Turning Your Dissertation into a Journal Article for Publication

Turning your dissertation into a journal article requires significant revision and adaptation to meet the expectations of academic journals. Here’s how to do it:

1. Narrow Your Focus

Identify Key Findings: Review your dissertation and identify the most important findings that make a unique contribution to the field. A journal article should focus on these critical insights and exclude lengthy background information.
New Angle: While your dissertation might address multiple research questions, a journal article typically explores one question or issue in detail. Find the key angle that can contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

2. Rewrite the Introduction and Literature Review

Focus the Introduction: Your dissertation’s introduction may be broad and lengthy. For an article, condense it to clearly state the problem, research objectives, and the gap in the literature your article aims to address.
Update the Literature Review: Shorten the literature review to focus on only the most relevant studies to your research. Emphasize how your study fits into the broader context and adds to existing knowledge.

3. Condense the Methodology and Results

Streamline the Methodology: In a dissertation, the methodology is often detailed. In an article, keep the methodology section brief but comprehensive, focusing on key methods and justifying your approach.
Simplify the Results: Condense your results to include only the most important findings. Avoid including excessive data, and focus on the results that directly answer your research question.

4. Write a Clear Discussion and Conclusion

Interpret Results: In the discussion, explain your findings and their implications. Compare them with existing research and discuss their practical applications.
Concise Conclusion: Summarize the main points and highlight the contributions your article makes to the field. Offer recommendations for future research.

5. Submit and Revise

Peer Review: After submission, your article will likely undergo peer review. Be prepared to revise it based on reviewer feedback, which can range from minor changes to major restructuring.
Respond to Feedback: Address reviewer comments thoroughly and revise your article to improve its quality. Resubmit the revised manuscript as per the journal’s instructions.

By following these steps, you can successfully turn your dissertation into a journal article, navigating the publication process with clarity and purpose.