WRITING AND PUBLISHING

PAPERS IN INDEXED JOURNALS

Webinar organized by the Universitas
Medan Area

PROFESSOR DR. MD. AMINUL ISLAM

FA C U LT Y O F A P P L I E D A N D H U M A N S C I E N C E S
U N I V E R S I T I M A L AY S I A P E R L I S

aminsazea@gmail.com

WhatsApp: +60164049087

MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
P L AT F O R M F O R R E S E A R C H A N D D E V E L O P M E N T
Knowledge Sincerity Excellence UniMAP
 PREAMBLE
We have conducted a research, collected and analyzed the data.
Now it is time to write and publish!

WHY JOURNAL/CONFERENCE ARTICLES?

• Sharing ideas and expertise
• Telling and selling stories
• Skills enhanceent
• Career advancement
• Giving back to the society
• Strengthening reputations

• PUBLISH OR PERISH!
 High impact journals

• Measured by impact factor points and indexing (ISI,

SCOPUS, WOS, ERA, Proquest, EBSCOhost, Google
Scholar, Econlit, DOAJ)

• A paper in a high impact journal does not necessarily

equate with a high impact paper (Triggle and Triggle,
2007). Therefore it is essential to evaluate the impact of
the individual paper and take into account where it was
published and how well it has been cited and by whom.

• The benefit to the authors of publishing in a high profile

journal is the anticipation that their article will have
greater visibility and therefore, more likely to be cited.
 HIGH IMPACT PAPERS

ACADEMIA INDUSTRY

• Based on Citations • Relevance

• H-Index • Practicability

• I10-Index • Usefulness

• Contribution of New
knowledge
 Planning your article
We may plan to write two different type of articles:

• Concept paper: Article written when we designed our study.

Article written through understanding a phenomenon by
consulting the previous works done.

• Empirical paper: Article written after we have seen the

results. The conventional view is that we first derive a set of
hypotheses, collect and analyze data and then chronicle this
sequence of events in the journal article.
 How should we write?
The primary criteria for high impact journal article writing are
accuracy and clarity.

• The first step for clarity is good organization, and the

standardized format of a journal article.

• The second step toward clarity is to write simply and

directly.
-A journal article tells a straightforward story of a
pre-defined problem in search of a solution.
-It is not novel with subplots,
flashbacks, and literary allusions, but
a short story with a single linear narrative line.
 THE AUDIENCE

• Good writing is good teaching

Academic journals are published for specialized audiences

who share a common background of substantive knowledge
and methodological expertise. However articles should be
written to make it comprehensible to the widest possible
audience with even the relevant industry in mind.
 Telling a good story

• Social Scientists studying the narrative form tell us that

humans are great storytellers. The narrative fits the
human mind quite comfortably, and language probably
developed in part for us to tell stories to each other.

• Try to make our journal article a compelling story. We

have to address an interesting problem or
phenomenon, using theories developed to explain the
issues.

• We have advanced hypotheses, developed methods to

test them, provided results bearing on the issues, and
then interpreted the results in light of the theories and
hypotheses.
 Telling a good story
• In sum, our article should have a strong story line.
Provide an easily remembered take-home message.

• We should provide clear answers to the following

two questions the reader will have:

 What has the paper told me that I did not

know before?
 And why is this news important?
 Avoiding too many subplots

• We may wish to tell some subsidiary stories in addition to

our main plot, because our data set may permit us to
address other points. However, do not have too many.

• A paper should not have more than three main points,

because readers would throw up their hands and not
bother with the whole thing.

• However, sometime we feel that all are equally important

and had to be included. If we think a series of experiments
has many stories to tell, break them into smaller chunks.
 CREATE AN OUTLINE 

Before we begin writing, create an outline of paper, especially for the

introduction and general discussion.

What points are critical for the introduction? What is the logic we are
building for our research? The method is usually straightforward, with
the schema provided. An outline is useful for the results if they are at
all complicated.

