Publishing internationally, especially in English, does come with certain constraints for Thai academics.
Language Barriers:
Writing high-quality academic English: This can be a significant hurdle for some Thai scholars. It requires strong grammar, fluency, and the ability to express complex ideas clearly and concisely in a different language.
Nuances and cultural references: Academic English often relies on cultural references and specific writing styles that might not be familiar to Thai researchers. This can lead to misunderstandings or awkward phrasing in their work.
Publication Process:
Competition: Top international journals receive a massive volume of submissions, and the competition for publication is fierce. Thai researchers, especially early in their careers, might face difficulty getting their work accepted.
Review process: The peer-review process for international journals can be lengthy and rigorous. Authors might need to revise their work multiple times based on feedback from reviewers who might not be familiar with the specific context of Thai research.
Publication costs: Some international journals, particularly open-access journals, charge hefty article processing charges (APCs) that Thai researchers might not have readily available funding for.
Focus and Impact:
Pressure to publish in English: The emphasis on international publication can lead to Thai researchers prioritizing English over potentially impactful research in Thai for a domestic audience. This can neglect important local issues and knowledge dissemination within Thailand.
Limited recognition for Thai-language publications: While some universities are starting to consider high-quality Thai publications for tenure and promotion, these publications might not carry the same weight as English ones internationally.
In conclusion, while international publication offers valuable opportunities, navigating these constraints requires careful planning, strong English language skills, and potentially collaboration with international colleagues.
"Publish or perish" is a well-known saying in academia that describes the pressure on researchers to constantly publish their work in order to be successful in their careers. It's most prevalent at research universities where a strong emphasis is placed on scholarly output.
Pressure to publish: Academics, especially early in their careers, face pressure to publish their research findings regularly. This pressure comes from factors like tenure requirements, promotion considerations, and grant applications.
Focus on publications: The quality of research can sometimes be overshadowed by the quantity of publications. This can lead to researchers rushing to publish results or even questionable research practices to meet publication quotas.
Metrics and prestige: The value of published work is often judged by the reputation of the journal it appears in. Journals are often ranked by metrics like impact factor, which can put pressure on researchers to publish in high-profile journals, even if it's not the best fit for their work.
While "publish or perish" has its downsides, it also has some positive aspects:
Quality control: The peer-review process in academic journals helps ensure the quality and accuracy of published research.
Dissemination of knowledge: Published research findings contribute to the advancement of knowledge within a particular field and allow other researchers to build upon them.
Accountability: The pressure to publish can motivate researchers to be productive and accountable for their work.
Finding the balance:
Ideally, researchers should strive for a balance between publishing high-quality work and focusing on the significance and impact of their research, not just the number of publications or the prestige of the journals. Some universities are acknowledging these concerns and are starting to consider other factors like teaching excellence and community engagement alongside publication records.
Here are some key criteria for papers deemed necessary for international publication:
Content and Originality:
Originality and Significance: The research presented in the paper should be novel, offering new insights or building upon existing knowledge in a meaningful way. It should address a significant question or problem within the field.
Sound Methodology: The research question should be clearly defined, and the methodology used to answer it should be robust, transparent, and appropriate for the topic.
Data Quality and Analysis: The data used in the research should be reliable and well-documented. The analysis of the data should be rigorous and statistically sound, with clear explanations of the methods used.
Writing and Presentation:
Clarity and Conciseness: The paper should be written in clear and concise English, free of grammatical errors and typos. The language should be formal and appropriate for an academic audience.
Structure and Organization: The paper should follow a logical structure with well-defined sections like introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. The flow of information should be smooth and easy to follow.
Proper Referencing: All sources cited in the paper should be properly referenced using a recognized style guide (e.g., APA, MLA). This demonstrates the author's knowledge of the field and ensures proper credit is given to others' work.
Impact and Audience:
Target Journal and Fit: The paper should be a good fit for the target journal's scope and audience. Consider the journal's impact factor, readership, and focus area when submitting your work.
Broader Significance: The paper should have the potential to contribute to the wider field of study beyond the specific research question addressed. It should be of interest to a broader academic audience.
Additional factors some journals might consider:
Author Affiliation: Top international journals might give some weight to the author's affiliation with a prestigious institution. However, the quality of the research itself remains the most important factor.
Novel Methodology or Techniques: Papers that introduce new research methods or techniques are often of high interest to international journals.
Remember, these are general criteria, and specific requirements can vary depending on the academic field and the journal you're targeting. It's always best to consult the author guidelines for the specific journal you're interested in submitting to.
Academic Publishing Landscape: What, Why, and How
I often find it refreshing to write a few haiku poems now and then to clear my mind. A haiku is a poetic form that originated in Japan. It has three lines and traditionally focuses on the seasons and weather, with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5. Writing haiku is a good way to understand the constraints in writing and in any publication pursuits.
From a book
Name: Davia Crystal
Title: English as a global language
Year: 2003
Edition: 2
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published in: Cambridge
Printed in: England
Use the information above to write a reference.
From an academic journal
Name: Haris Javis and Stephen Hay
Title: Investigating the classroom applications of computers on EFL courses at Higher Education Institutions
Name of Journal: Journal of English for Academic Purposes
Year: 2004
Volume: 3
Issue No.: 2
Pages: 111-137
Type of Text: Journal Article
Use the information above to write a reference.
Harris, J. G. The return of the witch hunts. Witchhunt Information Page. Retrieved May 28, 1996, from <http://liquid2-sun.mit.edu/fells.short.html>.
Price, D. (2018, March 23). Laziness does not exist. Medium. https://humanparts.medium.com/lazi
Tuscan white bean pasta. (2018, February 25). Budgetbytes. Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://www.budgetbytes.com/tus
(https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_electronic_sources.html)
Source: How to Cite Online Material from a Computer Network in APA
Use the information above to write a reference.