As a research scholar, I feel that a lot of time is wasted in preparing a manuscript according to a journal format. The worst part is that if the paper gets desk rejected, then we have to prepare the manuscript in some other journal style. A lot of time is wasted in this cycle.
When the paper can be type set by the journal after getting accepted, then why dont journal allow a general free format submission.
#I_support_free_format_submission
Hello Amit Das ,
Bravo! I agree with you completely, which is one, among many reasons, why I have not submitted any articles to printed-media journals. I have found ResearchGate to be a great way to get my ideas in front of the technical public without having to worry about page limits, word count limits, endnote requirements (I prefer footnotes, myself), formatting, etc. I mean, RG allows anyone in the world, who has an Internet connection, to see your documents and download them, if they so desire. You can even find collaborators on RG, if people like what you are writing.
At the same time, I understand the need, if you are an academic, of satisfying your institution's requirements above getting your articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Publish or perish is still the law of the land in many, if not most, institutions, and it is a requirement for continued employment and career advancement.
Regards,
Tom Cuff
Hi Thomas Cuff sir,
I wholeheartedly agree with you. It is indeed easy to publish research on ResearchGate.
However, sir, what about universities or industries that require research articles published in high-impact factor journals? In the academic field, it is challenging to advance without publications in reputable journals, especially from the country to which I belong. While publishing anywhere (mainly research gate) for personal interest can provide exposure, those seeking job opportunities must publish in renowned journals.
Hello Dr Amit Das
I agree it is very time consuming. I estimate the process of ensuring the accepted format for turning a manuscript into something acceptable for a journal usually takes me about 2 business days (in my time between customers) and that is time that I could use for improving my paper or could even use for my next project.
However, as Thomas Cuff points out, there is the "publish or perish" culture all around us, in many fields. This is a good essay on the topic, from the magazine of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology:
https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/opinions/071022/why-won-t-academia-let-go-of-publish-or-perish
The formatting of Research papers are useful from th reader's point of view so that an unwieldy format of texts, images and graphs do not overwhelm them. I wish AI-powered WYSIWYG-principled editors (with text/voice prompt) to format Research Papers would be the norm within half-a-decade, thanks to quantum leaps on AI popularization like ChatGPT or Midjourney. From a personal point of view, I think most of the early career researchers in STEM (as well as social sciences and humanities) are enough versed with word processors to discern which text and image formatting may be difficult to follow, althouh lack of a second, outsider perspective previously not related to the research means exposure to 'blind spots' of communication gapings. But unless we are taking about pedagogical and mental development of early-career researchers, knowledgable, coherent information in one textual format cannot be invariably called superior to other textual format. and obviously I am not meaning reserach papers written in style of poem, farce, mystery or other literary genres here. As text mining tools improve, whatever format the reseracher wishes to put his/her discoveries starts to become immmaterial
Nowadays, Google search engine is a super guide for research scholars and researchers than PhD supervisors. Universities/ Academic Research Institutes may introduce a master program MRP(Master of Research Project) instead of PhD program. In the Internet world, PhD degree is not required for teaching jobs and research works. Research is a life long program. For example, MRP in Physics, Chemistry, Mechanical engineering, Information Technology, Management, etc.
Cont ....
OR
M.Res (Mater of Research Report under "a project title"). M.Res in Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Accounts, Physics, Biotechnology, etc.
Hello Amit Das ,
I agree with your concerns about your career, and the need to publish in well-respected journals to improve your career trajectory. From your own experience, do you find it necessary to submit the same article to multiple journals either sequentially or simultaneously? I am asking because I do not have much experience with the submission process.
I think all the people, who have submitted answers to your question, have interesting perspectives. My career path was not as an academic, but, rather, as an engineer working in industry, where the resume and experience are very important. I learned to bring a portfolio of my projects, reports, patents, etc. with me to all job interviews. I avoided the academic path because it seemed, to me, to have too few good (tenured) slots/positions available. In America, an associate professor is an uncertain position because you might not get tenure, and an adjunct professor is in even more dire straits because they do not make even a living wage. Of course, working in industry has it own problems, especially if you are not a full-time employee. Contractor positions, even if they do pay well and have benefits (such as health care), are usually the first to be let go during economic hard times, or if the company simply wants to 'impress' the stock market - if it is a public company - with cost cutting.
Regards,
Tom Cuff
The tag "Doctor or Dr." should be removed for PhD degree holders. The term Doctor or Dr. can be used as an identification of Physician or Medical Expert. Many graduates including Arts degree holders come to pursue PhD for the tag "Doctor or Dr.". This is useless. If you really want to do research for societal development, do research independently using ResearchGate platform or any other research platform. Don't go for PhD program. It is very costly and a waste of time.
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