Date post: | 26-Dec-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | eustacia-norton |
View: | 223 times |
Download: | 2 times |
How to get your research How to get your research publishedpublished
(Intermediate Level)(Intermediate Level)
Shahin Akhondzadeh Ph.D., FBPharmacolS Professor of Clinical Neuroscience
Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Planning a research projectPlanning a research project
Choose a clear research question Is your question of interest to others? Is your question original? Plan how you will answer your question Get help from others before you start
Stages in a research study Stages in a research study
Planning the study & writing the protocol Carrying out the study & collecting the data Analysis & writing-up Going through the editorial process
What is Publication?What is Publication?
Publication is not a dichotomous event it is a continuum
Traditionally– Once it appeared in a paper journal
Today– Traditional journals & “eprint”
Strong and Weak publication ELPS
Dissemination of FindingsDissemination of Findings
Scientific papers Posters Abstracts Letters to editors Case reports Review
Choose a JournalChoose a Journal
Select before you write so format is appropriate
Focus of journal should be appropriate– Are similar papers in this journal?
Choose the best journal – Availability and readership– Ranking (“impact factor”)– Time to publication
How the BMJ handles papersHow the BMJ handles papers
Read by an editor
Peer review
Editorial Meeting
Editorial committee
Revision
15% (650) Accepted
Read by a second editor
85% (4,000) Rejected
Analysis of papers submitted Analysis of papers submitted to the BMJto the BMJ
1998Submitted
1998Accepted
1999Submitted
1999Accepted
2000Submitted
2000Accepted
All 4976 15% 5603 14% 5751 14%
UK 3182 18% 3583 16% 3517 12%Ireland 38 11% 50 18% 43 15%
How the BMJ reaches a How the BMJ reaches a decision on a paperdecision on a paper
Originality Importance Methods correct Interesting to readers
What editors like about papersWhat editors like about papers
Clear research questions Messages that matter Brevity and clarity in writing Good abstract Good grammar and spelling Clear presentation of methods and results
What editors dislikeWhat editors dislike
Unoriginal research Very long papers (> 3,000 words) Incorrect or flawed research methods Unrepresentative samples Non-randomised interventions
Why papers are rejected IWhy papers are rejected I
Research question not important Study not original Ethical approval not obtained Incorrect methods used Unrepresentative sample Sample size too small Problems with recruiting patients
When to Write?When to Write?
After you think you have a good story All critical experiments are finished Before you finish tying up all of the loose
ends– Writing up will show you clearly what
controls/additional experiments still need to be performed
Writing your paperWriting your paper
Most papers follow the IMRAD structure Introduction, methods, results and
conclusions Don’t forget other types of articles Editorials, education, debate, reviews Read the Instructions to Authors
In What Order Should Paper In What Order Should Paper Be Written?Be Written?
Figures and Legends Results Methods (easy part!) Introduction Discussion Abstract Referencing Letter to the Editor
Just Do ItJust Do It
Find a place where you will not be interrupted
Set down a first draft and do not worry about style- just write! - you can edit later
Better to write something than nothing Save mechanical stuff (references, methods,
figures) for the days you have brain fog
Figures and TablesFigures and Tables Easy to read and in logical order; not too many small
panels – figures should not need legends to be comprehensible– can figures be reduced severely without loss of legibility? – use the reducing Xerox machine to make sure fonts are large
enough– minimize white space
Try different types of format: tables vs bar graphs vs. figures- which is easiest to interpret?– Tables provide exact information while figures clearly show
trends Dependent variable goes on the inside of the table
Results IResults I
What you found (text, tables & figures) Give numbers as well as percentages Avoid over-complicated tables and figures Tables and figures should stand alone Don’t repeat yourself Guide the reader to the results you want
them to know about
Results IIResults II
Response rate (< 70% considered bad) Characteristics of responders and non-
responders - any significant differences? P values & confidence intervals Avoid discussing results in this section
Methods IMethods I
The study design Ethical approval Was there an intervention? Prospective or retrospective? Controlled or uncontrolled? If controlled, was it randomised?
