Apr 10 • Publishing
Session Recap: Novelty vs. Originality — What Every Researcher Needs to Know
We just wrapped up today's Q&A and the conversation was brilliant. Thank you to everyone who joined — your questions made it really worthwhile.
Here are the key takeaways for anyone who missed it (recording will be up shortly 👇):
The difference that trips up most researchers:
Originality = you created something yourself, without copying anyone — but someone else may have done the same thing independently.
Novelty = your work is objectively new to the world. No one has done it before.
Your research can be original without being novel. And that's exactly why reviewers push back.
The 2×2 Novelty Framework (a simple way to check your research):
🟢 New solution + Old problem → Valid novelty
🟢 New solution + New problem → Breakthrough / incremental novelty
🟢 Old solution + New problem → Also valid novelty
🔴 Old solution + Old problem → Reinventing the wheel — this is where papers get rejected
If you land in the bottom-right box, it's not that your work is bad. It means your lit review hasn't gone deep enough yet.
The make-or-break paragraph:
The last paragraph of your introduction is where novelty is won or lost. Reviewers read: abstract → last paragraph of intro → conclusions. That's often it.
Your novelty statement needs to:
- Show what others have done (with their limitations)
- Identify the research gap clearly
- Explain exactly how your work addresses that gap
- Do this in one focused paragraph (or tight bullet points)
One sentence should be able to capture your novelty. If it takes five, you haven't found it yet.
A note on using the word "novel":
You don't have to write "this is novel" — and sometimes it's better if you don't. If the gap and solution are clearly stated, the novelty speaks for itself. Saying "we propose a new model" is often enough.
📌 Reminder: We're going deeper at the end of April
This was just an intro. Later this month (last week of April), we're running a full ~1 hour session on novelty, originality, and how to write a clear, compelling introduction from start to finish. Don't miss it.
💬 One thing I'll offer:
If you've received reviewer comments asking you to "clarify your novelty" — drop your introduction paragraph in the community and I'll give you feedback. Happy to help you sharpen it before your next submission.
31:05
13
1 comment
Session Recap: Novelty vs. Originality — What Every Researcher Needs to Know
powered by
skool.com/research-career-club-8446
Become 'go-to' research expert by delivering novel research; engaging outside academia; and building profile to amplify impact | Created by Prof Hanak
Suggested communities
Powered by