An emergent approach that blends in the qualitative depth with quantitative breadth, the Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Design is a versatile research design which starts with an initial qualitative phase followed by a subsequent quantitative phase. Particularly a valuable research design when existing theories and models are insufficient to address research questions, the Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Design allows for the exploration of new variables, the development of hypotheses, and the creation of instruments based on the rich, contextual insights gained from qualitative data. Grounded in real-world contexts, how can researchers effectively navigate the integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches enhancing the validity and reliability of the findings by triangulating data from different sources and methods?

Shifting the focus from traditional, linear approaches to research towards more dynamic and adaptive methods that embrace complexity, foresight, and long-term impact, future-proofing and future-readying research involves meticulous planning, innovative methodologies, and an unwavering focus on addressing the grand challenges that will shape the world of tomorrow. Researchers must be able to cultivate a visionary perspective, capable of identifying emerging trends, potential disruptions, and the evolving needs of society. With the advancing pace of technological change, shifting research priorities, and evolving publication standards, how do researchers develop and publish research outputs that address the complexities, vulnerabilities and uncertainties of the future?

Sequentially blending the realms of numbers with compelling narratives to provide a comprehensive understanding of a complex phenomenon, the Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Research Design is a sophisticated research approach where the initial quantitative phase provides a broad, generalizable picture of the research problem which informs a sequential qualitative phase uncovering the stories, contexts, and meanings behind the data, offering insights that numbers alone cannot provide. Such dynamic interplay of methodologies allows researchers to uncover deeper insights, generate richer explanations, and develop more nuanced theories. A powerful synergy between quantitative and qualitative methodologies, how can researchers unravel the effectual integration of the quantitative and qualitative methodologies to unravel the deeper insights to explain multifaceted problems and intricacies?

As technology advances, pedagogical approaches shift, and institutional policies towards publications of students’ research outputs gain prominence, research teaching and thesis advising play a pivotal, critical role in shaping the research trajectory and scholarly achievements of students. In an evolving landscape of higher education, research teacher and thesis advisers are instrumental in defining and quality, impact, and ultimate success of student research. A complex and multifaceted process that requires conscientious dedication, expert guidance, and technological and pedagogical competence, how does one become an effective research teacher and thesis adviser guiding students towards thesis completion and research manuscript publication?

From research conceptualization to evidence-based policy recommendations, Generative AI offers a multifaceted tool that has immense potential to streamline, enhance, and expedite not just how researchers conduct of the scientific process but also how they communicate their research findings. With high-impact journal publications not just advancing individual careers but also shaping institutional research and policy directions, how can one leverage Generative AI in scientific writing ensuring careful considerations of its ethical issues and fostering responsible AI use?

Evaluating the authenticity, novelty, caliber, and integrity of research manuscripts considered for publication, the peer review process serves as a bedrock of good science. As a central pillar of trust for researchers, the process’ crucial yardstick lies on determining the scientific standards which will gauge the peer reviewer’s decision on whether to accept or reject papers for publication. As leading databases in scholarly publishing, Scopus and Clarivate Analytics (ISI) play a pivotal role in upholding these standards by employing stringent criteria for indexing journals and assessing the impact and relevance of published research. Serving as both gatekeeper and sentry of journal quality and research ethics, how can one become an adept peer reviewer safeguarding the academia against publications riddled with unfounded claims, significant errors, and ethical lapses?

Intrinsical, central, and integral to effective research instruction in today’s educational landscape is the convergence of established pedagogical techniques, innovative smart technologies, and burgeoning potential of Generative AI in the teaching of research. Teachers of research should be able to craft a research experience for students that encapsulates the synergy of pedagogy, technology, and AI; fostering a new generation of adept 21st Century learners and novice researchers. From topic ideation to research publication and utilization, how can a research teacher guide students to navigate the complexities of the research process?

Considered to be the gold standards of publishing top-tier research publications, the Web of Science (ISI, now Clarivate Analytics) and Scopus are renowned scientific indexing and abstracting services which provide an indispensable platform for researchers for the global visibility, credibility, and prestige of the published research work. The significance of ISI and Scopus publications lies not just in their role as repositories of knowledge but also in their ability to shape the trajectory of academic conversations; influencing researchers, institutions, and policymakers, alike. Serving as gatekeepers of the academic world, these platforms present a challenge and an opportunity: how can researchers navigate the intricacies of preparing, polishing, and publishing research manuscripts that embody methodological rigor, innovation, and scientific impact?

In today’s rapidly evolving academic landscape, the synergy of efficient research instruction intricately linked with effective thesis supervision serves as a critical pillar in shaping the success of students’ research journey. Where proficient research pedagogy provides the very foundation that builds and equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills, competent thesis advising and mentoring serves as the guidepost that aids students’ in navigating the intricacies and complexities of the research process. Helming through research topic ideation, article publication, and ultimately, policy formulation in a highly digitalized world, how can one become a research teacher and/or thesis adviser capable of mentoring students and advisees towards research completion and article publication?

A cornerstone of scholarly publishing and vanguard to good science, peer review is the rigorous, meticulous, and scrupulous process involving the evaluation of research manuscript by experts in the respective fields; assessing the paper’s methodology, publishability, integrity, and contribution to the scientific community. Among scientific database and publishers, Scopus and Web of Science (ISI) require well-defined and robust standards for peer review for its fleet of indexed journals. Together, both Scopus and Web of Science (ISI) set the gold standard for peer reviewed-literature consequentially creating better journal brands for publishers, high-quality articles for authors, and impactful, valuable research for the scientific community. With a commitment to academic integrity, journal quality, and research novelty, how can one become an effective peer reviewer gauging the merits of articles based on these defined scholarly standards?

From topic ideation to research dissemination, the integration of pedagogy, smart technologies, and generative AI in the teaching of research represents a major paradigm shift in education. One of the important sub-set of artificial intelligence, Generative AI has been a game-changer in the field of education and research with its ability to generate data autonomously which include texts, images and even music with the use of machine and deep learning.

Capturing the richness of qualitative data and the generalizability of quantitative data, the exploratory sequential mixed methods research integrates qualitative and quantitative methods by leveraging their respective strengths to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of a research topic. A mixed methods research design that begins with an initial qualitative phase and followed through sequentially by a quantitative phase, how can researchers effectively employ the exploratory sequential mixed method research design to gain deeper understanding of complex research phenomena?

Article citations, author indices, and journal impact factors have become the quantitative metric in defining the quality of articles, reputation of authors, and reliability of journals. From the hiring, tenure, and promotion of professors, securing of research funding and grants, publishing in high-impact journals, indexing of journals in top databases to even determining the world’s top ranked universities, citations, h-indices, and journal impact factors have been used as an objective reference in most of academic and scientific decisions. In a research environment where evaluation have revolved around these quantitative measures, how can researchers and journal editors get their articles and journals cited?