In most careers today, there is some sort of measurement that assesses whether a person is at least as productive as their peers. For example, a physician might measure productivity based on the number of patients seen in a day, and a salesperson might keep tabs on the same metric by checking statistics about how many new leads they acquire or the number of products they sell.
In the world of academia, productivity is often measured by how many research papers a person publishes. If a scientist or a professor fails to publish a number that’s as good or better than peers, they could be at risk of losing their jobs and having difficulty finding other sources of work. This phenomenon led to people associating the phrase “publish or perish” with the academic sector.
The Push to Publish Starts Early
The focus on publishing academic work often begins before a person finishes doctoral work. That’s because the competition for academic positions at the doctoral level is continually fierce, and candidates have to prove they stand out from the rest. That typically means that they already have published work to show by the time they start applying for open jobs.
In some places, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, people who are hard at work earning their doctoral degrees collect a few academic papers and submit those in place of a doctoral thesis. In any case, people who have their sights set on doctoral degrees must learn early on that it’s essential to become acquainted with the idea of getting published early and often.
Understanding the Basics of Creating Excellent Work Is Undeniably Helpful
It’s not surprising that one of the things that current or prospective academics want to know is how to get published. The goal of being published for the first time is a daunting milestone, but it’s not an unachievable one. Once academic writers break down the key components of journal-published work, they’ll be more able to proceed with confidence.
For example, it’s crucial to have a well-defined argument that readers can easily identify. Also, it’s helpful to write and edit pieces in separate sessions. Trying to do both of those things at once can be so mentally taxing that it interrupts a person’s flow.
Moreover, an individual aiming to earn a doctoral degree will have at least one person who acts as an advisor. Advisors are indispensable for keeping their doctoral-level students focused. They can also help those people avoid pitfalls, whether those obstacles occur during the research process, while writing, or during another responsibility associated with the quest to get published.
Stay Aware of So-Called Predatory Publishers
Many wholly legitimate academic publishers exist, but there are also companies that earn unfavorable reputations for being perceived as something known as a predatory publisher. Those companies exploit the academic requirement to publish and typically charge publication fees. They also don’t make academic authors go through peer reviews. That’s because their sole focus is on making money rather than on offering high-quality work.
Fortunately, it’s easier than you may expect to learn about publishers that academics may want to avoid. For example, Bentham Science Publishers is a top academic publisher. By doing a search for “Bentham Science Predatory” in Google, you’ll come across a dedicated page on the company’s homepage that assures it has never engaged in predatory publishing.
The enterprise also published a Medium post that goes into more specifics about how it specifically avoids any predatory publishing by conducting a thorough vetting process. Additionally, if you go to the Bentham Science official Twitter feed, it’s easy to find out more about the company. Doing so allows people to have a well-informed impression of the company before deciding whether to approach it regarding possible publication needs.
The drive to get published frequently will likely always be apparent in the academic world or at least be present for the foreseeable future. However, if current and prospective academics stay aware of it and accept what it means, it’ll be more possible for them to have prosperous careers.
