A journal article is substantially different from a dissertation in overall approach and format with rewritten and refined content. However, it can have some content that is copied verbatim. For this reason, it is a good idea to place an embargo on your dissertation (1 or 2 years) during submission to a standard paper repository if you are considering publishing your research in a scholarly journal after graduation. In case the dissertation has already been published in a public repository, it is best to inform the journal editor about this and make it clear at the outset. You should explain in your cover letter that your paper is based on your dissertation and that it is already published in a repository. If possible, provide a link to the published dissertation. This helps to avoid any ethical glitches that you might be unaware of since some journals consider published dissertations as a form of “prior publications.” If you are considering converting a dissertation into an article, it is important to understand the differences between the two types of papers before you start on it.
Differences between a dissertation and a journal article
| Dissertation | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Meets academic requirements | Meets journalistic standards |
| Reviewed by select committee members | Reviewed by “blind” peer reviewers |
| Consists of chapters | Consist of sections |
| Lengthy: Usually 100-300 pages | Word limit: Usually 4000-7000 words |
| Formatted as per the table of contents | Follows a manuscript format |
| A detailed introduction is required | A concise introduction is required |
| Lengthy research of literature | Succinct research of literature |
| A detailed description of the research methods and tools used | Essential & succinct information on methods and tools used |
| All findings presented | Selected findings presented |
| Discussion of all findings | Concise discussion of selected results |
From the comparison above, it can be seen that a dissertation and a journal article are two completely different pieces of academic writing. They are written for different purposes, follow different styles, set different expectations, and are meant for different audiences. Therefore, you can’t publish your dissertation research exactly as it is. So where do you start?
How to write a journal article from a dissertation
#1. Analyze your dissertation research
Skim through the different parts of your dissertation (particularly the introduction, findings, and discussion chapters) to determine how many “whole” journal articles you can develop from your dissertation. You can target 1-3 prospective publications from your dissertation results.
#2. Identify the best journal for publishing your research
It is important to determine the manuscript format that you will follow while adapting a thesis for conversion into a journal article. Hence, the first step in this process is to identify the target journal in which you will publish the article created from the dissertation. Ensure that your research is within the journal’s aims and scope. Then, keenly review the journal’s recommended structure and reference style.
Tip: Select 3-5 journals that are suitable for your dissertation research so that you can have other publication options in case your paper is not published in your first choice journal.
#3. Repurpose parts of your dissertation
Brevity is an important consideration for a manuscript to be considered for journal publication. Hence, you need to shorten the overall paper by eliminating text within sections and/or entire sections, especially those that tend to run very long in dissertations. Use the manuscript structure recommended by the journal (and template, if provided) to select and repurpose parts of your dissertation. You may check previously published papers from the target journal as examples. Paraphrase the information in a succinct manner. You will need to:
- Determine the article title: Develop a concise, accurate, and informative title that reflects the focus of your article. You should include your most relevant keywords in your title. The title can be revised and refined further after developing the article.
- Reformat the introduction: Provide only the information required to set the context for the study or understand the gap that led to the research. Include a concise literature review to bring forth the past works and specify the research problem. In case not all research questions or hypotheses are considered relevant for your paper, you can combine them or focus on just one research question for the article.
- Tighten the methods section: Shorten the discussion of your research approach. Describe concisely the research design used, population & sampling, research instruments, and data collection procedures.
- Report the main findings in the results section: Provide the key findings of your research using concise statements. Report only the findings that directly address the research questions or support the hypotheses in the introduction section. Often, the results from a dissertation can result in 2-3 journal articles.
- Provide a clear and concise discussion: Discuss the findings of your research. Do not repeat the results in this section; rather, provide an interpretation of your findings- what was learned from the research? Also, situate the findings to the literature and discuss how they expand known or previous perspectives. Address the limitations in your study and briefly present ways in which future studies can build upon your work.
- Limit the number of sources: Journals usually limit the number of references that are cited in a manuscript (generally, less than 30 sources). Therefore, select the most recent and relevant references to support the context of your research. Ensure the sources are formatted correctly.
- Tables and figures: Make sure that tables or figures are essential and do not reproduce content provided in the text.
- Develop the abstract: Rewrite the abstract to about 150-250 words while maintaining the key topics to hold readers’ attention, including the research issue and main findings. You need to curate it according to the instructions provided by your target journal, whether structured or unstructured abstract. Use the introduction and discussion as the basis for writing the abstract. Lastly, identify the keywords that you would like your article to rank for or that may help potential readers to discover your article.
#4. Edit and proofread the manuscript
The final step in preparing your manuscript for journal submission is editing and proofreading. Don’t let months of research be turned down just because of language, style, or formatting issues. You should carefully re-read and address any problems and shortcomings in the manuscript. Conduct at least two rounds of editing to ensure the manuscript is perfect for submission. Lastly, proofread the final draft to identify and correct common text errors and formatting issues that might have been overlooked. You can use an external editing service if you are doubtful about the quality of your text or need assistance with improving the language, structure, flow, and presentation.
It is important to note that an excellent and high-quality manuscript is the best way to give a good impression from the beginning as well as put your paper on the right track for successful submission. If you are struggling with turning your dissertation into an article for journal publication, it is better to leave it to our experienced and published professionals. Elite Dissertation Help supports early career researchers throughout their publication journey with a suite of services that help to improve journal manuscripts before submission and after peer review.