Category Archives: Content
Salami-slicing
Salami-slicing is the practice of reporting one piece of research many times in different papers, each time with a slightly different spin, often to different journals. I came across this today (again), when the editor of another journal invited me … Continue reading
Posted in Content, Writing
Tagged Academic Papers, Paper, Salami slicing, Social Sciences, writing style
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How to avoid desk-rejection
Before papers are sent for refereeing, editors check newly-submitted papers for a range of features. Authors can check these things themselves, and increase the likelihood that their papers will proceed from the editor’s desk and into the refereeing process. This … Continue reading
How to write an informative and helpful covering letter
The primary purpose of the covering letter is to explain what the paper is about, why it is important and how the research was done, with particular reference to the aims and scope of the journal. The Editor’s first decision … Continue reading
Posted in Content, Guidance, Research papers, Writing
Tagged covering letter, covering letters, sycophancy, writing style
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What editors look for in referee reports
A recent discussion in orgtheory.net sparked some interest. I was particularly interested in the views from editors of various journals such as Organization Science, Organization Studies, Academy of Management Journal, Management Science, American Sociological Review, and Administrative Science Quarterly. If … Continue reading
How to manage a literature review
The most essential prerequisite for a successful piece of academic research is the establishment of what is already known about the topic. While it is important to be able to produce a critical review of a research paper (See “Reviewing … Continue reading
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How to write an informative and critical book review
A book review should be more than a flattering summary of the content. Many book reviews are not particularly useful in terms of positioning the book in relation to the literature or engaging with the contribution that the book makes … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Content, Editorial policies, Guidance, Writing
Tagged book review, editorial policy, Reviews and Criticism, Scientific consensus
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Reviewing past research: notes from a frustrated editor
Nearly every paper that crosses my desk these days seems to need comment on how the literature review has been reported. Too many authors simply string sentences together that they have picked up from other authors, and then stick the … Continue reading
Management and Economics in Construction 