Planning academic research spans several levels – from the topic and methodology of a study to choosing journals for publication. A research plan and a publication plan are often taken to be interchangeable, yet they serve different purposes at different stages of the work.
What is a research plan?
A research plan (or research work plan) describes how the process of studying a chosen topic is organised. It sets out what exactly is to be studied, by which methods and in what sequence. Such a plan is usually drawn up for the whole period of work on a thesis, project or grant, and serves as the basis on which a supervisor or a collegiate body assesses the progress of the research.
For example, doctoral candidates draw up an individual study plan together with their supervisor – a document that sets out the thesis topic, the stages of research and coursework, and the expected timeframe for completing them.
This requirement is set out in law and applies to all universities and research organisations in the country: the plan is discussed within the relevant academic unit and approved by decision of the appropriate council, after which it serves as a point of reference throughout the doctoral programme.
As a rule, a research plan includes:
- the research problem and the aim of the study
- a review of existing scholarly sources on the topic
- the methodology and tools to be used
- the main stages of the work – from data collection to analysis of the results
- the expected timeframe for each stage
The publication plan as a researcher's tool
Unlike a research plan, a publication plan focuses not on the process of studying the topic itself but on how it is reflected in academic articles. It is a working tool that helps organise the preparation, submission and follow-up of publications over a given period.
A publication plan may be short-term, if it covers the preparation of one or several articles, or long-term, if it is linked to grant obligations, preparation for a thesis defence, or progression to a higher academic position. To be appointed to the position of associate professor in Bulgaria, for example, a candidate must meet minimum national requirements, which include, among other things, a monograph or a comparable body of publications in peer-reviewed journals indexed in international scientific databases. This makes careful publication planning particularly important at this stage of an academic career.
A publication plan usually includes the following elements:
- A list of articles with their provisional topics and co-authors.
- Journals matching the research profile and indexing requirements.
- Timeframes for preparing, submitting and undergoing peer review for each article.
- The priority of publications according to the academic's goals.
The format in which a publication plan is presented can also vary: some academics prefer a table format, with articles, journals and deadlines set out in columns, while others prefer a calendar format tied to specific submission dates.
What is the difference between a publication plan and a research plan?
The main difference lies in what is being planned. A research plan defines the content of the scholarly work – the problem, the methodology and the stages involved in addressing it. A publication plan defines how results, whether already obtained or still to come, are presented to the academic community through articles.
A research plan is usually broader in scope and tied to institutional requirements – it is agreed with a supervisor or approved by the institution. A publication plan is more often drawn up by the academic independently, as a working tool for organising their own publishing activity, and can be revised as work progresses without formal approval.
Another difference concerns timeframes. A research plan covers the whole period of work on a thesis or project and may be drawn up for several years ahead. A publication plan, as a rule, has a shorter planning horizon and is regularly revised as new articles are published or research priorities change.
The publication plan as a continuation of the research plan
Despite these differences, the two types of planning are closely connected. A publication plan is usually built around the stages set out in the research plan: once the literature review is complete, a review article may be prepared; once data have been collected and analysed, an article presenting original results; and once the whole study is finished, a final publication, or part of one, setting out the key findings.
This connection allows the academic to spread the workload of preparing articles evenly, rather than leaving publication until the final stage of the work. In addition, keeping the two plans aligned reduces the risk of a situation in which a study has been completed but its results have not yet been presented to the academic community in the form of publications – something that matters particularly when preparing for a thesis defence.
A research plan and a publication plan address different but complementary tasks. The former structures the scholarly work itself, while the latter structures its promotion within the academic community through publications. Using both tools together helps an academic meet institutional requirements, keep to grant or thesis defence deadlines, and steadily build their own publication profile.
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