Case Study
Interdisciplinary Research Published When No Single Discipline Fit
How a paper spanning technology and social sciences found the right interdisciplinary journal.
Journal
[Interdisciplinary Journal]
The Researcher's Starting Point
A researcher working at the intersection of technology adoption and behavioural economics had a manuscript that kept getting desk rejected — technology journals said it was too behavioural, and economics journals said it was too technical. After 3 rejections, the researcher was ready to give up.
Challenges Identified
Key Issues
- 3 desk rejections from single-discipline journals
- Paper genuinely sat between disciplines with no obvious home
- Framing kept shifting between technical and social science language
- Researcher losing confidence in the publishability of the work
How We Supported the Manuscript
Research Ramp's Role
- Interdisciplinary Journal Identification: Mapped journals that explicitly welcome cross-disciplinary work
- Unified Framing: Established a primary discipline (social science) with technology as the application context, rather than trying to serve both equally
- Theoretical Anchoring: Grounded the study in a recognised behavioural theory to give social science reviewers a familiar framework
- Methodology Clarity: Ensured the technical methodology was explained accessibly for non-technical reviewers
- Confidence Rebuilding: Demonstrated through journal analysis that the 3 rejections were scope mismatches, not quality issues
Publication Timeline
Month 1
Interdisciplinary journal mapping and framing decision
Month 2
Unified restructuring with behavioural science primary framing
Month 2.5
Submitted to interdisciplinary Q2 journal
Month 4
Minor revisions — clarification of technical methodology
Outcome
Result
Paper accepted in [Interdisciplinary Journal] (SCI / SSCI Q2) within ~5 Months.
Academic Integrity Disclaimer
- The researcher maintained full intellectual ownership throughout the process
- Research Ramp's role was limited to strategic publication guidance and editorial support
- All data collection, analysis, and core research decisions were made by the researcher
- Client details are anonymised to protect confidentiality
Working on Interdisciplinary Research?
Get a free consultation to discuss your manuscript, target journals, and timeline. No obligation.
Book Free Consultation
This case study describes Research Ramp's editorial and strategic publication support process. All client details have been anonymised. Research Ramp does not claim authorship of any published work. The researcher retains full intellectual ownership.