CÁCH VIẾT BÀI BÁO KHOA HỌC(SCIENTIFIC PAPER WRITING)
Scientific Writing WorkshopHCM City, Vietnam, 26-27 Nov. 2011
Organised by the Univerity of Medicine & Pharmacy, HCMC.Endorsed by the Asia-Pacific Association
of Medical Journal Editors (APAME)
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CÁCH VIẾT BÀI BÁO KHOA HỌC
Scientific Writing WorkshopHCM City, Vietnam, 26-27 Nov. 2011
- Professor Datuk Dr. L.M. Looi Professor of Pathology, University of Malaya, & Editor-in-Chief, Malaysian Journal of Pathology - Professor Wilfred CG Peh Singapore Medical Journal, National University of Singapore - Professor JF Lapeña Jr. M.A., M.D., F.P.C.S Univerity of Phillipines Manila, The Health Sciences Center
- Professor Dr. John T. Arokiasamy International Medical University, Malaysia Editorial Advisor, Medical Journal of Malaysia
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WHY WRITE?WHY PUBLISH?
Writing is a way of life in Science:• Search for knowledge & understanding• Ideas & hypothesis testing• Factual observations• Accurate records• Challenge & Debate
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THE PURPOSE OF PUBLICATION
• A scientific experiment is not completed until results are published• Inform peers of discoveries• Allow other workers to verify findings• Join the realm of scientists and scholars
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Wrong reasons for writing ?
• Publish or perish• Ego-booster• Padding CV
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How to write?
A good paper has content, structure and style Basic Structure : IMRADIntroduction : Why did we start?Method (Materials & Methods): What did we do?R esults : What did we find?And Discussion : What does it mean?
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How to write?
BASIC STRUCTURE• Other components:– title, title page– abstract, keywords– tables, graphs, figures– acknowledgements– appendices– references
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Scientific Writing Style
• Factual, literal & unemotional vs metaphorical & poetic• Precise vs ambiguous• Concise vs repetitive• Formal vs conversational
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TYPES OF PAPERS
Authors should:– be clear about type of paper they are planning to write– construct manuscript– according to guidelines for the specific paper type
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American Journal of Roentgenology
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Title, Abstract, Keywords The Title- It should be short, clear, informative, precise and specific.- It should have maximum information with minimum words- It should attract readers with similar interests to read the document- The title is reviewed after the document being prepared is completed
The Title
• “Gastrointestinal manifestations of Dengue infection in adults”
• Psychological Distress, Quality of Life, and Coping in Cancer Patients: A Prospective Study
MJM Dec 2008
Title• May describe the subject of the article: “Pattern of lung cancer in Malaysia”
• May describe the focus in a field of study: “The relationship of obesity and exercise in
Diabetes Mellitus”
• May describe the outcome of an experiment: “Aflatoxin induces liver cancer in rats”
Title page– Title– Author(s) – initials and name(s); degree;
address– Corresponding author with address
Abstract
• This is most widely read• Sometimes referred to as the summary• Located at the beginning of the article• It must be easily understood to one who is
not reading the whole article• Conveys scope of the study• Provides as much information as possible in
a limited space
Uses of Abstract
• Helps decide if the paper is worth reading• Helps readers keep up to date with new
developments• Available in on-line databases
Writing the Abstract
• Structured vs Unstructured• Structured Abstract outlines:
– Purpose (Aims os ojective)/Background– Methods of the work– Important findings (Results)– Conclusion
UNSTRUCTURED ABSTRACT
STRUCTURED ABSTRACT
Writing the Abstract • Use simple language• Objective and factual• Avoid abbreviations, references• Maximum length is 250 words • Followed by 3 to 10 keywords
Keywords
• Inserted at the end of the abstract• Helps compilation of index and cross
referencing• Helps literature search
Keywords
• Based on the focus of the study• Captures main topics of the article• 3 to 10 words• Terms from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH
terms) list in Index Medicus are used
Writing the Introduction What am I going to say?
