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A Process Based on Assumptions! When a replication study is commissioned, much of the initial work is based on a series of assumptions: The initial study was conducted by experienced researchers with appropriate oversight The…

Justification of Performance! Getting any research funded is hard. There has never been a blank check for research in any decade, other than perhaps during times of war when emergency funds were made available to fund urgent projects of…

It’s time to accept that conference attendance is no longer a right or entitlement for any researcher. As training and travel budgets get slimmer each year, getting approval to attend a conference is becoming tougher. For those of you who…

Increased Scrutiny of a Critical Process: A Google search for “peer review best practices” will produce over 5,600 results, with numerous examples of detailed manuals and checklists that specify in detail what should happen during a formal…

What is a Plenary Session? You’ve been invited to chair the plenary session at an academic conference. It is scheduled to take place at the top of the conference agenda, and will be a discussion of general issues, featuring prominent…

The Importance of Preparation The quotation, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend four sharpening my axe,” has been attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Whether or not that attribution is valid, the message of the quotation…

The Only Constant is Change Any young scientist struggling with the competitive challenges of modern research can be forgiven for wondering if the “old days” of academic research were less competitive, more collaborative, more collegial,…

Should a Peer Reviewer Choose Honor above Money? The peer review process has always been considered to be a proud tradition in the academic community. Experienced and highly qualified academics and scientists take time away from their…

When Is a Paper Retraction Warranted? The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) offers specific guidance as to when journal editors should consider retracting a publication: If they have clear evidence that the findings are…

What is a Research Problem? The terms research question and research problem are used interchangeably to reference the problem or issue you intend to investigate and/or solve with your research study. From the perspective of the research…