6 weeks for a review IEEE SW typically gives 3 weeks (SW has shortest papers) TSE gives 4-6 depending on length Reminders are sent if reviewer is late Delays in feedback to author often because reviewers do not respond or are late to deliver måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Decision on paper) Reviewer recommends: Accept (almost never) Minor revision (best case, quite rare) Major revision (quite common) Reject (~70% of papers for IST in -08, journals typically in 60-80% range) Handling Editor: Looks at all review comments and severity of comments Weighs different reviewers’ comments against each other Weighs the different recommendations Can take decision? Decide or invite one reviewer more måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Revision) Authors get 3 months to: Revise paper (must indicate willingness within 1 month) Write a rejoinder Rejoinder: Respond to comments Be positive and polite; reviewers are never completely wrong Explain what has been done, motivate what has not Document changes in revised paper based on each comment Resubmit paper in web system If revision was minor: Try to be quick, HE wants to finish! måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Selection) Really good articles are always published Really bad articles shall never be published Large number of articles eventually will be published No major loss if they are not published No major harm if they are published Published or not means a lot to individual but not to journal måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Statistics) Journals collect statistics: Mean time between events Time to first decision is in focus (Goal: 4 months) Acceptance level (currently around 30%) Reviewers’ behavior (response time, recommendation and each review is graded by HE) Authors’ behavior (time for revision, number of submissions to IST and corresponding decisions) måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Misc) Often at least one per year Guest editors are invited and EiC talks to them directly Editorial board is frequently used for reviews måndag 12 november 12
Process of publishing (Editorial board) måndag 12 november 12
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