• Introduce a specific topic
• Provide background information about what has already been done by others, supported by a limited number of relevant references
• Inform about the purpose of the paper, what it will address, and how it relates to previous work
3S: Short, Sharp, Swift
Writing the Introduction The 3 paragraph rule:• What is the problem? (1st paragraph)
- Describe the problem to be investigated
• Why is it important? (2nd paragraph) - Review relevant research to provide rationale; show the gap
• What solution do you propose? (3rd paragraph) - Briefly describe your ideas: hypothesis(es), aim; research
question(s)…
1st paragraph
2nd paragraph
3rd paragraph
Writing the Introduction Common errors: • Overlong and rambling introduction section
• Extensive listing of references
• Extensive critique of others’ work
• Important previous work missing
• Objectives not clearly stated
• Inclusion of data or conclusions from the work
being reported
WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS
Also known as – Subjects and methods
– Patients and methods
– Methodology
– Methods
• Most important part of paper• Flaws in this section will lead to rejection
WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS
Purpose of M&M• Describe study in sufficient detail
• Other competent researchers are able to repeat the study
• Details are important
WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS
Components of M&M• What was done?
• How was it done? • How was it done?
• How was the data analysed?
• Do not include data obtained during course of study (Results)
WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS
• Usually the first section to be written during manuscript preparation
• Description of how study was conducted - Use past tense
WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS
MATERIALS• How subjects were recruited – patients, animals, controls• Define – source population – inclusion criteria – exclusion criteria
• Animals– genus, species, strain – genus, species, strain– age, gender, nutrition, physiological and pathological status
WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS
METHODS• Reproducibility is vital– complete details of new methods– precision of measurements– appropriate statistical analysis
• Apparatus/equipment– model, manufacturer, protocol• Drugs/chemicals,reagents– exact dosages, mode of administration, generic name, formula• Treatment details
WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS
METHODSStatistical evaluation• Which test used?• Why it was chosen• On what data?• To determine what?• Enough detail so results can be independently verified• Ideally: use standard statistical methods
WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS
MATERIALS AND METHODSCommon problems• Inappropriate subject population• Bias not controlled for• Insufficient number of subjects• No inclusion/exclusion criteria• Insufficient details of methodology i.e. not specific methodology i.e. not specific• Wrong statistical test used
WRITING THE MATERIALS AND METHODS
MATERIALS AND METHODSCommon problems• Inappropriate subject population• Bias not controlled for• Insufficient number of subjects• No inclusion/exclusion criteria• Insufficient details of methodology i.e. not specific methodology i.e. not specific• Wrong statistical test used
WRITING THE RESULTS
I ntroduction : Why did you start?M ethod : What did you do?R esults : What did you find?A ndD iscussion : What does it mean?
What did you find?– The “Meat” of the paper– Data should relate to Materials and Methods • Common error: Data provided but no methodology • Methods described but no findings– Present findings in logical sequence
WRITING THE RESULTS
Organisation is important• Organise data either in chronological order according to the Methods or in order of most to least important• Summarise the findings and point readers to the relevant data in the text, tables or graphs• Present the data in the text, or in a table, or in a figure. Never present the same data in more than one way
WRITING THE RESULTS
Write logically & accurately • Short and sweet; no long descriptions• Accuracy is important– Do numbers add up?– Are titles of tables and legends adequate and accurate?– Do arrows point to the right feature?– Statistical statements• Effective use of tables and illustrations
WRITING THE RESULTS
Common faults• Illogical sequence of data presentation• Too much raw data• Poor grouping of data• Inaccurate data• Repetition of data• Inappropriate presentation of data• Results do not match materials & methods• Attempts to interpret and draw conclusions
Presentation of Statistical Results
