This page is an additional service provided for students and aspiring authors by Praghna Centre for Research which publishes the Electronic Journal of Social and Strategic Studies (EJSSS) online. A Collection of interesting insights, tips and articles published by leading think tanks, newspapers, magazines and websites are posted here. The primary focus will be to help develop a scientific approach to undertake research in social sciences.
When articles from other sources (that specifically do not attract copyright conditions or ab initio open access publications, their abstracts or short description will be given here alongside the link for accessing the article online.
Students and researchers accessing the links may use the content for enhancing their understanding of the subject. In case they desire to use some of the material for their own research work, we strongly advise that they must give due credit/citation to the original author and publication.
For convenience, a sample citation in APA 6th Edition style for articles accessed through this page is given below:
Author Surname, First Name or Institution Name if published by agencies like UN, etc, [Date/year of publication], Title of the Article, Page number [if any], web link for the article, Date of accessing the web link by the researcher.
For examples of citation style (APA 6th edition), visit https://www.ejsss.net.in/authorguidline.ph
Why should young scholars write book reviews?
Many a young scholars
are of the view that writing opinions in websites or for newspapers is a mark
of scholarship. It is necessary to differentiate between opinions and scholarly
contributions. If one reads up a reasonable number of short pieces published on
various sources, an understanding of the topic more or less becomes clear. Take
South Asian security issues, for example. Ten published articles having been
read, we surmise that the region suffers from Taliban, Pakistan’s export of
terrorism, the Golden Triangle and drug smuggling, China’s outreach through
CPEC, etc. The opinions formed based on such reading is not entirely out of
place. However, these are manifestations of clash of ideologies, legacies of
Cold War and larger geopolitical objectives of regional/extra-regional players.
Delving on the manifestations alone will mostly result in imitating or
extrapolating the opinions that are reflected in popular media.
On the other hand, if
one undertakes the study of Stephen Cohen who is considered as an authority on
South Asian Security, for example, and then study the manifestations, the
larger import becomes clear in one’s mind. An article written based on such an
intrinsic understanding could be considered scholarly.
Thus, young scholars
should first seek out to read and write book reviews by well-known scholars.
This will enhance one’s own appreciation of issues comprehensively. Such
knowledge will lead to scholarly contributions that will enlarge our
understanding of international and strategic affairs, providing credibility and
originality to the analysis. More importantly, it will help in substantial
Literature review in PhD work.
Electronic Journal of
Social and Strategic Studies for one, strongly encourages young scholars to
review substantial books. We are happy to publish them too, subject to certain
formatting requirements that we communicate ti individual authors.
Happy reading and
reviewing - Dr R Srinivasan
Praghna Centre for
Research has been working with Think Tanks and Universities/Departments to
inculcate scientific temper among students and researchers to undertake
original research in social sciences.
Our program on Research
Writing is specially designed to facilitate easy understanding and application
of the fundamentals in research methodology. While scores of
students/researchers from Think Tanks and Universities have benefitted from one
to three day workshops, our own interns have drawn inspiration through our
mentorship to produce 11 research papers/articles till now.
We are happy to say
that these papers/articles have also been published and received appreciation
from practitioners and academicians of standing for the quality of output.
Drawing from the
experience of mentoring young scholars on research writing, a book is now being
published containing practical insights as to how to commence, proceed with and
conclude a research in social sciences.
This book titled “Research Writing: A Complete Guide”
published by How Academics Publishers is now available online. Keeping in mind
our objective of promoting scholarship among students/young researchers,
paperback edition of the book is priced at INR 290/- It can be procured from
the publishers website at
https://howacademics.com/index.php/product/research-writing-a-complete-guide/
Institutions and
Departments/Libraries interested in procuring hardbound copies may get in touch
with HowAcademics through the CONTACT US tab in the website given above.
I do hope that students
and emerging scholars will receive the book well and utilise it in their
research endeavours - Dr R Srinivasan
Nations grow to be dominant powers in international arena when they re-visit their history to discover the lessons that have propelled them to prominence or otherwise. Learning from history therefore is essential to determine the course of every nation.
The chapter applies Postcolonial approach to understanding the lessons China has drawn from its history to emerge as a formidable maritime power.
Drawing inputs from Chinese history, it examines Ministry of National Defence, PRC, Report 2019 to see if these lessons from its history have been incorporated into its strategic thinking.
