What is publishable?

1
What is publishable?

• In particular in Educational Studies in
  Mathematics (ESM)
• Tommy Dreyfus

2
Appropriateness

• Educational
• Studies
• in Mathematics

3
Educational

• Research reports relevant to any aspects of
  mathematical education
• Content
• Learning
• Teaching
• Other and combinations
• Practical implications if they follow from the
  research

4
Study

• Theoretically framed
• Methodology explicit and suitable
• Careful and cogently argued analysis
• Of interest to an international readership

5
Mathematics

• Mathematics plays a significant role
• The study is specific to mathematics

6
Some questions to reviewers

1. Is it an educational study in mathematics?
2. Does it make a substantial original contribution?
3. Does it have educational significance and is it
   of interest internationally?
4. Does it have a suitable theoretical framework,
   and is this framework used for aims and analysis.
   Is it focused?
5. Is previous work (literature) appropriately taken
   into account?
6. Are the aims clear? Are they satisfied?
7. Is the methodology appropriate?
8. Is the analysis well founded (theoretical
   framework)
9. Do the conclusions follow from the analysis by
   cogent argument?
10. Is the substance to length ratio high?

7
How to go about it?

• Some comments

8
Overall considerations

• Read journal articles
• Choose the most appropriate journal
• In terms of style
• In terms of content
• In terms of level
• Dont be discouraged by a couple of rejections
• Learn from reviewers comments

9
MERGA / PME to MERJ / ESM

• The criteria are the same, but they are more
  stringently applied by the journals
• For example, I am satisfied for PME if I can
  gather that there is an original contribution,
  and it does not have to be very substantial
• Hints at a theoretical framework and its use are
  satisfactory
• A very brief literature review is satisfactory
• A partial description of the methodology is
  acceptable
• Etc.

10
Sit down and do it properly

• Most importantly Decide on a clear focus and
  stick to it.
• Describe the theoretical framework in detail and
  explain how it is used in your study
• Refer only to the directly relevant literature,
  but do it explicitly (the author may be the
  reviewer) show how it is relevant and how you
  have used it, for example in defining the aims
  of your research
• Give sufficient methodological detail for the
  reader to know what you have done
• Show (e.g., by example) how you have analysed the
  data
• Carefully argue how you reached the conclusions