Research projects require significant investment, including investments of time (often years), energy, and passion. It is common to have many expectations around your research, specifically regarding your 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.” or how you think your research will be received. It is also common for things to not go as planned.
To help manage your expectations around your work, it can be helpful to remember that the goal of any research project is to contribute knowledge to the world. Not getting the 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.” that you want isn’t failure; the process has simply ruled out one possible solution to a problem. Nevertheless, it can be discouraging when months or years of work don’t yield something that seems publishable, especially if there is a tenure clock ticking.
Below are some ideas you can use to reframe disappointment into a valuable experience.
Disappointment
Action to Consider
Article rejected by a journal
Analyze the reason for rejection and consider if changes need to be made to the manuscript. The manuscript may have been a poor match for the journal, or more significant changes may be needed. Depending on what you find in your analysis, submit it to a different journal or consider whether a different audience or venue might be more receptive.
Results are not what was expected / Findings are not significant
Unexpected results often lead to questions that become future research projects. Think about “what’s next” for your research. Consider how you could discuss what did not work in this round of research. Could you do a lightning talk at a conference about your methodologyMethodologyThe theoretical framework that informs how a researcher approaches their work and what methods are used to collect data. or about how your expectations did not align with your findings and why that might be?
Your project is taking longer than expected and you’re concerned about not having consistent publications/presentations on your CV
Share initial results at a local or state conference and use it as an opportunity to get feedback from peers about your project. Consider whether your large project could be broken down into smaller products that could be published or presented separately.
Feedback on your initial ideas has not been positive, raising major concerns about your research questions, methodology, participants, etc.
Consider who your feedback is coming from and seek out second and even third opinions. Make changes if it appears there is consensus, but don’t give up on your ideas too readily.
Table 2. Created by Nancy Falciani-White for LibParlor Online Learning, 2023.
If you aren’t sure how to move forward from a disappointment or unexpected situation, bring it to some of those you sought feedback from earlier in the project. Often all that is needed is a new perspective to help you find potential where you initially only saw failure.
Wahl, Erin Renee, and Guillaume, Rene O, “Navigating Rejection: Strategies for Resilience and Growth in Academic Writing and Publishing,” The Librarian Parlor. June 2023. https://libparlor.com/2023/06/16/navigating-rejection/.
Managing Expectations
Research projects require significant investment, including investments of time (often years), energy, and passion. It is common to have many expectations around your research, specifically regarding your findingsResults The 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.” or how you think your research will be received. It is also common for things to not go as planned.
To help manage your expectations around your work, it can be helpful to remember that the goal of any research project is to contribute knowledge to the world. Not getting the resultsResults The 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.” that you want isn’t failure; the process has simply ruled out one possible solution to a problem. Nevertheless, it can be discouraging when months or years of work don’t yield something that seems publishable, especially if there is a tenure clock ticking.
Below are some ideas you can use to reframe disappointment into a valuable experience.
If you aren’t sure how to move forward from a disappointment or unexpected situation, bring it to some of those you sought feedback from earlier in the project. Often all that is needed is a new perspective to help you find potential where you initially only saw failure.
Topic 3 References
Moeller, Christine M. “Revise and Resubmit, or Reconsider?” The Librarian Parlor. March 2018. https://libparlor.com/2018/03/28/revise-and-resubmit-or-reconsider/.
Wahl, Erin Renee, and Guillaume, Rene O, “Navigating Rejection: Strategies for Resilience and Growth in Academic Writing and Publishing,” The Librarian Parlor. June 2023. https://libparlor.com/2023/06/16/navigating-rejection/.