Q: How can I publish a research paper based on an already published thesis?
I submitted my thesis to a standard paper repository, now I want to publish a research paper from the same thesis. But it shows high similarity. The Editor of the Journal doesn’t care about self-plagiarism. So how I can proceed?
Converting a thesis or dissertation into one or more journal articles is an acceptable practice. This is not considered self-plagiarism and most journals will not have any issues with this as long as you are transparent. However, in your case, since the thesis has already been published in a public repository, it is best to inform the Editor about this at the outset. The best way to proceed would be to explain in your cover letter that your paper is based on your thesis and that your thesis is already published in a repository. Provide a link to the thesis if possible. Also, make sure that you cite the thesis in your manuscript.
Additionally, you must keep in mind that a thesis and a journal article are two completely different sub-genres of academic writing. Each caters to a different audience and sets different expectations. A thesis is a lengthy discourse written to show how much you know about your research topic while a journal article is written for busy scholars who are looking for specific and evidence-based practical ideas. Hence, the journal article that you repurpose from your thesis should be more concise and it must highlight the important findings of your study. Also, make sure you rewrite the content using the style and format recommended by the journal.
For more tips to rewriting your thesis as a journal article, you can refer to these articles:
This content belongs to the Conducting Research Stage