A short guide on how to write and publish scholarly articles.

1. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
How to publish scholarly journal articles?
10 STEPS TO FOLLOW
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By Päivi Eriksson

2. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
1. Write short Abstract
Clarify the idea of your article by writing two sentences on each point.
•FOCUS - This paper focuses on... More specifically...
•OBJECTIVES – The purpose of the paper... The aim...
•METHODS – Data collection... Data analysis...
•RESULTS - The findings... The implications...
Formulate a working title which describes the main results of your study.
Make it interesting and informative.
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3. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
2. Choose journal
Choose your journal early on in the publishing process. Here is some criteria
that you can use.
•WHICH journals have published the main references that you use, can
your research add to an on-going discussion in these journals?
•WHAT is your level of ambition, which journals fit with that?
•WHAT do the author guidelines say, does your article fit with the goals of
the journal?
•WHAT do your colleagues say, ask for their advice
•DECIDE on the journal and start to follow its technical guidelines
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4. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
3. Write extended Abstract
Work on the story that your article tells, write 4-5 sentences on each
point. Keep it simple, but make the story as interesting as you can.
•FOCUS – Focuses on... More specifically... Prior research... We suggest...
•OBJECTIVES – Purpose... Aims... Research questions... Contribution...
•METHODS – Methodology... Methods... Data collection... Data analysis...
•RESULTS – Findings... Implications... Limitations... Conclusion...
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5. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
4. Write about Theory
Analyze prior research to be able to identify what is new in your
research. Outline the theoretical framework for your study.
•WHAT are the research gaps or problems in the research area?
•WHAT are the main theoretical concepts of your study?
• WHAT is your main argument in relation to prior research?
•WHAT is the theoretical framework of your study?
•WHAT does your study contribute to the research area?
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6. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
5. Write about Methods
Show and tell how you performed your study.
•WHAT is the methodological approach of your study?
•WHAT are the data collection methods that you used?
•HOW did you collect the data?
•WHAT are the data analysis methods that you used?
•HOW did you analyze the data?
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7. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
6. Write about Results
Show and tell the analysis that you did, outline and explain the results
that you got from your study.
•HOW did you proceed with the analysis ? Show data excerpts, tables
and figures and write in detail what you see in them.
•WHAT are the main findings from the analysis? Summarize what you
found.
•HOW do you understand your findings, what do they mean? Explain
in detail.
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8. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
7. Write about Implications
Discuss the new knowledge that your study provides and the relevance,
implications and limitations of this knowledge.
•WHAT is the new knowledge that your study provides?
•WHAT is the relevance of this knowledge, to whom?
•WHAT are the theoretical implications of this new knowledge
•WHAT are the practical implications of this new knowledge?
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9. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
8. Write Introduction
Now that you know what your story is really about, you are ready to
write the Introduction. Try to make it interesting!
•CORE CONTENT: Revise your extended Abstract to match the current
contents of the article. The revised version of your Abstract provides the
core content for the Introduction.
•EXTEND: Extend the four points of the Abstract, especially FOCUS and
OBJECTIVES. Add background information if necessary.
•STRUCTURE: Explain the structure of the article and describe what each
of the main sections of it consist of.
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10. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
9. Get feedback and revise
Perform one or more rounds of revision on the basis of feedback from
others. Improve your story!
•FEEDBACK: Ask your colleagues to read the manuscript and give
constructive feedback. Ask for more detailed feedback on the problem
points of the manuscript.
•ANALYSIS: Analyze the feedback and plan how to revise the
manuscript.
•REVISION: When revising the manuscript, do not forget what advice
has been given earlier in this guide.
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11. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
10. Submit
Perform some key check-ups before submitting the manuscript to the
journal.
•TECHNICAL CHECK: Read the author guidelines once more and see
that the manuscript meets with the technical requirements.
•LANGUAGE CHECK: If you are not a native speaker of the language
used in the article, get it checked by a professional.
•FINAL CHECK: Make sure that the manuscript is picture perfect.
•SUBMIT: Send the manuscript to the journal.
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12. UEF // University of Eastern Finland
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