We need to consider the order of presentation. Should research

outcomes be presented in tables, figures, or in the text? The general
discussion needs a clear outline so it does not wander. We need to
summarize the key findings before discussing them.
HOURGLASS MODEL
SELECTION OF A GOOD TITLE 
(1st impression is the last impression!)

• Most readers skimming the table of contents online or in a

journal will look at the title and the authors’ names and (if we
are lucky) will read our abstract.

• There is nothing we can do about the names, but we can

control our title and our abstract. How long should the title
be? About maximum of 15 words and less. It should be fully
explanatory when standing alone and identify the
theoretical issues or variables under investigation.
Selection of a good title (1st impression is the last impression!)

• Titles come in many flavours. A basic type is of the form

“Effects of the independent variable on the dependent
variable.” There is nothing wrong with this sort of title, and
most of us have used it from time to time. However, these
titles do not exactly leap out at the reader saying “read me
now.” Even without the subtitle, the primary part of the title
conveys the essence of the story.

• Academics also love to use colons in their titles. The colon

helps to get our story across because we get to use more
words. We can state the general topic before the colon and add
to it afterward.
Abstract Writing (interesting and self-contained)

 If the title does not bore readers, we may be lucky enough to

get them to read our abstract. This is our big chance to entice
them into our article. However, the number of words permitted
for abstracts has become increasingly small over the years, at
least for those journals that follow the APA Publication Manual.

 The current guideline is a mere 120 words. Of course, some

journals do not follow the APA guidelines for abstracts, but we
will probably still have fewer than 200 words to accomplish the
abstract’s many purposes.

 It is arduous and challenging. We have to learn to remove

unnecessary words and eliminate less important details of
method and results.
 Abstract Writing (Contd)

 We must state the problem or issue of interest, say something

about the methods used, provide the independent and
dependent variables (when appropriate), specify the results
obtained, provide our theoretical conclusions, and then
perhaps end with a pithy statement of What It All Means.

 Because writers need to pack so much into an abstract, careful

writing and repeated revisions are required. Most researchers
leave writing the abstract until after finishing the paper, which is
good, but then often they do not seem to give it the serious
attention needed to provide an informative summary of the
paper. The abstract often appears to be an afterthought rather
than one of the most critical parts of the paper.

 No citations in the abstract.

 CRITICAL FACTORS IMPACTING SUSTAINABILITY OF CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IN MALAYSIA
EXAMPLE OF HOW AN ABSTRACT CAN BE

 
 
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of six
variables namely strategic focus, monitoring continuous improvement
development, integration of continuous improvement, management of
continuous improvement, involvement/engagement, and learning and
WRITTEN

knowledge sharing on sustainability of continuous improvement

capabilities in the context of manufacturing industries in Penang, Malaysia.
Data from the email survey on the variables introduced supported that
strategic focus, management of continuous improvement and
learning/knowledge sharing has positive influences on sustainability of
continuous improvement capabilities in an organization. The implications
of this study highlighted that the most effective predictor for sustaining
continuous improvement capabilities among manufacturing industries in
Penang was strategic focus.
 
Key Words: Critical factors, Sustainability, Continuous Improvement,
Manufacturing Industries, and Malaysia
 ABSTRACT
 
Purpose – The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of six variables namely strategic focus, monitoring
continuous improvement development, integration of continuous improvement, management of continuous improvement,
EXAMPLE OF HOW AN ABSTRACT CAN BE

involvement/engagement and learning and knowledge sharing on sustainability of continuous improvement capabilities in the
context of the manufacturing industries in Penang, Malaysia. This paper aims to determine the impact of organizational self-
assessment towards the relationship of these six factors and sustainability of continuous improvement capabilities.
 
 
Design/methodology/approach – The study opted for an exploratory study using the survey instrument to collect data.
The questionnaire was published through the web and manual distribution. For the web survey, emails were broadcasted to
invite the random employees to participate in the email survey, where respondents were directed to answer the attachment
that contained the questionnaire. Online survey method is chosen because it is convenient, time and cost effective to intact with
the respondents who are dispersed in different geographical areas.
 
