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  • Dr S Loretti 10:59 am on January 18, 2015 Permalink | Reply  

    Is the peer review process flawed? 

    This has been the hot grossing topic of the research community. I have been reading numerous articles and opinions by authors worldwide embossing on the flaws cropping in the peer review process. Did the traditional widely-used process had loopholes since inception or has it lost its significance with the emerging number of researches?

    Actually the issue of concern is the growing percentage of paper rejection by many leading journals. With the rapidly growing number of submissions, the journal editors and peers are bound to reject quality studies to focus on relevancy and the journal scope. I too believe that many quality articles are not getting the deserved acknowledgement but at the same time it is also true that these rejections are paving way for fresh publishing grounds and enhanced researches.

    What would you have to say about this? Do share your suggestions.

     

    • edward99 6:03 am on January 20, 2015 Permalink | Reply

      greetings!
      though i believe peer review is an essential element of paper publishing, as a researcher it gets frustrating at times when a good quality paper gets rejected. i am really not questioning the importance of the process but yes, the process needs to be efficient. rejection may not necessarily facilitate enhanced research. what if it demotivates researchers?

    • Zac 12:36 pm on January 21, 2015 Permalink | Reply

      I completely go with what Edward said- rejection does demotivates the author. Facing a rejection from a journal after putting in immense hard work, time and money seems like a big Failure in Life. Every quality work deserves a better platform to showcase itself.

    • Jonna 4:20 am on January 22, 2015 Permalink | Reply

      In my suggestion, peer review process is not flawed, it is just facing the drawbacks of being a traditional system. Like everything in the world, peer review too needs a change with the dynamic environment. It was, and to some extend it still is a perfect system to eliminate inappropriate or irrelevant studies. The only difference to contemporary scenario is the growing percentage of researches being held and the even more increasing rate of quality studies.

      With what we are dealing today, I think the process should be fine-tuned with inclusion of multiple quality check criteria and test variables that can be called the Measures of Quality. And with that, the only most-preferred and running measure, being the Citation count, should be significantly given less importance. There is always a chance of improvement and i believe this would incorporate very soon.

    • steve 5:15 am on January 22, 2015 Permalink | Reply

      i agree with Jonna. However traditional, this system does maintain quality of journals. But i do believe that the system needs to change in certain ways.Researches are putting in a lot of hardwork and that should definitely be given credit. Journals must incorporate additional quality check measures and ensure that the system is justified and fair.

  • Dr S Loretti 4:45 am on September 29, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

    Who can help you with Editing? 

    – Your supervisors are the best to consult with. They can guide you throughout the whole process though, but it is really good if you go to them for help as they have all the updates.
    – Look for Library catalogues or even browsing internet would work well.
    – Try to attend available Workshops/tutorials on Thesis Writing and Editing.
    – Graduates in your group or work colleagues could also be a great option, as they’ll available at any time you need an advice.
    – A professional editor is also a good option available these days. If your pocket allows you to spend some extra pounds.
    Going for any one of these options will work great for you and you’ll surely be able to get an error free work with some useful suggestions to improve.

     

  • Dr S Loretti 9:52 am on September 1, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

    Tips to write a dissertation RM 

    1. Define and explain the problem you are working on.
    2. Tell about your approach – how you collected the data and your understanding of the topic.
    3. Review some samples of your dissertation before starting with RM.
    4. Try to make an outline of the RM stating what all will be covered in it.
    5. Define the research questions clearly including a detailed description of statistical instruments used to answer the questions.
    6. Explain about why you choose the particular problem and the methods to research on it, with justification of their validity and reliability.
    7. Make sure you keep it clear and concise. Doing so will give an impact that you have a specific purpose with clear – cut understanding.

     

  • Dr S Loretti 10:48 am on August 28, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

    Best Ways to Improve Your Research Proposal Writing 

    To get into your desired research program, you need to submit your research proposal at the university. It should be impressive enough to get the acceptance. It should be presented in a detailed manner so that it covers your motive, and showcase the need of the hour of this very research topic. In the following article, I have spoken a few great tips to improve the depth of your research proposal –

    Straight up your objectives – When writing your research proposal, you should place your vision and goals in this piece of write up. It will also help you maintain your focus after getting the approval from the university authorities.

    Stay Limited but Expressive – You must not dive into the areas, where you do not feel any interest. You should, instead, try proposing a subject or topic that is of your curiosity. And try to express and put all the significant facts and factors regarding the subject on your research proposal.

    Act like a Grammar Nazi – Being good at grammar is one of the keys to getting your research proposal approved. At time, research proposals are rejected just because inappropriate grammar and language were used in the proposal document. You should have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the language and grammar, so that you can convey your ideas and motives clearly and expressively.

    Research Planning – Your research proposal should throw some light on your research plan. You should show what your plans are for this research topic. You should clearly mention – how your research is going to influence the society, what issues are there, etc.

    Cross Checking – In writing terms, it is called proofreading and editing. Before submitting your research proposal, you must ensure whether or not it is in the proper format, and it has clearly explained purpose, goals and objectives.

     

  • Dr S Loretti 4:01 am on May 31, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

    The Iterative Research Process 

    The ultimate key to a successful doctorate research lies in its ‘iterative’ process. The process involves returning to the research objectives, questions and methods over and over again while devising new ideas and improvements. A research is often considered to be a systematic process with stages occurring one-by-one, but it must be fluid and adaptable to change.

