Overcoming fears: a pathway to publishing for early career researchers

What is it about?

Abstract Purpose This paper presents reflections of five early career researchers on the challenges of journal publishing and how to tackle them. Design The authors attended a participatory workshop on demystifying academic publications. Working individually and in groups they shared, discussed, analysed, visualised and ranked perceived challenges and opportunities concerning academic publishing. They then delved in the existing literature on the subject. Following their enhanced understanding of the area they reflected on the experience and learnings. Findings Personal confidence relating to the development of a scholarly identity was found to be a critical factor in the attitude toward journal publishing. Supervisory and peer support, accessibility to journal editors, as well as opportunities to reflect on the writing, publishing and peer review processes through participatory workshops and writing groups, were deemed more effective than formal and conventional guidance schemes. Research implications This work adds to the available literature regarding the issue of academic publishing for PhD students and early career researchers. Practical implications The work presented here addresses the issue of journal publishing from the perspective of persons who directly experience this apprehension as PhD students and co-authors of this and other papers. Shedding light on these issues allows the realisation that they are common among early career researchers and leads a step closer to resolving them. Originality The paper contributes to a deeper understanding of issues surrounding publishing apprehension, by laying out thoughts that are seldom expressed. Keywords Journal publishing, academic writing, early career researchers (ECR), fear, self-efficacy

Featured Image