Crafting a Multi-Dimensional Publication Framework: Expanding Beyond Traditional Research Objectives

In academia, the act of publishing research is frequently seen through a limited lens, often focused primarily on traditional research objectives such as disseminating empirical findings and contributing to theoretical frameworks. However, to create a more robust and comprehensive academic discourse, it's essential to consider a multi-dimensional publication framework that extends beyond these conventional goals. This broader framework incorporates broadening a focus to consider publishing methodological rigour, participatory engagement, and reflexive pieces for the researchers involved.

Objectives Categories: A Segmented Approach

Knowledge Creation Objectives

1. Research Questions: These serve as the backbone of any study, defining the core academic queries that the research aims to resolve.

2. Theoretical Contributions: This objective focuses on how the study either adds value to existing academic theories or paves the way for new theoretical understandings.

3. Empirical Contributions: The primary aim here is to discuss the data collected, its analytical interpretation, and its significance in the context of existing literature.

4. Policy Implications: For research with societal or governance impact, outlining how the findings could inform or influence public or organizational policies becomes a crucial objective.

Methodological Objectives including Participatory Engagement/Patient-Oriented

1. Method Validation: This is particularly important if the research employs new or unconventional methods. The study should validate these methods against existing ones to assert their efficacy.

2. Efficiency and Scalability: This objective addresses how the methods employed can be adapted for use in larger scales or more diverse datasets, contributing to their generalizability.

3. Transparency and Reproducibility: An often overlooked but vital objective, this ensures that the research design, data collection, and analysis procedures are clear and replicable by other researchers.

4. Ethical Approaches: Ethical considerations, particularly around data collection and participant involvement, should be clearly articulated and addressed.

5. Collaborator and Coresearch Involvement: This outlines how Impacted Groups are involved in the research process, whether it's in the planning, execution, or dissemination stages.

6. Community Feedback: An often-underserved objective, this focuses on how the study engages with communities that are the subject of or are impacted by the research.

7. Knowledge Mobilization: This is the process of translating academic findings into practical or policy-based insights that can be readily consumed by non-academic stakeholders.

Reflexivity for Co-Researchers - Sharing your experiences with the work and providing others with a roadmap of what worked and what did not.

1. Mental Health: Research is often a mentally taxing endeavour. Provisions for alleviating stress or mental health challenges that could arise during the research process should be in place.

2. Work-Life Integration: Objectives should be set to ensure that the workload respects personal lives and does not lead to burnout.

3. Skill Development: The research process should offer avenues for co-researchers to develop both hard and soft skills, contributing to their professional growth.

4. Co-Researcher Satisfaction: Regularly tracking and adapting processes to improve engagement and satisfaction can be a beneficial objective, especially for long-term projects.

A multi-dimensional publication framework offers a more nuanced and complete approach to academic publishing. By addressing objectives that encompass methodological rigour, participatory engagement, and even the well-being of the researchers involved, this comprehensive framework not only enriches the scholarly discourse but also enhances the integrity and societal impact of academic research.