Whether you want to read the available literature or to publish your finished project, being familiar with various methods of circulating your research is essential. Traditionally, academics were confined to publishing in “reputable” peer-reviewed journals, books, or conference proceedings, but that has changed in recent years as nontraditional outlets have proliferated and made scholarship more accessible. Remember to consider a variety of factors when choosing a venue for your research including your research topic, your goals, and your institutional requirements for promotion and tenure.
The following table of research outputs is an introductionIntroductionThe start of a research article providing background information and an overview of the research presented in the article. to common examples and is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all available options:
Outputs
Description
Primary research article
There are various names (original research, scholarly article, peer-reviewed article, refereed article, etc.) but this is the traditional medium for most fields and plays an important role in circulating research through journals; these articles typically advance a new claim supported by original data gathered by the author(s)
Short report/letter
Often appearing in journals or trade publications, this research channel quickly summarizes or previews primary research to keep researchers aware of new trends and findingsResultsThe section of a research article where researchers share the results from the research. This section takes the results and directly connects them to the research questions or hypotheses posed at the start of the article. Also can be called “Findings.”
Literature reviewLiterature ReviewThe process of summarizing, synthesizing and/or critiquing literature around a specific topic/idea. This work can help a researcher understand what has happened before and also how past research intersects and or diverges from other research. A literature review can be a full-length manuscript or a subsection within a larger research article.
Reviews also go by various names, but unlike primary research, the name reflects a different methodologyMethodologyThe theoretical framework that informs how a researcher approaches their work and what methods are used to collect data. with different research purposes; common types include a literature review (generic synthesis of published materials), meta-analysis (statistical analysis of quantitative studies to provide a precise effect of the included studies’ resultsResultsThe section of a research article where researchers share the results from the research. This section takes the results and directly connects them to the research questions or hypotheses posed at the start of the article. Also can be called “Findings.” ), and systematic reviewSystematic reviewA type of scholarly work where all evidence/primary research on a certain topic or idea is identified, selected, and evaluated. Documentation is provided in order for other researchers to conduct the same search and see the same results. Often used in health science and medical disciplines and a librarian is a key contributor to this kind of scholarly collaboration. (a systematic search and synthesis of research aligned to a specific research question); the Right Review is a helpful tool aimed at assisting researchers with selecting the correct review type
Case study
A detailed description/observation of one person, place, or group within a real-world context; appears frequently in journals
Conference presentation/ proceeding
While travel and expenses can limit attendance at conferences, often organizers or presenters will share abstracts, presentation slides, or published transcriptions
Book/book chapter
Books are a common research output in every field and vary widely in content, length, quality standards, and style; books can be written by one or several authors, curated by one or several editors with chapters written by different authors, a compilation of existing works, etc.
Report
Typically reports or white papers are commissioned by government agencies or private organizations and can be used as an advocacy tool
Digital scholarship
A combination of traditional research methods with emerging technologies that typically result in a multimedia format like maps, data visualizations, and interactive elements
Popular article/interview
Sharing scholarship outside academic audiences is an important connection for researchers hoping to make real-world impacts; press releases often spark interest from reporters in popular media and can result in articles dedicated to scholarship; additionally, researchers can serve as experts in interviews on complex topics
Self-publishing/blog/social media
Researchers have also started taking their work in their own hands to share through social media platforms, blogging platforms like Medium and Substack, or through personal web publishing
Table 3. Created by Kirsten Hostetler for LibParlor Online Learning, 2023.
Familiarizing yourself with the diverse range of research outputs will ensure you’re getting a complete view of the available literature and publishing outlets and not limiting yourself or the reach of your work.
Exercise
Complete the following exercise in your LPOL Workbook. This exercise will help you check for learning, engage with the material, and work through new ideas.
Using the 2.1.4: Searching Across Literature worksheet in your LPOL Workbook, search for a research topic you’re interested in across different LISLibrary and Information ScienceAn interdisciplinary field that examines how physical and digital information is organized, accessed, collected, managed, disseminated and used, particularly in library settings. outputs. What do you notice about the similarities and differences in how the information is presented?
Topic 4 References
Grant, Maria J., and Booth, Andrew. “A Typology of Reviews: An Analysis of 14 Review Types and Associated Methodologies.” Health Information and Libraries Journal 26, no. 2 (2009): 91-108. doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x.
Wilson, Virginia. “Disseminating your Research.” Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 6, no. 1 (2011): 99–100. doi.org/10.18438/B8RS6S.
Research Outputs
Whether you want to read the available literature or to publish your finished project, being familiar with various methods of circulating your research is essential. Traditionally, academics were confined to publishing in “reputable” peer-reviewed journals, books, or conference proceedings, but that has changed in recent years as nontraditional outlets have proliferated and made scholarship more accessible. Remember to consider a variety of factors when choosing a venue for your research including your research topic, your goals, and your institutional requirements for promotion and tenure.
The following table of research outputs is an introductionIntroduction The start of a research article providing background information and an overview of the research presented in the article. to common examples and is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all available options:
Familiarizing yourself with the diverse range of research outputs will ensure you’re getting a complete view of the available literature and publishing outlets and not limiting yourself or the reach of your work.
Exercise
Complete the following exercise in your LPOL Workbook. This exercise will help you check for learning, engage with the material, and work through new ideas.
Using the 2.1.4: Searching Across Literature worksheet in your LPOL Workbook, search for a research topic you’re interested in across different LISLibrary and Information Science An interdisciplinary field that examines how physical and digital information is organized, accessed, collected, managed, disseminated and used, particularly in library settings. outputs. What do you notice about the similarities and differences in how the information is presented?
Topic 4 References
Grant, Maria J., and Booth, Andrew. “A Typology of Reviews: An Analysis of 14 Review Types and Associated Methodologies.” Health Information and Libraries Journal 26, no. 2 (2009): 91-108. doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-1842.2009.00848.x.
Wilson, Virginia. “Disseminating your Research.” Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 6, no. 1 (2011): 99–100. doi.org/10.18438/B8RS6S.
Wyld, David. “The Fifth way? Why Academics Should Publish on Medium.” Better Marketing online. November 5, 2020. https://bettermarketing.pub/the-fifth-way-why-academics-should-publish-on-medium-df548ce07291.