WRITTEN

 
Findings – The paper provides empirical insights about how strategic focus, management of continuous improvement and
learning/knowledge sharing positively influence on sustainability of continuous improvement capabilities in an organization. It
suggests that organizational self-assessment has mediating effect on the relationship between strategic focus,
learning/knowledge sharing and sustainability of continuous improvement capabilities.
 
 
Research limitations/implications – The complex nature of the process of sustaining continuous improvement capabilities
as a research topic places limitations on this study, particularly in the area of sample selection and data collection. The major
sample selection at the manufacturing organizations is difficult because an organization’s perception in terms of continuous
improvement may not be the same, thus it is not easy to ascertain relevant sample characteristics.
 
Practical implications – The implications of this study highlighted that the most effective predictor for sustaining continuous
improvement capabilities was strategic focus, in addition, this study provided insight into the mediating effect of organizational
self-assessment towards the effectiveness of sustaining continuous improvement capabilities in the manufacturing industry.
 
 
Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified need to study how the effectiveness of sustaining continuous improvement
capabilities can be developed.
 
 INTRODUCTION
 The first task of the article is to introduce the background and
nature of the problem being investigated.
 Introductions should motivate the paper, appropriately citing
critical prior contributions. The first thing that you need to do is
to review your introduction. The introduction has to be effective
enough to keep the readers focused in the content. 
 One needs to maintain the length of the introduction. It should
not be more than a page unless and until you have a very long
paper. We should not plunge unprepared readers into middle of
a problem or theory.
 We should take time and space necessary to lead them up to the
formal or theoretical statement of the problem step by step.
Do we have to describe research objectives and research questions
here?
EXAMPLE OF HOW AN INTRODUCTION CAN BE The introduction begins broadly Individuals differ radically from one
another in the degree to which they
are willing and able to express their
emotions.
 
It becomes more specific: Indeed, the popular view is that such
  emotional expressiveness is a central
difference between men and
women....
WRITTEN

But the research evidence is mixed..

 
And more so: There is even some evidence that men
  may actually...
 
Until you are ready to introduce In this study, we recorded the emotional
your own study in conceptual reactions of both men and women to
terms filmed...
   
 LITERATURE REVIEW

 After making the opening statements, we need to summarize

the current state of knowledge in the area of investigation.

 Previous research works and pertinent theories should

highlighted and summarized.

 Critical review rather than an exhaustive historical review

should be emphasized.
 Content of the critical review
You will need to

• Include key academic theories

• Demonstrate current knowledge of the area

• Use clear referencing for the reader to find the

original cited publications

• Acknowledge the research of others

 Content of the critical review

A comprehensive review of the literature is essential because it:

• Provides an up-to-date understanding of the subject and its significance and structure.

• Identifies the kinds of research methods that have been used.

• Is informed by the views and research of experts in the field.

• Assists in the formulation of research topics, questions and direction.

 Contents of the critical literature review

Any critical review should also incorporate:

• An assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of some of
these theories.
• A clear understanding of the topic.
• A citing of all key studies in the subject territory.
• A clear indication of how the review links to your research
questions.
• A definition of the boundaries of your research.
• A selection and synthesis of existing arguments to form a new
perspective.
• Through gradual refinement, a clear demarcation of the
research problem.
 How do we organize our Literature Review?
• Start with Dependent variable (this is the central
Ensure good flow and logical sequence

theme of our research)

• Followed by independent Variables (We may provide

a summary table at the end)

• Then Moderating/Mediating Variables (if we have

them)

• Control Variables (if we have them)

• An excellent summary as a conclusion of the chapter

(Highlighting the research GAP).
 Make your ‘Voice’ Clear

 Not just presenting others views or arguments

 Your perspective, position or standpoint (not only in the

literature review, but also in the theses as a whole).