Thereafter, the chapter lays down some lessons that India (as well as other nations) could learn from Chinese Maritime journey in order both fortify themselves against China's perceived ambitions as well as to emerge as maritime powers themselves.
Do hope the chapter provides insights that could help us understand China better.
Happy to
share - Dr Srinivasan
Peeking
at Peking: India, China and the World
Happy to share that a book by me,
titled as cited, has been published.
About the book: 1962 was a watershed moment in Sino-Indian Relations. Did China’s unilateral ceasefire and withdrawal result from its internal political compulsions? Is China using India to steady its political boat in internal turbulent weather? Did China agree to withdraw from Galwan merely due to India’s offensive posture? How did China go about building its aircraft carriers and how does it use artificial islands and villages to surreptitiously lay claim to sovereignty? How will the cashless trap that China is casting engulf the world? These and many such questions are critically looked at in the essays contained in this book. Stepping aside from the contemporary outlook and adopting a historical and methodical approach, the essays provide perspectives that are critical to understanding the Dragon, its compulsions, aspirations and outreach. Each essay relies on source material that render the analysis and argument substantial value, enabling a comprehensive appreciation of Chinese intent.
I do hope the book facilitates greater understanding on China and helps in furthering our knowledge through further research. The link for the book is posted below.
https://howacademics.com/index.php/product/peeking-at-peking-china-india-and-the-world/
Research Writing: Tip 2
Understanding What to Seek out of Research
Once upon a time, a Sufi saint was visiting a village. Being an elevated soul, his reputation had already spread far and wide. When the villagers came to know that he was in the neighbourhood, a great throng went out to pay obeisance to him.
He was seated below a banyan tree
and was deep in meditation when the people gathered around him. They waited
patiently till he at last opened his eyes and looked around the gathering with
compassion flowing out of his gaze. People prostrated in front and sang praises
to God for bestowing them with the visit of the holy soul.
One youngster in the gathering
however, was quite curious. He rode over the heads of many and reached the holy
feet of the saint. Unlike the rest of the gathering, he stood up pointing a
finger at the saint and asked:
“They tell me that you can talk
to God. Do you really know the language that God understands?”
The crowd drew its breath. Elders
felt that this youngster needed disciplining and there were murmurs across the
gathering.
The saint raised his hand to
silence the crowd. Looking squarely into the young man’s eyes, he asked:
“Do you know the language God understands? If you do, I would learn from you”.
Now, this story is for emerging
scholars. We have heard that writing for Scopus indexed journals defines
scholarship. But the question is: Do you know what it takes to write for one?
Best - Dr R Srinivasan
Research Writing: Tip 3
Learning about the Structure of Research
Research is the foundation for discovery of new knowledge. It helps in consolidating our knowledge, identifying issues that need to be address and finding solutions to address those issues. Interestingly, whether we would like to embark upon a research journey or just want to make a cup of tea, four things become necessary. 1. Understand the basics, 2. Determine the structure, 3. Collect necessary inputs, and 4. Actualize the purpose of doing the previous steps.
In this 8 minute podcast, I begin with a simile to help students and young researchers to understand the process of research. I do hope it is useful. Come, Let's make tea!!
https://hubhopper.com/podcast/research-writing/423416
Contents of this podcast and the ones that I intend doing in due course are drawn from my book Research Writing: A Complete Guide, published by HowAcademics, New Delhi.
PS: I am not a podcast person per se. But then,
curiosity to explore newer horizons is a quintessential attitude for research.
I look forward to your comments to help me improve.
Best - Dr R Srinivasan
Research Writing: Tip 4
Factors to Consider before You Start
Many students and researchers are posed with a dilemma as to where to start and how to start with their research work. Like in all scientific undertakings, planning and preparation are essential to start a research paper or project. In this short 5 minute podcast, I talk about the four Os that every researcher must consider before starting on their work.
It is good to remember that every great journey begins with the first step. In research too, the journey begins with contemplation and preparation. Best - Dr R Srinivasan
Research Writing: Tip 5
Identify a Research Gap
Research is akin to great journeys undertaken by explorers like Columbus. The discovery of America would not have occurred had Columbus no knowledge of navigation and ship craft. If we translate this simile to our research journey, sound knowledge of the subject of interest for research is the knowledge of ship craft. The destination that our research must reach is the knowledge of navigation. Without either of these, a research work would be an exercise in mere verbosity.
