I have developed a new Web site (researchgap.com) to showcase research on information management, information systems and electronic business. It includes leading edge research articles, videos and podcasts. You can download many of the pdfs.
Much of the work is funded by the Australian Research Council and is in collaboration with Professor Peter Love of Curtin University.
We anticipate that the site will be updated on a regular basis with new articles.
Your thoughts and comments would be much appreciated.
Visit:
http://www.researchgap.com
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
My $200,000 paper
We rarely quantify the time and therefore the cost of writing a high quality research paper. If we did quantify the cost of the research and writing a paper then maybe our Dean's would tell us to stop writing them immediately!
Writing the grant application 6 weeks = 15k
Three year PhD scholarship funded by grant (data gathering)= 75k
My involvement in supervision = 50k
Writing paper (m y time) = 30k
Revision and rewrites = 30k
Total= 200k
Working from the above my CV is worth at least $10 million. Some journal papers would cost a lot less and conference papers less still.
www.CompletePhD.com
Writing the grant application 6 weeks = 15k
Three year PhD scholarship funded by grant (data gathering)= 75k
My involvement in supervision = 50k
Writing paper (m y time) = 30k
Revision and rewrites = 30k
Total= 200k
Working from the above my CV is worth at least $10 million. Some journal papers would cost a lot less and conference papers less still.
www.CompletePhD.com
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
High impact journals
I am often asked how to write high quality journal papers. Academics around the world are feeling the pressure to not only publish but publish in high quality journals, typically those with impact factors.
I think those asking the question are not too happy with my reply. It would take several days to explain properly how to write high quality papers. In fact, I run a three day course going into this topic in some detail. So my short answer is this: If you have the desire, the ambition and determination you will publish in leading journals. Without those attributes it is unlikely.
It takes most researchers quite a few years of agony and disappointment to develop their skills to such a level that they can publish high quality papers. So to answer the quetion in an hour is not possible. Another part of the short answer is to recommend working with someone who has published in these journals. However, you need to ask the question, what is in it for them? What will they gain or learn from the process as they have presumably developed these skills and acquired the knowledge.
In other words, there is no quick solution, no series of tips that can help someone publish at a high level. It is usually a long process of learning and hard work. Sorry to give you the news but that is the reality of it!
www.CompletePhD.com
I think those asking the question are not too happy with my reply. It would take several days to explain properly how to write high quality papers. In fact, I run a three day course going into this topic in some detail. So my short answer is this: If you have the desire, the ambition and determination you will publish in leading journals. Without those attributes it is unlikely.
It takes most researchers quite a few years of agony and disappointment to develop their skills to such a level that they can publish high quality papers. So to answer the quetion in an hour is not possible. Another part of the short answer is to recommend working with someone who has published in these journals. However, you need to ask the question, what is in it for them? What will they gain or learn from the process as they have presumably developed these skills and acquired the knowledge.
In other words, there is no quick solution, no series of tips that can help someone publish at a high level. It is usually a long process of learning and hard work. Sorry to give you the news but that is the reality of it!
www.CompletePhD.com
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Take a risk
Listening to PhD students present their ideas it strikes me that sometimes we need to realise that doing research is about taking risks. OK, the risks may be controlled risks but we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that just replicating what others have done with a minor amendment is not going to be ground breaking.
It would be good if more students took a few risks with their topic. So what if the research fails to some extent. We often learn more from research failures than successes. Failures, or unanticipated outcomes, stretch us, and make us think more deeply. This enables us ask big questions and allows us to philosophize. A PhD is after all a Doctor of Philosophy!
www.CompletePhD.com
It would be good if more students took a few risks with their topic. So what if the research fails to some extent. We often learn more from research failures than successes. Failures, or unanticipated outcomes, stretch us, and make us think more deeply. This enables us ask big questions and allows us to philosophize. A PhD is after all a Doctor of Philosophy!
www.CompletePhD.com
Saturday, November 28, 2009
My book has been printed
I thought I would just inform people that I have had copies of my book printed. The book is called "How to Complete a PhD" and is available for purchase online at
www.justintimebooks.com
The link is in the right column of the blog.
The ebook version is still available but I have been asked by so many people about a hard copy that I had some printed. The book explains what is required to complete a PhD, the essential attributes of a good PhD, what should be included in each chapter, tips from other supervisors and successful PhD students, and lots more. It is suitable for PhDs in any country.
There is a lot of interest in this research blog and much of it is coming from PhD candidates. I recommend the book because I have written it to explain all the factors that need to be addressed to complete a PhD.
