Unlocking Your Potential: 9 Essential Tips for Publishing Research as an Occupational Therapy Student

Achieving publication as a student is not only possible but highly rewarding. Have you been interested in advancing your research skills and publishing your scholarly work in a peer-reviewed journal while in occupational therapy school? Look no further! I am pleased to offer nine practical and insightful tips to help you turn your potential into reality in pursuing publication. Publishing research as a student offers numerous benefits that extend far beyond your time in school. Firstly, it significantly contributes to the body of knowledge in occupational therapy and provides valuable insights and advancements in the field. Your work can help shape future practices, inform policy changes, and even improve patient outcomes. Additionally, publishing scholarly work enhances your professional résumé, setting you apart in a competitive job market and opening doors to advanced career opportunities and further academic pursuits. Furthermore, engaging in the publication process hones your research skills, critical thinking, and academic writing, which are crucial for your development as a competent and reflective practitioner. It also provides a platform for collaboration and networking with established professionals and researchers, fostering mentorship and future research partnerships. Below are some tried and true tips and tricks that I have discovered through publishing research in occupational therapy and related fields during my time in occupational therapy school. I hope they guide you on the path toward publication as well!

1. Leverage Your Curriculum

Take full advantage of the research courses embedded in your occupational therapy program’s curriculum. Engage deeply with course content, materials, assignments, and other research projects. This engagement will likely form the foundation and baseline of your working knowledge and expertise in research. Use this time to explore potential research topics of interest as it is likely your passion and insight on the topic will shine through.

2. Pursue Opportunities

Search for research assistant positions on campus or within your program (e.g., research graduate research assistant). Participating in such opportunities can provide hands-on experience in ongoing projects with faculty members, helping you develop essential research skills and knowledge. I was employed as a research graduate assistant for the occupational therapy department in my program and assisted faculty with new and ongoing research projects. Some of these projects included developing surveys regarding assistive technology education in occupational therapy curricula, researching the effects of an online resiliency program and understanding individuals' perspectives of academic resilience, and surveying interprofessional campus activities.

3. Seek Guidance and Mentorship

Seek guidance and mentorship from faculty in your program. This could be from the faculty member who teaches your research courses or another faculty member conducting research. Identifying potential mentors with relevant research interests is key to growing and refining your skills. Schedule regular meetings to discuss your progress and receive feedback if you are working on a research project or paper that you wish to publish.

4. Make it a Collaborative Effort

Working alone on a big research project can be daunting, and collaboration with classmates and faculty on research projects can help. If there is a research project that you completed in the classroom that was of particular interest to you, there are opportunities to disseminate. Examples of dissemination can include publishing your work in a peer-reviewed journal or creating a poster presentation to display and present at a conference. Currently, a few of my classmates and I are working on a proposal submission for a potential opportunity to present our research findings that began as a class project. Collaboration allows for shared responsibilities and the opportunity to combine strengths for better outcomes, such as contributing to the occupational therapy literature and disseminating research material.

5. Ensure Research Rigor

Rigor in research is about being thorough and applying strict guidelines to the research process to ensure the quality, reliability, and credibility of the study’s findings. You can ensure rigor in your scholarly works by utilizing established guidelines such as Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and PRISMA-ScR for scoping reviews. Comply with standard ethical research guidelines and protocols relevant to your research design. Thorough and meticulous data collection and analysis are crucial for research quality. Have a second (or third) set of eyes proofread your work for common grammatical errors, flow, and consistency.

6. Journal Selection

Research relevant journals related to your topic. You can do this by performing a literature search to view examples of published papers that are in similar areas to your research interests. Check the journal’s specific requirements, such as submission types, formatting style, word counts, and author guidelines. Most journal websites provide metrics such as acceptance rates and notification timelines. This is important to understand when comparing journals and deciding which one to submit to. Note any article processing fees or publication charges associated with submission. Only submit to one journal at a time to avoid copyright and duplication issues. Lastly, ensure your article fits the journal’s aims and scopes before submitting it. The editor will not rewrite your article, even if it contains good information, to meet the journal’s needs..

7. Craft Your Submission

Craft a detailed cover letter geared toward the journal you are submitting to that highlights the significance and relevance of your research article to the journal’s scope and aims. Address the journal's editor-in-chief and editorial board professionally in your cover letter and future correspondences. Ensure thorough completion of all required submission documents and compliance with author guidelines. Some journals, such as the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT), require a “Presubmission Checklist” to confirm all necessary steps have been completed. If a journal does not provide a checklist for authors, you can choose to create one on your own to help you stay organized.

8. Networking and Professional Development

Networking and pursuing professional development opportunities are crucial for your growth as a student and future occupational therapy practitioner. There are many opportunities for students to network with occupational therapy practitioners and other professionals while in graduate school. These include attending occupational therapy conferences and workshops in your area (e.g., the American Occupational Therapy Association’s INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo or your local state occupational therapy association conference). Consider exploring other areas of interest beyond the occupational therapy profession. Additionally, presenting your research findings through student poster presentations or short courses at conferences, both in-person and virtually, can help you grow professionally. 

9. Utilize AOTA Resources

Take advantage of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA’s) resources that are included at no cost with your student membership. With your membership, you receive unlimited access to research databases and journals like AJOT for free. Participate in AOTA’s CommunOT and other discussion-based forums for additional support, guidance, and opportunities to share your research.

Conclusion

Perseverance, patience, and dedication to your research and publication goals are essential, as it can be a lengthy process at times. Try not to let a publication rejection discourage you from submitting research again in the future, and in  the meantime search for a journal that may align better with your research focus. 

Although these tips and suggestions do not guarantee acceptance or publication in a research journal, I hope they are helpful to you on your research journey. Remember to remain diligent and thorough in your work to successfully publish in a journal. Watching your hard work pay off is exciting; and contributions to the field of occupational therapy through research, no matter the size, are vital to advancing our profession. 

Juliana Bell is a third-year Occupational Therapy Doctorate student at Gannon University in Ruskin, FL. Her leadership and on-campus roles included Graduate Research Assistant, President of Pi Theta Epsilon, Secretary for the Student Occupational Therapy Association, and Graduate Student Government Representative. Juliana is currently completing her Doctoral Capstone Experience with the American Occupational Therapy Association in the areas of professional development and education. She is passionate about educating occupational therapy practitioners and students about occupational therapy’s unique role and skills in working with clients who are deaf and hard of hearing. Her current research projects are focused on understanding and exploring the occupational impact of hearing loss. Outside of her role as a student, Juliana enjoys spending time with loved ones, exercising, and appreciating the sunshine and beaches in the sunny state of Florida. 

Author Co-publications

Bell, J., Decker, B., Eichmann, A., Palkovich, C., & Reji, C. (2024). Effectiveness of virtual reality for upper extremity function and motor performance of children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78, 7802180180. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050374

Carsone, B., Bell, J., & Grisham, M. (2024). Academic resilience perceptions of graduate students and graduate professors. Journal of Academic Perspectives,2, 116–123.

Carsone, B., Bell, J., & Smith, B. (2024). Fostering resilience in higher education. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.56433/jpaap.v12i1.598