Where Can I Submit a 15-Page Article on Educational Largangian Mechanics?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter wrobel
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Paper
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the submission of a 15-page educational article on Lagrangian mechanics, focusing on where such a paper could be published. Participants explore the necessity of background research and the appropriateness of various journals for educational content in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about suitable journals for submitting an educational article on Lagrangian mechanics.
  • Another participant questions the author's claim of a "not completely standard" approach without prior research into existing educational literature.
  • A participant suggests that reputable journals will not accept articles lacking background research and recommends reading existing literature before submission.
  • Some participants propose specific journals such as "Physics Teacher" and "Physical Review Physics Education Research" as potential venues for publication.
  • There is a suggestion that referencing existing literature can enhance the credibility of the paper and assist in the peer-review process.
  • One participant expresses frustration at the advice given, indicating a desire for direct answers rather than critiques of their approach.
  • A later reply acknowledges the tension between participants while recognizing the validity of both perspectives regarding the publication process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity of background research before submitting an article. While some emphasize the importance of referencing existing literature, others focus on the original question of where to submit the article. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to publication.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the potential pitfalls of submitting work without adequate literature review, but specific limitations or assumptions regarding the educational approach are not fully explored.

wrobel
Science Advisor
Insights Author
Messages
1,281
Reaction score
1,090
In what journal can I submit an educational type article with some not completely standard approach to Largangian mechanics about 15 pages long?
Sorry if this place is wrong for this thread
 
Physics news on Phys.org
When you did your background research on previous methods of teaching Lagrangian mechanics, what journal had most of the papers you read?
 
I do not know any journal for which an educational article could be acceptable, I read research journals in dynamical systems and differential equations. This is the reason I ask
 
I am confused. If you didn’t already read journals about physics education then how can you claim your teaching method is “not completely standard”.

Before you write an academic paper it is essential to research and read the previous papers on the topic. You absolutely should not be publishing your paper anywhere if you have not done that. Really you shouldn’t have even written the paper before doing that.
 
Dale said:
I am confused. If you didn’t already read journals about physics education then how can you claim your teaching method is “not completely standard”.

Before you write an academic paper it is essential to research and read the previous papers on the topic. You absolutely should not be publishing your paper anywhere if you have not done that. Really you shouldn’t have even written the paper before doing that.
Wow! If I was interested in your opinion whether I should wright an article, I would ask you, for now I prefer to get an answer my question.
 
wrobel said:
for now I prefer to get an answer my question.
wrobel said:
In what journal can I submit an educational type article with some not completely standard approach to Largangian mechanics about 15 pages long?
Nowhere as it is. No reputable journal will accept an article with no background research.

Of course, if you want to publish in a disreputable journal then you can use Jeff Beall's list of predatory publishers. Pretty much any of those journals will publish any paper as long as their publication fee is paid, so you don't need to worry much about whether it fits in with the journal.

https://beallslist.net/

A better option would be to fix your paper by reading the existing literature and citing it in your paper and then choosing a journal that you referenced several times. You might start by reading journals like "Physics Teacher" or "Physical Review Physics Education Research" or more general education journals. But before submitting there you should read what has already been done and revise your paper to reference previous work explaining how your approach is similar to and differs from previous approaches.

wrobel said:
Wow! If I was interested in your opinion whether I should wright an article, I would ask you
Certainly you are free to your attitude. However, I have been publishing peer reviewed papers in the scientific literature for 21 years now and I have been a peer-reviewer for 15 years now. I know firsthand how the peer-review system works, what editors and reviewers are looking for, and what to do and not do in the academic publication process. You may not have asked for my advice, but it is good and knowledgeable advice nonetheless.

A paper without any references to the existing literature on the topic is completely deficient for any academic purpose. Before trying to publish your paper in an academic journal you should fix that deficiency.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: JD_PM, berkeman, jrmichler and 2 others
Before we get into the weeds here not that weeds are bad. I want to say that I can see both sides and feel that you two are stepping on each other's toes but are both professionals and in agreement in general.

@wrobel asks for the best journal to publish his educational paper knowing that research journals won't publish an educational paper and @Dale has responded with two excellent choices Physics Teacher and Physical Review Physics Education Research.

It makes sense now to find papers from these two journals that cover what your educational paper covers:
- so that you know you aren't repeating what someone else had said earlier
- to show the peer-reviewer that you have some backing support for your paper.

It's a kind of prestige point for the journal that in your paper you are advertising other papers in the journal. (you wash my back and I wash your back model).

With that said I think its best to close this thread now.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: JD_PM, vanhees71, russ_watters and 2 others

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
603
  • · Replies 44 ·
2
Replies
44
Views
6K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K