The e-version of the book has had many positive comments and has sold around the world.
www.CompletePhD.com
www.justintimebooks.com
The link is in the right column of the blog.
The ebook version is still available but I have been asked by so many people about a hard copy that I had some printed. The book explains what is required to complete a PhD, the essential attributes of a good PhD, what should be included in each chapter, tips from other supervisors and successful PhD students, and lots more. It is suitable for PhDs in any country.
There is a lot of interest in this research blog and much of it is coming from PhD candidates. I recommend the book because I have written it to explain all the factors that need to be addressed to complete a PhD.
The e-version of the book has had many positive comments and has sold around the world.
www.CompletePhD.com
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Malaysian experiences
I have just returned from a research visit to the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. I was advising at their doctoral proposal event. The commitment of the students and their interest and enthusiasm to discuss research had a profound effect on me. It has made me more enthusiastic to take my own research to another level.
It is good to read the comments to the posts. I won't answer each one personally, as some can be left to others to answer or pass comment on, that way we get a diversity of views. I have had a few suggestions for post topics which I will get round to in the future.
We are up to nearly 800 visitors in just a few weeks so there is a lot of interest in the blog. If you want to be reminded of any updates to the site I have added the RSS feeds.
I will write more about my Malaysian experiences later.
www.CompletePhD.com
It is good to read the comments to the posts. I won't answer each one personally, as some can be left to others to answer or pass comment on, that way we get a diversity of views. I have had a few suggestions for post topics which I will get round to in the future.
We are up to nearly 800 visitors in just a few weeks so there is a lot of interest in the blog. If you want to be reminded of any updates to the site I have added the RSS feeds.
I will write more about my Malaysian experiences later.
www.CompletePhD.com
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Research as a social process
New researchers often see research as a solitary activity. If only they could lock themselves away in a room, even better an ivory tower, for a few years and come out with a list of high quality publications. LOL. These researchers are missing the point that research is a social process and that solitary activity as a long term aim is unlikely to lead to success.
The social activity related to research makes it sustainable. Being able to discuss our ideas with someone else, or research processes with another person can be intellectual fun and sustain research activity over the long term. In other words, it gets boring on your own after a while. It is also difficult to learn when you can't exchange ideas with others.
Collaboration should lead to better outcomes and increased activity, even though in the short term it might seem that time is being wasted.
Conferences can be fun for that reason. Research talk, tea and a bun, may not seem like the pinnacle of life when expressed in a few words of text but if you are that way inclined it is one of the most worthwhile ways to spend some time.
Many years ago, when I was an undergraduate at Lancaster University in the North of England, I and a couple of close friends were told by the landlord of a local pub that we would be thrown out if we didn't lower our voices - well after all people in the north of England have loud voices. In actual fact, I remember the topic we were passionately discussing was "Are multi-nationals good for society?" This was 30 years ago. I guess we should have been chasing young women (or any women for that matter) but we preferred a pint and a good rant, well at least on that occasion!
It is just the same in research, the social process creates enjoyment, a chance to receive feedback on our ideas and work.
So my point is, try to enjoy research, spend some time on your own and reflect and write but also seek out others and exchange ideas, collaborate and develop friendships. It will develop you as a researcher and may prove to be something that you never want to give up!
www.CompletePhD.com
The social activity related to research makes it sustainable. Being able to discuss our ideas with someone else, or research processes with another person can be intellectual fun and sustain research activity over the long term. In other words, it gets boring on your own after a while. It is also difficult to learn when you can't exchange ideas with others.
Collaboration should lead to better outcomes and increased activity, even though in the short term it might seem that time is being wasted.
Conferences can be fun for that reason. Research talk, tea and a bun, may not seem like the pinnacle of life when expressed in a few words of text but if you are that way inclined it is one of the most worthwhile ways to spend some time.
Many years ago, when I was an undergraduate at Lancaster University in the North of England, I and a couple of close friends were told by the landlord of a local pub that we would be thrown out if we didn't lower our voices - well after all people in the north of England have loud voices. In actual fact, I remember the topic we were passionately discussing was "Are multi-nationals good for society?" This was 30 years ago. I guess we should have been chasing young women (or any women for that matter) but we preferred a pint and a good rant, well at least on that occasion!
It is just the same in research, the social process creates enjoyment, a chance to receive feedback on our ideas and work.
So my point is, try to enjoy research, spend some time on your own and reflect and write but also seek out others and exchange ideas, collaborate and develop friendships. It will develop you as a researcher and may prove to be something that you never want to give up!
www.CompletePhD.com
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