Academic writing Flashcards
(22 cards)
Different phases in writing (5 Phases)
Phase 1 : Choice of topic and overview
Phase 2 : Focusing, structuring and planning
Phase 3 : Read and write first draft
Phase 4 & 5 : Revising and extending, finalizing and correcting
Classic structure of a scientific article: Quantitative
Abstract
1. Introduction & motivation
- Theoretical background
- Studies
* Method
* Results
* Discussion - General discussion
* Theoretical contribution
* Practical contribution
* Limitations & future research
References
Appendices
Classic structure of a scientific article: Qualitative
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Literature stream / theoretical development
3. Analytical lens
4. Context & method
5. Findings
6. Discussion
7. Limitations
References
Appendices
Tips and tricks for academic writing
- Red thread and clear structure
- Start the writing process with an outline
- Hourglass shape
- Use good papers as a “framework”
- Write accurately, clearly and concisely – omit unnecessary words
- Explicitly highlight the theoretical contribution
- Know to which thread of literature to add something
- Introduction and discussion should be understandable to any type of reader
- Don’t write and edit at the same time
- Print out your work and ask fellow students for feedback
- Taking feedback seriously
- Use active instead of passive voice
- Using repetitions and parallel constructions
- End with a “big bang”
Common mistakes in the writing process
- No clear question, too broad a topic
- Literature is only enumerated and not discussed
- Missing common thread and focus
- Too many hypotheses
- Poor operationalization of variables
- Lack of theoretical or practical contribution
- Too complicated language
- Novel with flashbacks and side stories
Referencing
- Use proper citation guidelines
- Use of reference management programs
Use proper citation guidelines
- APA standard for business administration
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Use of reference management programs
- For organizing, sharing, and citing scientific articles
- At the HSG, the course “Reference Management” is held twice a year
Definition of plagiarism
The process or practice of using another person’s ideas or work and pretending that it is your own
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
- Typing of texts without references to the source
- Copying fellow students or self-plagiarism
- Use of third-party data and materials without reference to authorship
- Reference to other people’s thoughts without naming the source
–> if caught: the performance is treated as unfiled and has a grade of 1
11 tips to avoid plagiarism
- Maintain control over sources; print electronic sources
- Keeping sources in the right context
- Plan ahead
- No copy-paste
- Keep your own texts and sources separate
- Keep your own notes and drafts separate
- Carefully paraphrase within the notes and always note sources
- If possible, do not read texts by fellow students for inspiration
- Don’t save citations for later
- Citing sources correctly
- Keep source credits
Definition of data visualization
is a process that
(a) is based on qualitative or quantitative data
(b) results in an image that is representative of the raw data
(c) can be read by viewers and supports the exploration, investigation, and communication of the data
data visualization
- Simplified, visual presentation to readers
- Instant visualization of (very) large amounts of data
- Patterns and trends are made visible
- Identification of problems is simplified
Relevance and effectiveness of data visualizations: 10 principles
- What information do I want to communicate?
- Use the right software
- Use effective shapes (e.g., squares vs. lines)
- Color always has a meaning
- Include uncertainty in visualization
- If possible, make panels (small multiples)
- Data and models are different things
- Simple visualization – detailed description
- Possibly use infographics with text as alternative
- Get feedback from readers
Limitations of data visualization
- False causality: When visualizations highlight relationships or patterns that don’t exist in reality
- Reliability of visualizations : If data is erroneous or has gaps, then a visualization can reinforce this (garbage in – garbage out)
- Misinterpretation by readers when introducing new visualizations
- Incorrect or missing connection between the visualization and the purpose of the evaluation
How do I create a data visualization?
- Tableau, Datawrapper & Co
- R (ggplot2 function, etc.)
Academic journals
- Many different journals
- Different requirements and review processes
- Interdisciplinary journals
–> Nature
–> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
–> Science - Disciplinary journals
–> Journal of Marketing
–> Journal of Finance
–> Management Science
Publication process
- Adapting the manuscript to the journal (see
requirements on the journal website) - Pay attention to special issues and call for
papers - Usually lengthy publication process; submission of the article is only the first step
Guidelines for review: journal
- Rigor and thoroughness
- Anonymity and confidentiality
- Speed
- Prioritize comments
- Impartiality
- Diplomacy
- Alternative explanations
- Precision
- Manuscript materials
Reviewer recommendations
- Accept
- Conditional Accept
- Revision
- Risky Revision
- Reject
- Desk Reject
Acceptance rate at JCR
approx. 10%
Revision vs Risky Revision
More uncertainty to be published for risky revision than revision
