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We regularly relay articles reporting the result scientific studies on quite varied topics. Whether we are talking about the human body, medical technologies or meteorology/climatology, all these studies have one thing in common. Their publication process is a complex and rigorous journey.
A process that happens most of the time far from the eyes of the general public, hence the interest in demystifying it a little.
From research to results
Scientific research begins well before the genesis or the very idea of writing an article. Discoveries often come from laboratory experiments, field observations or controlled environment analyses. Depending on the case, this can be a clever mix of these three methodologies, enriched by data from other researchers.
Once this valuable information has been collected, an analysis phase follows. This can take various paths: statistical processing, comparison with pre-existing results or even theoretical modeling (the recent example of the most difficult labyrinth in the world is a very telling example of this last path).
Then, the scientists set about developing a coherent and clear explanation of their data. This step lays the first foundations for writing the scientific article. The latter adapts in length according to the scale of the results and the requirements of the journal targeted for publication, ranging from a few pages to several dozen pages.
Beyond the text, researchers must also enhance their publication with figures, tables, and diagrams to illustrate their findings. For most scientists, this arduous task rests essentially on their shoulders.
Collaboration and writing
Contemporary research is rarely a solitary quest. The majority of scientific investigations are carried out within multidisciplinary teams, thus promoting the obtaining of more exhaustive and robust results.
The co-authors, true pillars of this collective enterprise, bring their expertise to writing the article, analyzing the data and developing the content. These collaborators may be research partners, essential contributors to data collection, or students involved in the project.
Prior to submission of the ’ Once the article is finalized, an essential step is required: a detailed examination and a critique by all the co-authors. This process ensures the quality and rigor of the research. Once refined, the whole thing is then submitted to a scientific journal for evaluation.
Next step: the choice of the journal, which is a strategic decision since it will determine the visibility and the ’ impact of research within the scientific community and the public.
Certain journals, such as Nature or Science, enjoy a prestigious and general reputation and can significantly increase the influence of the study. Others, more specialized, can ensure a more targeted and relevant audience for the specific field of research.
Peer review and publication
Submission of the article marks the dawn of a new phase: peer review. An associate editor, usually a volunteer expert in the field, is responsible for recruiting reviewers. The latter, also volunteers, examine the published work and provide critical comments. This process can take several weeks or even months, depending on the availability of the evaluators.
The fate of the publication is sealed by the feedback from the reviewers. It may be accepted as is, accepted with minor revisions, require substantial changes, or be rejected. If revisions are required, the authors must respond to each comment, explaining the improvements made or justifying the retention of certain elements.
Once the revisions are made, the manuscript returns to the editor for a final decision. If the verdict is favorable, a final phase of proofreading and formatting follows before publication, a step that can also extend over several weeks.
As you may have understood, publishing a scientific article is a long and demanding project. The field of publishing itself is a business in its own right. Scientific journals, once tools for sharing knowledge within restricted communities, are now managed by large publishing companies that generate considerable profits (Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, etc.)
Researchers, in order to advance their careers and obtain funding, are therefore strongly encouraged to publish in these journals, often at high costs. These costs include publication fees, database subscriptions and copyright fees. This economic model has been criticized for several reasons: it limits open access to knowledge, encourages a race to publish to the detriment of research quality, and can foster bias in the selection of articles.
- Research begins with experiments and observations on a topic, followed by in-depth analysis.
- Scientists collaborate to write and revise the article, then choose the journal for publication.
- The article is then submitted for peer review before being published.
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