 Your theoretical position is clearly and strongly stated

 Your language should indicate your assessment of

literature
 OUTLINES OF LITERATURE REVIEW

 There are various approaches to organizing the body of a literature

review. You should have a rough idea of your strategy before you
start writing.
 Depending on the length of our literature review, we can combine
several of these strategies (for example, our overall structure might
be thematic, but each theme is discussed chronologically).

1) Chronological
• The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over
time. However, if you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid
simply listing and summarizing sources in order.
• Try to analyze patterns, turning points and key debates that have
shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how
and why certain developments occurred.
 OUTLINES OF LITERATURE REVIEW

2) Thematic

 If you have found some recurring central themes, you can

organize your literature review into subsections that address
different aspects of the topic.

 For example, if you are reviewing literature about inequalities

in migrant health outcomes, key themes might include
healthcare policy, language barriers, cultural attitudes, legal
status, and economic access.
 OUTLINES OF LITERATURE REVIEW

3) Methodological
 If we draw our sources from different disciplines or fields that
use a variety of research methods we might want to compare
the results and conclusions that emerge from different
approaches.

For example:
 Looking at what results have emerged in qualitative versus
quantitative research
 Discussing how the topic has been approached by empirical
versus theoretical scholarship
 OUTLINES OF LITERATURE REVIEW

4) Theoretical

 A literature review is often the foundation for a theoretical

framework. We can use it to discuss various theories, models,
and definitions of key concepts.

 We might argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical

approach, or combine various theoretical concepts to create a
framework for our research.
A weak literature review…just a
summary
Acceptable literature
review…demonstrate critical analysis
Acceptable literature review…
demonstrate critical analysis
2.4.2 The competency approach
In advocating a competency approach, firstly, it is necessary to have a clear
understanding of the concept of a competency. Many definitions of “competency (ies)”
appear in the literature, leading to considerable confusion around what exactly is
meant by the concept. The most basic argument pertains to the difference between
“competency (ies)” and “competence”. These terms are often used interchangeably,
despite being seen as distinct concepts by some scholars. Forexample, Rowe (1995)
defines “competence” as a skill or standard of performance, in contrast to
“competency (ies)” which he argues refers to a behaviour in which performance is
achieved. In an extended review of the various meanings attributed to competencies,
Hoffmann (1999) observes that competencies have been defined in three different
ways: (i) observable performance (the output); (ii) the standard of the outcome, or
result, of a person’s performance; and (iii) the underlying attributes of a person, such
as his/her knowledge, skills, and abilities. Most studies that attempt to understand
managerial competencies adopt this third definition of competency. Clearly, the
meanings given to the concept of a competency, or competencies, drawn from
the management and entrepreneurship literature are based on the concept
being used in ways ranging from very broad to more specific.
 THE DESCRIPTION OF METHODS

• Sample population, Sampling method, data collection

methods, data analysis techniques should be elaborated.

• Description of variables assessed and how they are measured.

• Description of Theoretical/Conceptual Framework and

hypotheses.
 Followed by

• The results section

• Presenting the findings

• The discussion section

• Conclusions and recommendations

• Revising and editing

 Short and Sweet (KISS)

• To attract readers, keep sections of the paper (and hence

our whole paper) as brief as possible while at the same
time covering the necessary elements.

• Although journal articles are a kind of art form, the prize

is given to those who can write clearly, and with insight.
Similarly, paragraphs should not go on forever.

• Good flow and logical sequence

 Don’t paralyze the reader with results sections
• Writers often lose their focus when reporting their results. The
results section can be written using a format based on
inferential statistics that makes for deadly dull reading.

• The inferential statistics used should not dictate the story told
but rather should illuminate it. Beware the writer who starts
off by saying, “The results were analysed with a 6 × 4 × 2
analysis of variance with significant effects of this, that, and
the other thing and three interactions.” The reader has to take
in such statements, look at a table or figure, and then try to
interpret the results on his or her own (often without even
being told the direction of a significant effect).

• The simple tips is “telling the story”.

• In short, some authors choose to bring the inferential statistics
to the foreground and relegate the descriptive statistics, the
actual results of the research, to the background.

