Main Source How to Write and Publish a Scientific How to Write and Publish Paper, 6th edition, by a Scientific Paper Robert A. Day and Barbara Gastel (Greenwood Barbara Gastel, MD, MPH Press/Cambridge Texas A&M University University Press, 2006) 25 January 2008 Overview Introductory Comments • Introductory comments • Preparing to write a paper • Writing the paper • Publishing the paper • Some resources • Open discussion Scientific Paper Some Other Types of Journal Content • First publication of original research • Review articles (summarize the literature results on a topic) • Contains information for others to repeat • Case reports the experiments and test the conclusions • Editorials • In a journal or other entity readily available • Book reviews in the scientific community • Essays • Letters to the editor 1
Comments Preparing to Write a Paper • Writing a scientific paper: largely a matter of organization, not a literary task • Write to communicate, not to impress Deciding When to Publish Identifying a Target Journal • Some factors to consider: quality of the • If feasible, decide early (before drafting the work, extent of the work, interest to others paper). • Suggestions: • Look for journals that have published work similar to yours. – Seek guidance from those who are more experienced. • Consider journals that have published – Present your work orally first. It can help you work you will cite. • gauge whether the work is publishable • decide on content Some Factors to Consider Language of Publication • Audience • Papers published in English tend to be most visible. • Prestige • If a paper is clearly written and presents • Access good science, editors often are willing to • Impact spend time improving the English. • Publication time • Quality of reproduction • Likelihood of acceptance 2
Journals’ Instructions to Authors Using the Journal’s Instructions • Usual locations: • Read the instructions to authors before starting to prepare your paper. – in the journal – on the journal’s Web site • Consult the instructions while preparing your paper. • Links to instructions from many biomedical journals: http://mulford.meduohio.edu/instr/ • Check the instructions again before submitting your paper. • Note: Following the instructions will simplify your work and aid interaction with the journal. Beyond the Instructions Writing the Paper • Look at some recent issues of the journal. Doing so can help you gear your paper to the journal. The IMRAD Format The Front Matter for Scientific Papers • I ntroduction: What was the question? • Title • M ethods: How did you try to answer it? • Authors • R esults What did you find? • Abstract A nd • D iscussion What does it mean? • A format used in some journals: IRDAM • People read sections in various orders. 3
Title Authors • The fewest possible words that adequately • Those with important intellectual indicate the contents of the paper contributions to the work • Important in literature searching • Often listed largely from greatest contributions to least • Should not include extra words, such as “a study of” • Head of research group often is listed last • Should be specific enough but not too • Important to list one’s name the same way narrow from paper to paper Abstract The Core of the Paper • Summarizes the paper • Introduction • Widely read and therefore important • Methods • Commonly organized in IMRAD format • Results (may be structured abstract, with headings • Discussion corresponding to the various sections) • Content must be consistent with that in the paper • Normally should not include figures, tables, references Introduction Methods • Purposes: to allow others to replicate and • Provides background needed to to evaluate what you did understand the paper and know its • Should describe the study design importance • Should identify (if applicable) • Identifies the question the research – Equipment, organisms, reagents, etc used addressed (and sources thereof) • In general, should be fairly short – Approval of human or animal research by an • Typically should be funnel-shaped, moving appropriate committee – Statistical methods from general to specific 4
Methods (cont) Results • May include tables and figures • The core of the paper • An issue: level of detail in which to • Often includes tables, figures, or both describe • An issue: how much the information in the – Well-known methods text should overlap that in tables and – Methods previously described but not well figures known • Should present results but not comment – Methods that you yourself devised on them • Helpful to use papers published in the same journal as models Discussion Discussion (cont) • Often should begin with a brief summary • Typically should move from specific to of the main findings general (opposite of introduction) • Should answer the question stated in the introduction • Some other items commonly addressed: – Limitations of the study – Relationship to findings of other research – Other research needed Tables: A Few Suggestions Figures: A Few Suggestions • Use tables only if text will not suffice. • Use figures (graphs, diagrams, maps, photographs, etc) only if they will help • Design tables to be understandable convey your information. without the text. • Avoid including too much information in • If a paper includes a series of tables, use one figure. the same format for each. • Make sure any lettering will be large • Be sure to follow the instructions to enough once published. authors. • Follow the journal’s instructions. 5
End Matter Acknowledgments • Acknowledgments • A place to thank people who helped with the work but did not make contributions • References deserving authorship • Permission should be obtained from people you wish to list • Sometimes the place where sources of financial support are stated References A Suggestion • Functions: Start by drafting whatever part of the paper – To give credit you find easiest to prepare. (Many people – To add credibility find it easiest to start with the methods – To help readers find further information section.) • Importance of accuracy • Existence of various reference formats • Availability of citation management software (examples: EndNote, Reference Manager) Publishing the Paper Submitting the Paper • Traditional submission (by mail) • Electronic submission • Inclusion of a cover letter (conventional or electronic) • Completion of required forms 6
Initial Screening by the Journal Peer Review • For appropriateness of subject matter • Evaluation by experts in the field • For compliance with instructions • Purposes: – To help the editor decide whether to publish • For overall quality (sometimes) the paper – To help the authors improve the paper, whether or not the journal accepts it Revising a Paper The Editor’s Decision • Based on the peer reviewers’ advice, the • Revise and resubmit promptly. editor’s own evaluation, the amount of • Include a letter saying what revisions were space in the journal, other factors made. If you received a list of requested • Options: revisions, address each in the letter. – Accept as is (rare) • If you disagree with a requested revision, – Accept if suitably revised explain why in your letter. Try to find a different way to solve the problem the – Reconsider if revised editor or reviewer identified. – Reject Answering Queries Reviewing Proofs • Queries: questions from the manuscript • Proof: copy of typeset material to check editor • Some things to check: • Some topics of queries: – Completeness (presence of all components) – Inconsistencies – Absence of typographical errors in text and references – Missing information – Placement of figures and tables – Ambiguities – Quality of reproduction of figures – Other • Note: This is not the time to rewrite the • Advice: Respond promptly, politely, and paper. completely yet concisely. 7
A Final Step: Some Resources Celebrate Publication of Your Paper! How to Write and Publish AuthorAID Web site a Scientific Paper, 6th edition • http://www.authoraid.info/ • By Robert A. Day and Barbara Gastel • Designed to help researchers worldwide • Available through write about and publish their work – www.amazon.com • A new site; much more content will be – www.barnesandnoble. added com – Other • In resources section, includes PowerPoint presentations • Includes a blog Discussion Wishing you much success! 8
Recommend
More recommend
