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Guideline: Thesis by Publication
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Purpose
This Guideline provides information to assist higher degree research (HDR) candidates in the preparation of a thesis including published or co-published material prepared during candidature. A thesis prepared in journal article format adds value to the research student experience, encourages timely completion, enhances job prospects and improves the publications outputs and research ranking of the University.
guideline
Eligible Material
A thesis by publication may include relevant papers, including conference presentations, which have been published, accepted, submitted or prepared for publication for which the research has been undertaken during enrolment. The papers should form a coherent and integrated body of work, which should be focused on a single thesis project or set of related questions or propositions. These papers are one part of the thesis, rather than a separate component (or appendix).
Contribution by Co-Authors
These papers may be single author or co-authored. The candidate must specify his/her specific contribution. The contribution of others to the preparation of the thesis or to individual parts of the thesis should be specified in the thesis Acknowledgments and/or in relevant footnotes/endnotes. Where a paper has multiple authors, the candidate would usually be the principal author and acknowledgement of this should be referenced in the appropriate manner for the discipline. Examiners can then assess if the quality and extent of the candidate’s contribution warrants the award of the degree based on the specified criteria.
Number and Presentation of Papers
Each discipline will have a different number of publications that are acceptable as the substantive foundation for a thesis by publication. As a general rule a candidate will need to have enough papers to support the important findings from the research, presented in a logical and coherent way. These papers will normally form thesis chapters and the chronological publication order may be quite different from the way they are sequenced in the thesis. The length of the papers will reflect discipline requirements and journal guidelines.
Most theses by publication have between 2 and 8 papers in combinations of sole and co-authored papers. Although it is not necessary to reformat published works in a thesis, it is not enough simply to bind these publications together. The candidate needs to include a critical introduction to the work, sections that link the papers together, and a concluding section that synthesises the material as a whole. In some cases a larger exposition component can provide the framework for location or ordering of the papers. Above all, candidates must consider the coherence of the thesis as a whole, and the way in which each paper contributes to the overall thesis.
Preparing for a Thesis by Publication
Candidates and supervisors should plan in advance the process of undertaking the research and writing the related papers in detail. Early discussions regarding the research plan should include an analysis of the way in which information is disseminated within the disciplinary field. This will provide the candidate with a realistic impression of the length of time it takes a paper to be published. For instance, in some science disciplines major journals have 10 editions in a year, whereas the major journals in education may publish biannually.
Candidates who intend to write papers for the thesis should consider publishing in conference proceedings initially as an excellent introduction to the way in which research papers are written and presented in the field, and also to initiate discussion with those already established in the field. The more substantial findings from the thesis are usually submitted to refereed journals.
Candidates planning to attend a conference may need to write an abstract (or the paper) up to a year in advance of the conference. Candidates intending to write for a journal will need to account for the following in developing timelines: writing time (usually at least 6 weeks), the submission time and acknowledgment from the journal editor (usually about 3 weeks), the amount of time it takes the journal to review the article (usually between 2-4 months at a minimum), the amount of time it takes to amend the paper in response to the reviewers (usually between 1-3 months), the final submission of the paper, and final publication (which can be up to 18 months after the final accepted submission). Candidates should work closely with their supervisors during these stages as supervisors can advise on the publication process for the discipline. Candidates should not delay thesis submission in waiting for the paper(s) to be published or accepted for publication.
Although a thesis by publication may contain some repetition, it is expected that the repetition be minimal so as to facilitate the examination process. Candidates should ensure that any referencing and stylistic inconsistencies between papers are minimized to assist the examiners.
Guideline Information
| Contact Officer | Manager, Higher Degree Research Office |
|---|---|
| Related policies, procedures and guidelines | Higher Degree Research Thesis Preparation, Submission and Examination Policy |
| Links | http://www.research.mq.edu.au/students/thesis_examination/research_candidates |
| Keywords | Thesis by Publication, thesis with journal articles, thesis with papers, thesis co-authors, thesis co-publication. |
| Date Approved | 6 June 2008 |
| Approval Authority | High Degree Research Committee |