Academic Writing
Note: This page is currently in progress. Updated July 31, 2024.
Writing an academic paper
Step 1: Define your research topic & scope
Define your research topic and the scope of the project that surrounds it. Will your research be conceptual or empirical? Which literature does it belong to? What does existing literature say about your topic? Why is your topic novel? What is the scope of your research, and what studies should be conducted to accurately reflect that scope? How many studies will you run? What are the contributions of your research?
Step 2: Select a target journal
Select a target journal as well as 1-2 backups for your research. Review publication requirements to ensure that your research fits within the scope of the journal. Locate any guidance that exists on publishing in that journal, as well as 3-4 exemplars to get a sense of what your manuscript may ultimately need to look like.
Step 3: Project plan
Develop a project management plan for your research. Who are your co-authors, if any? Is IRB approval required? Pre-registration? When do you want to submit your manuscript by? How much time does that give you to execute the research, and is that reasonable?
Step 4: Execute
Implement your project plan. Most projects will start with conducting a comprehensive literature review to determine what existing research says about your topic, which allows you to carve out your unique contribution. You will also likely need to complete an IRB application, pre-register your research studies, secure funding, set up meetings with co-authors, and line up any other resources or processes needed to complete your research.