- Results: must answer the main research hypotheses or research questions- Present results in a clear, simple and concise way- Present data in a summarized form- Keep objectives in mind- Avoid discussing results in the “Results” section.- Significant results supported by e.g. p-value. Confidence interval
Statistical Presentation• Decimals and digits
– P = 0.00254321 or p = 0.003 or p < 0.003
• Units are important
• Explain why a certain analysis is done
• Care with using numbers when comparing groups: Rates are important
• Computing % - total n is important to mention
Statistical Presentation• Presenting results of tests
– range– mean with standard deviation (not standard
error)– Median with inter-quartile range
– t (56) = 2.76, p < 0.05
– P values; confidence intervals
• Choice of tables and graphs• Choice of tests; checking assumptions
Preparing the ReferencesQuality of references• Specific to the study topic• Cite the most credible work• Should have been read• Accurately cited • Conform to journal format• Only work that are cited in the text should be listed as references • Cite accepted unpublished work as “In press”• Citation of website and online journals: include URL and date of access• Citation of books: include publisher, publication date, edition, etc
REFERENCE STYLEVancouver style1.Harley CB, Fisher AB, Greider CW. Telomeres shorten during ageing of human fibroblasts. Nature 1990; 345: 458-60.2.Wright WE, Shay JW. The two-stage mechanism controlling cellular senescence and immortalization. Exp Gerontol 1992; 27: 383-93.Moon IK, Jarstfer MB. The human telomere and its relationship to human disease, therapy, and tissue engineering. Front Biosci. 2007; 12:4595-620.4.Kim NW, Piatyszek A, Prowse KR, et al. Specific association of human telomerase activity with immortal cells and cancer. Science 1994; 266: 2011-2014.5.Bodnar AG, Ouelette M, Frolkis M, et al. Extension of life span by induction of telomerase into normal human cells. Science 1998; 279: 349-52.6.Opitz OG. Telomeres, telomerase and malignant transformation. Curr Mol Med. 2005: 5: 219-26.
REFERENCE STYLEHarvard SystemTelomeres are non-encoding tandem repeats of TTAGGG at the ends of chromosomes. Telomeres are shortened because of incomplete replication at every cell cycle (end replication problem) (Harley et al., 1990) or oxidative damage (von Zglinicki, 2007). Cheah PL, Looi LM, Ng MH, Sivanesaratnam V (2002). Telomerase activation and human papillomavirus infection in invasive cervical carcinoma in a set of Malaysian patients. J Clin Pathol, 55, 22-6.Fordyce CA, Heaphy CM, Bisoffi M et al. (2006). Telomere content correlates with stage and prognosis in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 99, 193-202 Giri D (2009). Recurrent challenges in the evaluation of fibroepithelial lesions. Arch Pathol Lab Med, 133, 713-21Hara Y, Iwase H, Toyama T et al (2001). Telomerase activity levels for evaluating the surgical margin in breast-conserving surgery. Surg Today, 31, 289-94Harley CB, Fisher AB, Greider CW (1990). Telomeres shorten during ageing of human fibroblasts. Nature, 345, 458-60.
Authorship and AcknowledgementsCriteria for authorshipMade substantial contributions to the intellectual content– Concept and design– Acquisition of data– Analysis and interpretation of data
Certify that manuscript represents valid work–Vouch for validity of data– Take public responsibility for the work
Approve submitted manuscript–Involved in drafting or revising the manuscript
PRIME AUTHOR and MULTIPLE AUTHORS
Ethical issues in PublishingSTUDIES USING HUMAN & ANIMAL SUBJECTS• Conform to Ethical Guidelines – Declaration of Helsinki – ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice• Needs approval of Institutional or National Ethics Committee• Animal Care Committee
FRAUD & FORGERY• Falsified data & fraudulent results – Most serious misconduct – Swindled taxpayer – Misleading information• Misrepresent academic credentials Damage to image of scientists
PLAGIARISM• Intentional –Verbatim copying – Theft of intellectual property• Other examples – Reviewers - articles sent for review – Postgraduate students – published books & papers – Researchers – another’s grant application
AUTHORSHIP COMMON UNETHICAL PRACTICES• Unjustified authorship• Political authors• Exclusion of valid co-worker• Order of authorship
OVERLAPPING PUBLICATIONS• Duplicate submission – Simultaneous submission of manuscript to two or more journals• Redundant publication – Submission that overlaps substantially with already published work• Does not apply to oral & poster presentations at conferences• Does not apply to secondary publication in different language with permission of Editors
FAULTS: TITLE, TITLE PAGE, ABSTRACT AND KEYWORDS
FAULTS: BACKGROUND, KEYWORDS
FAULTS: MATERIALS & METHODS, RESULTS
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