Transcript Document

‫به نام یگانه آفریدگاری که انسان را به‬
‫زیور«اندیشه» آراست‬
How to write a qualified manuscript?
Roya Kelishadi, MD
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences,Isfahan,Iran
February 2014
Manuscript Writing
• Part I
– About writing and what makes a good paper
– Parts of a manuscript
– Figures and tables
– Writing strategies
• Part II
– Essentials of good writing
– Sentences-Paragraphs
– Common writing mistakes
Key problems
• Many papers are poorly constructed and written
– Some scientists have not learned good manuscript
writing techniques
– Others do not enjoy writing, and do not take the time
or effort to ensure that the prose is clear and logical.
• Authors are typically so familiar with the material
that it is difficult to step back and view it from the
point of view of a reader not familiar with the
science
– Peer review is therefore critical
The Avoidable Downfall
Your research
• Carefully planned
• Novel
• Flawlessly designed and executed
Your paper
• Poorly designed and written—rejected or delayed
• The loss or delay of disseminating important critical
information to the science community
Types of Manuscripts
• Full research report
– 3000 words
– 3-4 main/supporting points
– 3-4 tables figures
• Brief report
– 1800 words
– 1-2 main/supporting points
– 1-2 table/figure
• Research letter
– 800 words
– 1 point
– 0-1 table/figures
Types of Manuscripts (Cont.)
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Review Article
Editorial
Case report
Hypothesis/opinion
…
Structure of an original manuscript
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Title page
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Tables/Figures
Discussion
Acknowledgements
Order of writing
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Introduction (brief literature review)
Ghost Tables/Figures (analytic plan)
Methods
Tables/Figures
Results
Discussion
Abstract
Title page
Acknowledgements
Introduction
• Nature of problem and significance
• Context within prior knowledge
• Specific research objectives and preplanned
analyses, including subgroup analyses
Introduction
3 paragraphs
• Paragraph #1: What we know
– Limit to only pertinent references
• Paragraph #2: What we don’t know.
• Paragraph #3: What we did to find out
– Primary and secondary research objectives
– Preplanned subgroup analyses
Figures/Table
• Aim for 3-4 total
• Table 1: Patient characteristics
• Table 2-4: one each research objective
Tables
• Purpose
– Concise display of info
– Provide several levels of detail
– Reduces length of text
• Restrict table/figures to explain argument
and assess report
TABLES
In scientific research papers, tables are
commonly used for two purposes:
1.To present background information
related to methods for example, the
characteristics of patients in a study
( Table 1)
2. To present data that support results
(Table 2)
The Main Parts of a Table
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Title
Column Headings
Body
Footnote
The Title of the Table
The title of a table, like the title of a figure, is a
phrase, not a sentence, that states the topic 'or the
point of the table. The details included in a title
depend on the type of table. For tables that give
background information, the title should state the
topic of the information listed in the body of the
table (that is, the variables) and also the species or
population, the material described, or both. The
form is:Y of Z
Y in Z or
For tables that present data from experiments that
have both independent and dependent variables,
the title should state the independent variable(s)
(X), the dependent variable(s) (y), and the
species or population, the material described, or
both (Z).
It is not necessary to mention the controls in the
title.
Two standard forms for these titles are :
Effect of X on Y in Z
Y during X in Z
Column’s Headings
There are two main groups of headings:
1.the items for which data are given, in one
or more columns on the left side of the
table, and 2.the data, in one or more
columns on the right.
In tables for experiments that have both
independent and dependent variables, the
independent variable(s) are in the
column(s) on the left and the dependent
variable(s) are in the column(s) on the
right.
Number of Decimal Places
•Have the same number of decimal places in all
values for one variable.
• Have the same number of decimals.
•Use the fewest decimal places necessary to
decimal places in the SD as in the mean (Tables
2, 3).
Tables
• Double space on single page
• Number consecutively in order of first citation in
text
• Title should summarize data
• Do not use horizontal lines
• Give each column a brief/abbreviated heading
• Footnote explanatory matter
• Identify statistical measures of variation
Figures
• Number consecutively according to order
cited
• High resolution images
• Letters numbers and symbols need to be
clear and sufficient size
• Include titles and detailed explanations in
legend rather than figure
• Double space legend on separate page
Methods
• Study design
• Subject selection
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Source population
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Rationale for inclusion/exclusion criteria
Methods
• Technical information
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Variable definition and measurement
Reference well known procedures
Briefly describe and reference less known procedures
Describe in detail new procedures
Provide rationale for procedure selection
Apparatus: manufacturer name and city in parentheses
Methods
• Statistical/Analytic methods
– Provide enough detail for a knowledgeable
reader with access to original data to verify
results
• Specific analytic methods
• Software
– Approach to bias/confounding
• Human subjects approval
Methods
3-5 paragraphs
• Paragraph #1: participant selection
• Paragraph #2-4: variables and procedures
for each primary and secondary objective
• Last paragraph: analytic methods
Results
• Narrative should be same logical sequence
as tables/figures
• Summarize rather than repeat all data from
tables in text
• Include absolute numbers with percentages
Results
3-4 paragraphs
• Paragraph #1
– Patient recruitment
• Accept/decline
– Patient characteristics
• Paragraph #2
– Evidence for first objective
• Paragraph #3
– Evidence for second objective
• Paragraph #4
– Evidence for third objective
Discussion
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Summarize new and important findings
Conclusions should follow objectives
Suggest mechanism
Suggest clinical implications
Discuss limitations
Discussion
5 paragraphs
• Paragraph 1
– Summarize main finding
• Paragraph 2
– Summarize supporting findings
• Paragraph 3
– What are the implications
– How does it change practice?
