Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Research writing in New Zealand

SideLines, May 2005

Research writers - and especially academic research writers - are often unwilling to part with money for help with editing or translation, or do not have anything other than their own pocket money to pay for it. If writers are lucky, journal referees will do some editing, but this partly explains why journals have trouble finding good referees. Referees do not want to lose time reading rubbish.

The end result is that academic editing payments are less on average than commercial payments. Fortunately, the volunteer spirit of many researchers, and promises of mutual assistance, mean that most research papers are given at least some reading by a second person, before going to a journal.

Volunteer and mutual assistance have long been important New Zealand research. Through good teaching, volunteer efforts, and a sense of professional obligation, our small research population has been maintained relatively high standards of research, writing, and publishing - despite very limited budgets for these activities.

Research writers need help in a very wide range of subjects, and there is also a general need - worldwide - for paid professional editing and translation. Volunteer and professional editors or translators can usually find work that is close to their own interests, and valuable for their professional development.

When a good match is made, then the writer, editor or translator, and reader all benefit. The aim of this website is to help make the triple benefits more common.

Contact: info (at) researchco-op (dot) co.nz