What do you do if your research findings in R&D aren't effectively communicated in peer-reviewed journals?

1 Identify your audience

Before you write your paper, you need to know who you are writing for. Different journals have different scopes, standards, and expectations. You should choose a journal that matches the topic, level, and significance of your research. You should also consider the interests and needs of your potential readers. What are the main questions they have? What are the key messages you want to convey? How can you make your paper relevant and useful for them?

2 Follow the guidelines

Once you have selected a journal, you should follow its guidelines carefully. Every journal has its own format, style, and submission requirements. You should check the journal's website or instructions for authors for details. You should also look at some examples of papers published in that journal to get a sense of the tone, structure, and language. You should adhere to the journal's rules and expectations to avoid delays, rejections, or revisions.

3 Write clearly and concisely

One of the main reasons why research findings are not effectively communicated in peer-reviewed journals is poor writing. Writing a scientific paper is not easy. You have to present complex and technical information in a clear and concise way. You have to balance accuracy, precision, and rigor with readability, simplicity, and accessibility. You have to use appropriate terminology, grammar, and punctuation. You have to avoid jargon, ambiguity, and redundancy. You have to write for a diverse and critical audience.

4 Use visuals and data

Another way to improve the communication of your research findings in peer-reviewed journals is to use visuals and data. Visuals, such as graphs, tables, charts, diagrams, and images, can help you illustrate your points, highlight your trends, and compare your results. Data, such as statistics, numbers, and facts, can help you support your arguments, demonstrate your validity, and quantify your impact. You should use visuals and data that are relevant, accurate, and clear. You should also explain them in your text and provide captions and references.

5 Seek feedback and review

Before you submit your paper to a journal, you should seek feedback and review from others. Feedback and review can help you improve the quality, clarity, and credibility of your paper. You can ask your colleagues, mentors, or peers to read your paper and give you constructive comments and suggestions. You can also use online tools or services to check your grammar, spelling, and plagiarism. You should be open to criticism and willing to make changes.

6 Explore alternative outlets

Finally, if your paper is not accepted by a journal or you want to reach a wider audience, you can explore alternative outlets for your research findings. There are many platforms and channels that can help you disseminate your work, such as preprint servers, open access journals, blogs, podcasts, social media, or media outlets. You can also present your work at conferences, workshops, seminars, or webinars. You should choose the outlets that are suitable for your goals, audience, and format.