• A better strategy is for the author to make a story out of the

descriptive statistics, telling what independent variables
affected what dependent variables, and then provide other
supporting evidence that the effect cited in the prose is indeed
significant.

• This strategy of telling the story based on descriptive statistics

and keeping inferential statistics in a supporting role may not
work in every paper —

• some papers must be dictated by statistical treatment of the

data — but it may not work for all empirical papers.
 Beware the curse of knowledge
 The curse of knowledge afflicts most writers (and lecturers). Because we
know so well what we want to say, we assume that our writing (which
makes so much sense to us) will be readily understood by our readers.
Often we will be wrong, because our writing does not spell out
assumptions that may be obvious to us but not the reader. Usually,
readers will not be steeped in our past work, the literature we know, and
certainly not our innermost thoughts.

 We may occasionally find this out when a reviewer, especially a good one
who has clearly tried hard to comprehend our paper, fails to understand
some point. Yet it was so clear to us when we were writing it!

 The best cure for the curse of knowledge is to get several people to read
our paper before we submit it, with instructions to flag any places they
find to be obscure or difficult.
 PUBLISHING THE PAPER
Which journal should you submit to?
• Does your research fit the journal’s aims and scope? What type of
submission is it? Empirical research, review paper, brief report, thought
piece, book review!
• Does the journal publish these kinds of papers? Does the journal have a
good reputation in the field? Are the Editors and Editorial Board high
profile?
• Check the references to see in which journals the research you are citing
mainly falls. Is it ISI ranked or ranked highly with other metrics, eg ISI,
SCOPUS, h-index, WOS, ERA etc.
• Does your institution have any restrictions on where you can submit
articles?
• What is the acceptance/rejection rate?

• Selection of an appropriate journal… Read carefully the authors

guidelines and Follow instructions while submitting the paper
 PUBLISHING THE PAPER
Benos, Kevin and John (2003)
summarized the items reviewed during
the peer review:

• Quality.. checking that no mistakes

in procedure or logic have been
made
• The results presented support the
conclusion drawn
• No errors in citations to previous
work have been made
• All human protocols conducted
follow proper review and approval
by appropriate institutional review
committee
• And very importantly, that the
work is original and significant.
 THE BASIS FOR HIGH-IMPACT PUBLICATIONS
(ADAPTED FROM LICHTFOUSE, 2013)
 Select your journal carefully
 Be careful to follow the instructions for authors
 Be focused
 Prepare one figure that shows or illustrates the main findings
 Explain your new findings in the abstract, the discussion and the
conclusions
 Delete any irrelevant results or those that are not explained
 Distinguish clearly between the results from your study and those of
others
 Include a good dose of education and dissemination
 Read your article at least five times before submitting it
 Make sure your manuscript is written in good English. Avoid silly
mistakes. Usually reviewers do not expect to see silly mistakes in the
work. If you make small obvious mistakes, how can reviewers ensure the
rest of your work is error-free.
 Few useful Tips
This is another checklist that should help you eliminate some common
problems in writing articles: 

1. Have a specific purpose in mind. 

2. Know your target population.
3. Develop a detailed outline first, stressing on the benefits.
4. Stop your reader in his tracks with your title. 
5. Start your article with the most important information 
6. Keep jargon to a minimum
7. Make the article warm and personal. 
 Few useful Tips
8. Keep sentences short and simple
9. Have someone from the target population critique your article. 
10. Spend more time rewriting than writing. 

Besides formatting the article for easy reading and nice presentation,
be sure to use tools (Mandalay) or an external editor to carefully
proofread our writing for grammatical and spelling errors. Grammarly
and Quil bot software should be given consideration.

Remember that the more writing we do, the better we will get. After
sometimes, when we are in the habit of writing, article writing will
not seem as difficult as now!
 BE AWARE OF PLAGIARISM

Check the rate of plagiarism with turn it in software

which is subscribed by your university

08/05/2021 48
OH MY GOD… I HAVE DONE IT!!!!!
Knowledge Sincerity Excellence UniMAP