    It is often seen that post discussions with the supervisors and peers, the need for alterations in the research methodologies, or addition of a new research question or some other changes is projected. Throughout the process of dissertation writing, the study is re-examined from different perspectives which may call for a transformation of the research to a      different shape. To ensure a comprehensive approach to the research problem, it is essential to realize that the process of research is cyclical.

     

  • Dr S Loretti 4:00 am on May 31, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

    Need for Referencing 

    Referencing is a term followed in academia to acknowledge the ideas, theories, quotes and facts of other authors and academicians. The section for referencing demonstrates your efforts of reviewing relevant literatures and grasping background knowledge.

    The basic need for a scholar to refer sources lies with the following reasons:

    • To avoid the case of plagiarism
    • To credit the sources and authors whose research you have used for completing your study
    • To demonstrate and support your research in that specific domain
    • To provide authority for statements you have cited in your project.

    Referencing is an important part of your academic writing and cannot be sidelined.

     

    • Ron Weasley 11:08 am on June 25, 2014 Permalink | Reply

      Universities set out guidelines for referencing chapter as well; it indeed holds importance in your dissertation.

    • Elizabeth B. White 5:09 am on September 29, 2014 Permalink | Reply

      If you want to avoid plagiarism then you must prepare it properly

  • Dr S Loretti 4:00 am on May 31, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

    Editing to make your report influential 

    Hoping to see your target audience read your research paper, the way you read reports written by others can be a fulfilling dream for you as an academic author. But for the accomplishment of this goal, just completion of your dissertation report is not enough. The existence of inconsistencies and writing flaws block the path of successful publishing of your paper.

    Editing is one of the outright significant factors that influence your research paper. Since your dissertation represents your knowledge towards a specific research domain, it is essential to check the content that goes in but without ignoring its presentation. Editing infuses a professional and formal look to your report, keeping your best foot forward in this competitive environment.

     

  • Dr S Loretti 3:58 am on May 31, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

    What is a Research Hypothesis? 

    A statement of the expectation or probability of an event that is proposed to be tested through the study is called a Research Hypothesis. It is a suggested explanation for the observed or probable relationship among two or more variables under study. Hypotheses generally begin with a question that forms the research problem for every research project.

    A general question such as, “Will people be more economically productive individually if they are provided with basic eye care services?” is apt to be embarked through a research project but it cannot be categorized as a hypothesis. For turning it to be a research hypothesis, operationalizing the terms is important. By operationalization, we mean defining the abstract concepts in a measurable manner. For instance, the term ‘economically productive’ can be measurably defined by using the phrase ‘hours worked per week’ or ‘quantity produced per day’. Depending upon how terms are defined, the results vary widely; so the researcher must critically decide the terms while formulating a hypothesis.

     

  • Dr S Loretti 3:57 am on May 31, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

    Common Errors in Proposal Writing 

    Most students fail to understand the underlying purpose and significance of a research proposal. A research would be sought to be good only if its proposal reaches the deemed level of quality.

    Following are some common mistakes that research candidates make while preparing for proposal writing:

    • Improper use of context to frame the research question
    • Inability to define the boundary limits for research
    • Failure to cite suitable literatures
    • Inaccurate presentation of empirical contributions by other researchers
    • Diversion from the research question
    • Inappropriate detailing on major issues and arguments
    • Absence of clearly defines directions
    • Lapse in source citation and references
    • Failing to abide by the writing style guidelines
    • Sloppy writing
     

    • Fidel N. Cooney 6:42 am on August 11, 2014 Permalink | Reply

      Inaccurate presentation is what I’m struggling with these days.

    • Teresa J. Mann 5:07 am on September 29, 2014 Permalink | Reply

      Hey just came across this at thr right time. Will surely cross check my proposal with these tips.

  • Dr S Loretti 3:56 am on May 31, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

    Summarizing Data using Histograms 

    A histogram is a data representation format which makes use of bar graphs to describe the frequency of occurrence of the event being studied. It also represents necessary and relevant basic information about the data classes such as the data spread, shape and skewness.

    Histograms serve as one of the best ways to represent data in a summarized form. Being fairly easy to construct than other forms of representative charts, histogram generated results are also slightly more interesting than the table-format display of the data. These types of charts are significant for assessing current situation and for devising ways to improve the same. Even after executing the improvement methods, histograms can be created to study the impact of the methods applied.

    While making use of descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, chi square, kurtosis and others, the histograms can be significantly interpreted to judge the normality of data distribution.

     

    • Alex 11:25 am on June 2, 2014 Permalink | Reply

      Not just easy to prepare, they are the most appropriate for summarizing quantitative data.

      • Joel 9:54 am on September 5, 2014 Permalink | Reply

        Right Alex they are one of the most relevant and easy way to encapsulate the quantitative data.

    • John R. Rooks 6:29 am on August 6, 2014 Permalink | Reply

      Histograms are best to be used when your data can be described by the use of not more than 2 variables.

    • Vincent A. Solis 5:04 am on September 29, 2014 Permalink | Reply

      It is really easy to present data through histograms.

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