Young scholars and students must
first take to reading outside the curricula in order to accumulate the
knowledge on the subject first. As we do this, we must learn to flag the areas
where existing knowledge is either inadequate to provide answers or pathways
that may lead to newer answers are sighted. In research parlance, we would call
them as research gaps.
Once such a gap is identified,
then a scientific and structured approach (we call it research methodology) to
evaluate the gap is to be chartered,
just like how Columbus must have used his navigational skills to chart a course
to America.
It is as well to remember that
America existed even before Columbus. It is just that he chartered a course to
reach and discover. In the same way, knowledge exists in the universal order,
unbeknown to our mind as of now. By learning scientific approach to research
(methodology), our endeavour shall also result in discoveries that will help
quench the thirst of humanity for new knowledge and its applications.
I am happy to say that through Praghna Centre of Research, workshops and orientation talks are conducted for think tanks, departments and universities on the navigational skills needed for meaningful research.
Best - Dr R Srinivasan
Research is akin to great
journeys undertaken by explorers like Columbus. The discovery of America would
not have occurred had Columbus no knowledge of navigation and ship craft. If we
translate this simile to our research journey, sound knowledge of the subject
of interest for research is the knowledge of ship craft. The destination that
our research must reach is the knowledge of navigation. Without either of
these, a research work would be an exercise in mere verbosity.
Young scholars and students must
first take to reading outside the curricula in order to accumulate the
knowledge on the subject first. As we do this, we must learn to flag the areas
where existing knowledge is either inadequate to provide answers or pathways
that may lead to newer answers are sighted. In research parlance, we would call
them as research gaps.
Once such a gap is identified,
then a scientific and structured approach (we call it research methodology) to
evaluate the gap is to be chartered,
just like how Columbus must have used his navigational skills to chart a course
to America.
It is as well to remember that
America existed even before Columbus. It is just that he chartered a course to
reach and discover. In the same way, knowledge exists in the universal order,
unbeknown to our mind as of now. By learning scientific approach to research
(methodology), our endeavour shall also result in discoveries that will help
quench the thirst of humanity for new knowledge and its applications.
I am happy to say that through
Praghna Centre of Research, workshops and orientation talks are conducted for
think tanks, departments and universities on the navigational skills needed for
meaningful research.
Research Writing: Tip 7
How to Plan and Submit Your Article to a Journal?
What should you do submit your research to a scholarly journal?
Scholarship on a subject gives
the motivation and inspiration to undertake research. While research depends on
the knowledge one possesses, attaining visibility through publication calls for
certain organizational skill. It is necessary for every aspiring student and researcher
to polish their organizational skills too. So, how to organize yourself for
pursuing publication of your research? These are some of the tips that I have
dealt with in detail in my book on Research Writing: A Complete Guide (https://amzn.eu/d/8npomry).
1. Search for a journal that accepts scholarly works. Remember, not all journals are
ethical in their publication process. Look for journals that are peer reviewed,
indexed and provide doi for publications.
2. Look up the journal website. Remember to go through the author and submission
guidelines. Note down and comply with those requirements. Good journals will
reject your work if not complying with submission guidelines, even if otherwise
the work is of some quality.
3. Look for online submission protocol. Established journals usually follow online
submission process. This may require you to register as an author and create
login credentials. You will find the details in the author/submission
guidelines page of the journal’s website.
4. Prepare a short cover letter. Journals look for your credentials first. Pen
down your name, academic qualifications, previous publications if any (with
links) and provide your complete communication address, email and phone number.
Do not flood the covering letter with self-adulatory remarks. Editors do not
get impressed with self-praise or flowery language.
5. Write down an abstract. Abstracts are better written when the structure
of your paper is clear in your mind or, even better, when your paper is
actually being worked upon. See submission guidelines for the length of
abstracts acceptable to the journal you are looking up. Keywords are an
essential component of abstracts.
6. Submit your cover letter & abstract. Merely sending in your abstract
without a cover letter is presumptuous on your part. There are 13 million
students in higher education institutes in India. You are unlikely to be known
to an editor. Therefore, it helps to introduce yourself through a cover letter.
