Graduate student journal explained

A graduate student journal is an academic journal which is run by graduate students.

Overview

They are involved in the production, editing and peer review processes for the journal. On the whole, graduate student journals have a poor reputation, and limited funding and training can result in poor production values and editorial practices. Despite this, some graduate student journals, such as the Harvard Educational Review, are highly regarded, and peer review can be performed to a higher standard in student-run journals than in more mainstream journals.^[1]

Evaluation

Graduate Student Journals can be controversial, with some professors claiming that they create additional stress for students,^[2] create problems for their time management,^{[3] [4]} and potentially erode academic publication standards, since students may be unable to commit enough time to the organization, review and writing process.^{[5] [6]} Some critics have shown skepticism that students could provide rigorous review process associated with traditional academic journals.

Others have however pointed out that student journals provide students with unique opportunities and training not contemplated in regular activities.^[7] It is helpful for the development of communication skills, for the leadership opportunities the provide, for training students to collaborate with peers, and improving their research and writing skills. The opportunity also assists reviewers by training them to engage critically with manuscripts, a key part of academic life that is little developed in courses.^{[8] [9]} Perry has also noted that graduate students may not be experts in their fields yet, but that they have ‘time, care and attention’ to dedicate to reading manuscripts, which other scholars often lack.

Notes and References

1. Belcher, Wendy Laura (2009). Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. p. 107.
2. Gilbert . Scott F. . March 2004 . Points of View: Should Students Be Encouraged To Publish Their Research in Student-Run Publications?: A Case Against Undergraduate-only Journal Publications . Cell Biology Education . en . 3 . 1 . 22–23 . 10.1187/cbe.04-01-0023 . 1536-7509 . 3197276 . 22031792.
3. Mariani . Mack . Buckley . Fiona . Reidy . Theresa . Witmer . Richard . October 2013 . Promoting Student Learning and Scholarship through Undergraduate Research Journals . PS: Political Science & Politics . en . 46 . 4 . 830–835 . 10.1017/S1049096513001133 . 153382154 . 1049-0965. free .
4. Pasco . Allan H. . April 2009 . Should Graduate Students Publish? . Journal of Scholarly Publishing . en . 40 . 3 . 231–240 . 10.3138/jsp.40.3.231 . 1198-9742.
5. Garbati . Jordana . Brockett . Esther . 2018-05-24 . Students Speak Out: The Impact of Participation in an Undergraduate Research Journal . Discourse and Writing/Rédactologie . 28 . 227–245 . 10.31468/cjsdwr.618 . 2563-7320. free .
6. Ho . Adrian K. . 2011-11-12 . Creating and Hosting Student-Run Research Journals: A Case Study . Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research . 6 . 2 . 10.21083/partnership.v6i2.1516 . 1911-9593. free .
7. Cox . Michaelene . Kent . Jaimie M. . October 2018 . Political Science Student Journals: What Students Publish and Why Student Publishing Matters . PS: Political Science & Politics . en . 51 . 4 . 804–810 . 10.1017/S1049096518000057 . 158349980 . 1049-0965.
8. Barrios . Sharon A. . Weber . Lori M. . January 2006 . Beyond the Audience of One: Producing a Student Journal of Politics . PS: Political Science & Politics . en . 39 . 1 . 107–110 . 10.1017/S1049096506060227 . 17924167 . 1049-0965.
9. Perry . Seth . October 2018 . Who Do You Think You Are? Reading, Authority, and Book Reviewing . Journal of Scholarly Publishing . en . 50 . 1 . 12–15 . 10.3138/jsp.50.1.03 . 150196428 . 1198-9742.