Once you (and your supervisor/co-authors) have decided on which journal you would like to submit your thesis to (check out my tips for finding the perfect journal here), then you are ready to convert your thesis into a manuscript!
Step 1: Find the Journal's Instructions for Authors
Every journal outlines Instructions for Authors to follow when preparing an article for submission to the journal. You can find these instructions on the journal's home page. Here is an example from The Journal of Positive Psychology:
Journal's want you to carefully follow these instructions, or you risk getting desk rejected.
Step 2: Check the Word Limit for Articles
Most journals will prescribe a word limit for their articles, and (just like a uni assignment) are strict on following these word limits. For example, The Journal of Positive Psychology states: "A typical paper for this journal should be no more than 7500 words, inclusive of:
Tables
References
Figure or table captions
Endnotes"
Alternatively, journals may prescribe a page length for manuscripts. For example, the International Journal of Stress Management states the maximum acceptable manuscript length is 35 double-spaced pages for a regular article.
Step 3: Prepare your Manuscript
Follow the Instructions for Authors re Structure
The Instructions for Authors section of a Journal will generally overview how the journal wants your article structured. For example, The Journal of Positive Psychology states:
As you can see above, psychology journals generally follow the structure of your thesis, which makes life easy! However, there some common changes you may need to make. For example:
Abstract: Make sure to insert keywords under your abstract. Click here for the APA Style Guide re Keywords. Note also, journals will generally prescribe a word limit for the Abstract (and may require you to include a structured Abstract).
Move Tables and Figures to the end of the manuscript: Tables and Figures should all be placed at the end of the manuscript - on a seperate page each - with Tables first and then Figures. When you move your Tables make a note of where the Tables should be placed in text by including:
Incorporate your Markers' Feedback
Talk to your supervisor about the feedback you received from your thesis markers, and whether they think you need to amend your thesis. Your supervisor may - or may not - agree with the markers' feedback đ¤ˇââď¸ The fact is, I often see marker's criticise students' theses for changes that that supervisor themselves have recommended. Everyone just likes things a little different!
Cut words!! đđ
I know! You worked so hard! And while your full thesis will live on in the university archives, unfortunately, based on the word limits for most journals, you will need to cut words. Here are some tips for each section:
Introduction: Focus on keeping material that relates to building a case for your hypothesis. If you are unclear what to remove from your Introduction - have a look at recent articles published in the journal. Did they discuss previous studies in depth? Did they heavily discuss theory? How much did they talk about the history of constructs? If not - remove!
Method: Remove assumption testing (I know, I know, all that effort!). I recommend noting any major assumption violations/the actions you took (e.g., "Three multivariate outliers were removed"). If you have a whole paragraph on power analysis - cut it down (and potentially remove - check with your supervisor/previous articles published in the journal).
Results: As per APA Style, check you have not repeated statistics in both Tables and text - once is enough!
Discussion: Remove any repetition. Again, I would check previous articles to see what sections they included (E.g., do they have âFuture researchâ or âPractice implicationsâ sections, etc).
Step 4: Check for Recent References
It has likely been a year since you completed your literature review, so I would check if you need to update any of your references. In particular, I would check for updates to any:
Statistics you cite;
Key studies.
Step 5: Make Sure you Cite the Journal you are trying to Publish in!
Ok, so this is a bit like sucking up to the journal. Check through your reference list to see if you have cited this journal. Journals improve their quality ratings by having their articles being more frequently cited. Fact is, if you cite (relevant!) articles from their journal - it is only going to make them happy (and provide further evidence that your article is a perfect fit for that journal!)
Step 6: Make Sure to Blind Your Manuscript! đ¤Ť
Submissions are subject to anonymous peer review. Author details must not appear in your manuscript. In fact, the manuscript should contain no clues to the authors identities. Some journals will even require you to blind the university ethics committee that approved your study. In that instance just insert [blinded by request] in place of any identifying information.
Step 7: Create a Separate Title Page
You will generally need to submit a separate Title Page that contains the authors details and affiliations (i.e., the university where you completed the research) as well as the manuscript title.
The journal's Instructions to Authors will provide more details.
A Note re Authorship
In relation to authorship of any publications of your thesis, note that under Standard C.5.3 of the Australian Psychological Society (2007) Code of Ethics:
C.5.3. Psychologists usually list the student as principal author on any multiple-authored article that is substantially based on the studentâs dissertation or thesis.
Step 8: Draft your Cover Letter
Just like when you are applying for a job, journals often require a cover letter to be submitted along with the article. Check out the APA's guidelines on writing a cover letter here.
Step 9: Submit!!! đ
All the best with publishing your thesis!
If you want to find out what happens next - check out my article, What Happens after I Submit an Article for Publication?
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