Methods IIMethods II
Sample size calculation How the subjects were recruited Is the sample representative? What were the inclusion/exclusion criteria How was bias avoided Statistical methods Ethical approval
IntroductionIntroduction
Keep it short (2-3 paragraphs) The background to the study Why you have done your study What the research question is What kind of study you have done
DiscussionDiscussion
Main findings Summary of previous work and how your
results compare to this Limitations of methods What your results mean - clinical practice,
management, policy The need for further study Avoid speculation
Other elementsOther elements
Title Abstract References Acknowledgements Authors
TitleTitle
Make it concise and informative Mention subject Mention design Don’t give the answer to the question
Abstract- write last!Abstract- write last!
Summarizes the major findings in the broad context of the work
Consists of two or three sentences of topic introduction
Selected results (not all but the most important)
Concludes with implications of work About 250 words
ReferencesReferences
Cite references accurately - you must read them first
Limit to those that have a direct bearing on your work
Avoid citing too many papers Follow journal’s house style
Good writing styleGood writing style
Spend time acquiring a good, readable style of writing
Be clear and concise Avoid using too many long sentences When you have the choice of two words, use
the simpler one Use active rather than passive verbs Avoid using colloquial language
ConclusionsConclusions
Clarity Conciseness Accuracy Read the Instructions to Authors
Editing- GlobalEditing- Global
Save the journal space by writing concisely and by eliminating unnecessary or negative figures and tables
Proof all text carefully for errors-– typos, omissions, inconsistencies in the data,
redundancies, or errors in referencing.
Expect to revise again and again- 10 times ? Until language is perfect
– Take a break between drafts to get a fresh viewpoint
Editing- GlobalEditing- Global
Major alterations- is the order correct? (easiest to understand, most logical)– Cut up and lay out differently
Are all the correct elements in every section? Give your paper to colleagues for input on clarity Never give anyone anything that is not spell-
checked If English is not your native language try to have a
native speaker look at it
Editing/PolishingEditing/Polishing
Paragraphs- does each form a cohesive unit with a topic sentence?
Are they the right length- neither one or two sentences nor page-length?
At end, a summarizing statement or intro to next paragraph is very helpful
Writing Good SentencesWriting Good Sentences
Use active voice when possible Use the correct tense- present means it is
true while past means it is true under a specific set of circumstances
Do not switch tenses frequently
Writing Good SentencesWriting Good Sentences
Neither too short nor too long Avoid long strings of adjectives Avoid long strings of nouns
Writing Good Sentences and Writing Good Sentences and WordsWords
Use the best word for the job (for example, “utilize” is overused)
Make sure punctuation is correct (semicolon before “however”)
Omit all unnecessary words- the shortest phrasing is usually the best
DATA is a plural word! Limit the use of abbreviations unless standard
(ATP)
Submitting PapersSubmitting Papers
Write a simple direct cover letter to the Editor using his/her name
Suggest three reviewers if at all possible No need to plug the paper in the letter Submit electronically if you have a choice
as it will speed your review
Rebuttal LetterRebuttal Letter
Thank the reviewers for their time. They did not have to spend it on your work!
Address each criticism in numbered order Repeat or include the criticism in your answer You are allowed to argue one or two items but
most items should be addressed precisely the way the referee indicates
Conclude by saying that you feel the paper is improved and you hope it is now acceptable for publication
Further readingFurther reading
How to write a paper. George Hall. BMJ Publishing Group, 1994.
How to read a paper. Trish Greenhalgh. BMJ Publishing Group, 1997.
Medical writing. A prescription for clarity. Neville Goodman. CUP, 1996.
An introduction to medical statistics. Martin Bland. Oxford University Press, 1995
Any questions?Any questions?