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Scientific writingA.H. Mehrparvar
Occupational Medicine Department
Types of information Raw data Descriptive statistics Analytical statistics
Structure of the resultsThe Results include: Principal results (answer to the study question) secondary results Supporting information Any results that contradict the hypothesis
Beginning of results
Two methods:give a general panorama of the study
Directly starting the results
Negative results
Results Report data Do not interpret data Text Tables Figures Images
Using textWe don’t have extensive or complicated
dataWhen putting data into a table creates a
table with 2 or fewer columnsData is secondary or irrelevant to the
main study findings
TextSimple present tense:
Locate the dataSimple past tense:
To report dataActive or passive
Using table To show many and precise numerical values
and other specific data in a small space To compare and contrast data values or
characteristics among related items
Using a figure To show trends, patterns, and relationships when
general pattern is more important than the exact data values
To summarize research results To present a visual explanation of a sequence of
events, procedures
Tables and Figures Should be self-explanatory Refer in the text Not repeat data in the text Be consistent Clear, informative titles Journal guidelines
Guidelines for Tables Combine repetitive tables Large tables Empty cells Not to crowded Highlight a relevant result Abbreviations and symbols Units
Guidelines for figuresImage clarityAppropriate legendsLabel important partsUnits
Referring to tables/figures in the text
The figure/table shows…put the figure or table reference at
the end of the sentenceDo not repeat the information that
should already be contained in the table
Just point out the key result or trend
Frequent Mistakes• Failure to provide the data that is critical to
answering the research question• Adding interpretation to the findings• Inadequate statistical evidences• Over presentation of unnecessary details • Present accidental findings• Repeating the data from tables and figures
in the text• Repeating the statistical methods in the
result section
Discussion
Structure of discussion• The relation between the question of the
study and results• Comparison with other
studies/consistency/agreement• personal interpretation of findings• other possible interpretations• limitations of the study• Confounding factors or other factors
influencing the results
Discussion Statement of principal findings Strengths and weaknesses of the study Strengths and weaknesses in relation to
other studies: important differences in results
Meaning of the study: possible explanations and implications for clinicians and policymakers
Unanswered questions and future research
Beginning of discussion
• Objectives of the study• Refer back to the questions (hypotheses,
predictions etc.) that you posed in your Introduction
• Refer back papers you cited in your Review of the Literature
• Briefly restate the most important points from your Results
Comparisons
• A general statement regarding the findings• Mention another author’s work that relates
directly to the findings• Make a link between her/his work and your
work• Clearly state how your work differs from
her/his work• State the conclusions that can be drawn
from your results in light of these considerations
Frequent mistakesOver presentation of the resultsExaggeration of the importance of the findings
Conclusions that are not supported by the data
Refering to all published papers in the field
Conclusion Not just a summary Don’t merely repeat what you said in the
Abstract and Introduction A very brief revisit of the most important
findings A final judgment on the importance and
significance those findings Suggestions for improvements
Frequent mistakes
• Repeat introduction• Present new data• Repeat data presentation• General statements• Broad claims and strong statements
Other parts Conflict of Interest Acknowledgement Authors’ Contribution