An abstract unaccompanied with a cover letter portraying author details will
usually be ignored. If you are lucky to find an editor who responds to you, remember
to acknowledge his advice with gratitude.
Share
this post with your network. Knowledge shared is knowledge multiplied.
Best wishes – Dr Srinivasan
Research Writing: Tip 8
Ethics Matter in Research
Does ethics matter in research
and publication?
Ethical behaviour is considered a
hallmark of personality that qualifies one to be referred to as a gentleman or
a lady. While this is true of all walks of life, in the publication world,
ethics actually demand actions that qualify for equivalent nouns – scholar,
professor, researcher, writer, publisher, editor, reviewer – all these words
have a ‘gentleman’ or ‘lady’ appended to them. Otherwise, every one of these
would just be known as ‘Predatory’ or ‘Plagiariser’.
So, how does one become an
ethical author, professor, etc? The short answer is in the adage PRACTICE WHAT
YOU PREACH. Interestingly, the long answer isn’t longer either. It just calls
for the following steps:
1. Do not steal.
Plagiarism is the only enemy of scholarship. Give credit to those whom you have
read, adapted or adopted from. After all, there is no one who knows it all.
Remember that even God doesn’t claim authorship. We ascribe it to him.
2. Pay where you should. Journals and some publishers who believe in Open Access do need
support. If there is an Article Processing or Publication Charge (ASC/APC), ask
or find out and pay. No one can give anything for free. Even love needs to be
complimented by loving back.
3. Show courtesy. An
editor has a thankless job, whether paid or unpaid. Unknown to aspiring
authors, he/she takes as much brickbats as he/she may receive accolades. But
then, that is not the reason why he became an Editor. He is a scholar of
standing in the field of his specialization. When you write to an editor with
your abstract, show courtesy, knowing that it will take years (perhaps decades)
to reach where he is now.
4. Be humble. There
are editors who are the last word in their area of specialization. They also
care enough to become editors to help propagate knowledge through a generation
of aspiring scholars. As a matter fact, they would benefit more by publishing their
own work, than spending time correcting and guiding an aspiring author. Even if
you are a published author otherwise, therefore, be humble. Humility is a
greater virtue than the ones that our collegiate education has ever bothered to
teach us.
Best wishes – Dr Srinivasan
Research Writing: Tip 9
Studying International Relations
The study of international
relations entails understanding historical precedence attending on the actors
as well as their demonstrated behaviour in contemporary times.
The study of historical
precedence is facilitated by books and scholarly papers. Demonstrated behaviour
on the other hand, requires the study of policy papers and statements issued by
concerned governments. When we piece together both, it becomes easy to analyze why a certain action takes place or the absence of such action, when it should
have taken place.
The recently concluded visit of
Secretary Anthony Blinken to China is one such instance that demonstrates the
need for the above in the study of international affairs.
My short perspective on this
visit is published by Chennai Centre for China Studies (C3S) today. It draws
from just three official documents published by the Department of State, USA,
and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC. The historical inputs, I guess, the
readers of this piece are familiar with.
https://www.c3sindia.org/post/perspectives-from-xi-blinken-meeting-by-gp-capt-dr-r-srinivasan
Do hope the importance of relying
on official documents is noted by aspiring researchers.
Happy to share - Dr R Srinivasan
Research
Writing: Tip 10
Discerning
Facts from Fiction
We take up a topic for research
most likely because it is at the centre of popular attention. This is
especially true in international affairs. There are ever green topics like
China-SCS or Russia-Ukraine conflict or Sino-Indian border issues. There are
also topics like state of democracy or freedom and human rights that are
forever attracting discourses.
We find experts and analysts
presenting their views on issues attracting world attention in TV, print media
and social media. These experts and analysts generally come in two forms: Some
among them have spent decades in teaching or practicing international affairs.
Others are self-proclaimed experts who have very little credentials other than
being visible in media platforms. There are a third category of experts too.
They are academicians and subject specialists who publish scholarly research
and write/edit books in the area of their expertise. Quite a few in this
category are infrequent in popular media.
The problem for a researcher
therefore arises from a single question: how to segregate chaff from the grain?
The broad answer is in
ascertaining whether a particular inference presented by the source that is
consulted for the research is verifiable. But then, international relations
(IR) is no laboratory process where alchemy may help in segregating cooper from
gold. The complexities of international politics and processes are too many to
be determined by one test. It thus becomes incumbent on the researcher to test
the validity of the source itself than to attempt an infructuous test of the
actors in international arena based on mere opinions in popular media. How do
we do this?
