Conference presentations vs. journal publications

[bananainpyjamas]

Which do you think would do more to help an application to a PhD program

Comments

[homericlaughter]

Obviously, it would be wonderful if you could find some way to do both.

If I *had* to choose, I'd take publication. It lasts longer.

[bananainpyjamas]

Thanks for the input! My concern is that it would be seen as overkill to wring two presentations and a journal publication out of one study.

[teaganc]

I know people who have presented a version of a paper that becomes a publication later. Present the less refined version, and then work with the faculty member to refine more until it is publishable. Then, publish.

[signsoflife]

I'm actually a bit confused. I've never encountered this idea that presenting data at a conference somehow prevents it from being publishable later. How are the people who didn't attend the conference supposed to learn about your work?

[kello24841]

So, you already have something under the "Conference" section of your CV? I would go for publication, and start working on that section. Shows your work is good in a variety of contexts.

[bananainpyjamas]

I have the conference presentation mentioned here and a student conference presentation. So yes, it probably would be good to try for publication. Thanks!

[sporkgoddess]

[bananainpyjamas]

That was my impression as well, thanks!

[gangur]

Both is best. Publication is better. The chance of someone seeing your presentation is low.

[bananainpyjamas]

That's what I figured, thanks!

[rusleeping]

Not even close. Peer-reviewed journal articles trump publications every time--unless the publication is a fifth-tier online journal no one has heard of and the conference is an ultra-competitive national conference with a very low acceptance rate.

Your earlier concern about getting two conference papers and a publication out of the same data set are unfounded. As long as your are testing new hypotheses, you have nothing to worry about.

[bananainpyjamas]

Thanks for the input! The conference is pretty competitive but my guess is that publication in a respectable journal would still be more difficult. I'll ask some professors in the field just to make sure.