Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Introduction to Academic Publishing: From Conceptualization to Publication
Course Code
SL_046
Branch of Science
Library Science; Media and communications
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Medicine
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Nityanand Jain
Structure Unit Manager
Andrejs Ivanovs
Structural Unit
Statistics Unit
Contacts
Baložu iela 14, Riga, +371 67060897, statistika@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To acquire basic knowledge and skills in academic publishing practices and peer-review processes required for the development and dissemination of research work in internationally recognized academic journals.
Preliminary Knowledge
Knowledge of scientific research, literature reading, and skills in statistical data processing methods.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Upon completion of this course, students will have acquired knowledge that will allow to competently understand the academic publishing process and avoid major pitfalls for rejection of manuscripts by journals.
Skills
1.Students will be able to formulate research questions, perform literature review, data collection, statistical analysis, and publish their research.
Competences
1.Upon completion of this course, students will be able to take an informed decision about how to select the appropriate journal for submission of scientific work and handle all different phases of the publication process.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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Students will be required to perform literature search, formulate appropriate research question and hypotheses, and to convey the added value of their proposed work. Further, students will have to perform data search from open data bases, statistical analysis of the data, and preparation of visual material. In the second half of the course, students will be required to write a 1000 to 1500 words manuscript in groups of 3-4 students. Referencing and proper citation of relevant data sources and literature are required. After final submission and publication of the paper, students need to present their results and highlight their contributions based on the CREDiT statement.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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1. Class participation and attendance (20%).
2. Professionalism and quality of work during manuscript preparation and peer-review process (60%).
2. Group presentation of the published/accepted manuscript (20%).
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Introduction to academic publishing – double edged sword. To publish or not?
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Finding literature and formulating research question. Earmarking references. Different referencing styles and management software.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
|
2
|
Topics
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Choosing the right type of article for publication. Emerging types of article types. Preprints. Pre-registration of clinical trials and reviews. Ethics approval.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Choosing the correct journal for publication. Types of journals publishing models (online/print/offline). Open access and subscription models. Creative common licences.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Moving away from Journal Impact Factor. Introduction to Article Metrics. Altimetric and PlumX. H index.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Data collection. Ethical requirements for open-source data and surveys. Need for attribution to sources. Use of copyrighted material and visual material. Paraphrasing and plagiarism. The use of AI-based software (ChatGPT) in writing
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
1.50
Contact hours:
12 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Test (Semester)
Part 2
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Styling and highlighting the main aspects of the content. Guidelines for different article types. IMRaD model.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Manuscript preparation and internal peer-review. Identification of conflict of interests, data availability statements, transparency statements – CREDiT, funding, author diversity and equality, and reference diversity.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Formatting based on journal’s guidelines.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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The submission processes. Recommending reviewers. Cover Letter.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Handling the Peer-review process. Expectations from authors and peer-reviewers. Possible journal decisions.
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Computer room
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2
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Topics
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Post-acceptance process (uncorrected proof, corrected proof, in-press, Epub ahead of press, published). Post-print and Version of Record. Proof-reading. Promoting your paper and boosting citations. Online and Institutional depositories. Corrections, Erratums, and Retractions.
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
1.50
Contact hours:
12 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Gastel G., Day R. A. 2016. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper. 8th Edition. Greenwood.
2.
Alley M. 2018. The Craft of Scientific Writing. 4th Edition. Springer.
3.
Belcher W. L. 2019. Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks. A Guide to Academic Publishing Success (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing). 2nd Edition. University of Chicago Press.
4.
Heard S. B. 2016. The Scientist's Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career. Princeton University Press.
Additional Reading
1.
Jain N., Tanasov A., Chodnekar S. Y., Rakauskaitė A., Lansiaux E., Skuja S., Reinis A. 2023. Rising Quantitative Productivity and Shifting Readership in Academic Publishing: Bibliometric Insights from Monkeypox Literature. Account Res. Apr 3. doi: 10.1080/08989621.2023.2199159. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37012606.
Other Information Sources
1.
Nature Master Class.
2.
Sage Campus.
3.
Karger Courses.