I have talked about ascertaining
the validity of a source in details in my book on Research Writing: A Complete
Guide (available on Amazon India).
Briefly, we must look at three aspects:
1. Who is the author of the piece
that we are consulting?
2. What is the nature of his/her
expertise on the subject? Is his/her expertise visible through scholarly
publications by him/her?
3. Are the
arguments/views/inferences presented by the author supported by verifiable
evidences through other scholarly and published works?
When the answers to these
questions are in the positive, a researcher may be reasonably assured that the
work or source relied upon can indeed support credible inferences. When the
answers are in negative, the researcher must look for other substantial
sources.
Plenty of food for thought. Happy
thinking.
Best – Dr Srinivasan
Research
Writing: Tip 11
How do I
choose a title for my paper?
We are aware that the title of
our work is the first to catch the attention of readers in the milieu of
scholarly writings that abound on the net. With so many papers and articles
that fill the pages in Google or Google Scholar, how do we get the attention
that our article merits? This question puzzles all researchers.
The answer to this question is
rather cryptic: simplicity. However simplicity is the most complex thing to
achieve not only in our writing but in the myriad dimensions of life itself.
Let us look at some examples first in order to understand what a title conveys.
The examples given below are for demonstrative purposes only.
Example: Let us take the title: The Geopolitical and Geo-economic
Implication of the Rise of China in Indo-Pacific in a paper that deals with
China’s expanding sphere of influence in Indo-Pacific Region with emphasis on
the footholds China has achieved in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh,
Gwadar and Djibouti.
Note that the article per se
deals with creation of Chinese ports and facilities in the places mentioned and
the probable threat to India’s maritime security, providing adequate historical
and statistical data pertaining to creation of Chinese facilities in these
places.
Now, it is not difficult to
appreciate that geopolitics and geo-economics span much more dimensions of
global affairs than the perceived threat to India’s maritime security. We also
note that there are scores of papers that deal with geopolitics and
geo-economics in Indo-Pacific. In addition, we find that geopolitics and
geo-economics have their own schools of thought founded on theories in IR.
Thus, there is every likelihood that the reader will get more attracted to
substantial discourses on geopolitics and geo-economics than this article that
only analyses the import on India’s maritime security.
Thus we find, for example, had
the article for example been titled China
in Indo-Pacific: Implications for India’s maritime Security the probability
of this article getting noticed is far better than the original title.
Tips for
providing a title:
From the example above, we notice
that two things are important in deciding a title for the work. One, the core
focus of the article, and two, major nouns in the paper (in this case, China,
India and the Indo-Pacific. We may therefore summarise the tips for choosing a
title as below:
1.
What is the core theme of the article?
2. What are the major nouns (countries, regions,
concepts, etc) in the article that the author himself is focused on?
Apart from the answers to the other questions, it is good to remember the
following:
3. Avoid unnecessary and superfluous expressions and terms. Like Geo-Economics is superfluous to an article dealing with China’s island chains in SCS. Geopolitics is superfluous to an article that discusses the withdrawal of America from Afghanistan or the internal turmoil in Pakistan. The coming together of Saudi Arabia and Iran is in the domain of West Asian politics, with probable extra-regional implications. It thus helps to to the focus of one’s article.
4. Keep the title simple. A lengthy and complex title is not a necessary indicator of scholarship. For example. The Future of Pakistan by Stephen Cohen says much more about the monumental book than what could be said in a dozen words. RJ Dalton’s The Quantity and the Quality of Party Systems: Party System Polarization, Its Measurement, and Its Consequences is path breaking and theory making paper on political parties and representation.
5. Pay attention to qualitative Literature Review before you write. Standing on substantial and established thoughts lends credibility to your analysis.
6. Provide scholarly citations. The quality of your citations actually attracts the attention of the research community. We know that where significant thoughts are under discussion, the ordinary or repetitive opinions that are heard in the chorus actually go silent.
My book on Research Writing: A Complete Guide provides more detailed
examples and tips on choosing the topic and title. The economical student
edition can be purchased at: https://amzn.eu/d/8npomry
Best wishes – Dr Srinivasan
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