• Paragraph 4
– Limitations
• Paragraph 5
– Summary/conclusion
References
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Cite relevant and update references
Avoid abstracts when possible
“in press” articles require permission
Avoid personal communication unless it
provides essential information not available
from a public source – include person and
date
• Check accuracy and formatting
Abstract
• Content or background
• Study purpose
• Basic procedures
– Selection of subjects
– Key variables
– Analytic methods
• Main findings including effect sizes/statistical
significance
• Principal conclusions
Key Words
• 3-10 works that capture main topics for
indexing - MeSH
Abbreviations
• Only standard abbreviations
• Use full term, then abbreviation in
parentheses after first use
Acknowledgement
• Individuals who made essential
contributions
• Funding source
The Title
• First reviewed by Journal Editors before abstract
• Short
• Specific, Relevant, Descriptive
• Write last—your findings and conclusions may
alter your title
Title: Ask Yourself
• What is the single most important point of this study?
• How would I tell my colleague, in one short
descriptive sentence:
what’s this study about?
• A descriptive, specific title perfectly framing your
study will be apparent only after you’ve written the
paper and abstract.
– Start with a short descriptive working title
Unnecessary Title Phrases
• A Study of… A Study to Determine Results of…
• An Innovative Method…
• Contributions to (of)…
• Investigations on (concerning, about)…
• Observations on…
• A Trial Comparing…
Title Page
• Concise title that includes important info
– Study design
– Research question/finding
– Makes electronic retrieval sensitive and specific
• Authors names and institutional affiliations
• Corresponding author: name, mailing address, fax,
email
• Sources of grant support
• Running head (<40 characters)
• Word count for text only
• Number of figures/tables
Simple as 19 Sentences
One topic sentence per paragraph
• Introduction
– #1: What we know
– #2: What we don’t know.
– #3: What we did to find out
• Methods
– #4: participant selection
– #5-9: variables and procedures for each primary and secondary objective
– #10: analytic methods
• Results
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#11 Patient recruitment and characteristics
#12 Evidence for first objective
#13 Evidence for second objective
#14 Evidence for third objective
• Discussion
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#15 Summarize main finding
#16 Summarize supporting findings
#17 What are the implications/how does it change practice?
#18 Limitations
#19 Summary/conclusion
Strategies For Success
• 2 uninterrupted hours per day
• Write intro/methods while collecting data
• Consider opinion/review paper while
collecting data
• Prepare ghost tables to guide analysis
• Write topic sentence for each paragraph
SUBMISSION
Who is the AUTHOR?
Co-author party?
New Authorship Criteria
• Substantial contribution to
– Conception and design, or
– Acquisition of data, or
– Analysis and interpretation
AND
• Drafting and critical revision of manuscript for
intellectual content
AND
• Final approval of submitted version
AND
• Accepting the responsibility of the
manuscript content
Authorship Order
• First author
– Design/conceive the study
– Writes first draft
– Partners with last author for subsequent drafts
• Last author
– Usually experienced investigator who partners with
first author in interpretation, analysis, and writing
• Second author
– Major contribution
• Third author
– Important contributions
• Middle authors
– Everyone else who qualifies for authorship
Corresponding Author
• Usually first or senior author
• Submits manuscript
• Corresponds with publisher/editor
– Revision
– Gallies
• Receives subsequent correspondence from
outside investigators
Conflict of Interest
• Financial or personal relationship that
inappropriately influences author, reviewer
or editor
– Employment consultancies, stock ownership,
expert testimony
– Same institution, relative, mentor, student,
academic adversary
– All potentially perceived rather than just actual
conflicts should be disclosed
Redundant Publication
• Substantial overlap with another manuscript in
print or electronic media
• Preliminary reporting to media, government
agencies or manufactures violates editorial policy
of many journals
• Related work should be referred to and referenced
• Consider including copies of related material
• Does not apply to presentations at scientific
conferences
Cover letter
• Format of article
• Brief summary of finding
• Statement of non-redundancy of submission
of publication
• Conflict of interest
• Read and approved by all authors
• Contact info for corresponding author
Submission Process
6-15 months
• Approval of co-authors of final manuscript
• Submission of manuscript and cover letter
• Editorial review (2-3 weeks)
– Reject
– Send out for review
• 1st review (6-12 weeks)
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Reject
Reject and revise
Conditionally accept
Accept
• 2nd Review (2-8 weeks)
• Gallies (2-6 months)
• Publication (1-3 months)
Manuscript Reviews
Peer Reviewers
No - DOA
Manuscript
Yes
Masked review
Journal
Decision Editor
Rejection - Outright
Revise-Acceptance ?
Receipt of
manuscript by
editorial asst
Editor
Title & Abstract
Headings
References
Tables/Figures
Read Through
Appropriate to
journal?
Conform to
guidelines?
Editor Reports
Summary of peer reviews
Summary of editor’s review
Revise-Accepted
Acceptance - Outright
REVISION
• Rebuttal letter
• Reply to reviewer’s comments
Journal Editor:
What’s A Good Manuscript?
Title descriptive and specific
Abstract descriptive, specific, and correct length
Introduction and background short and strong
Research question clearly stated
Literature cited is comprehensive and relevant
Methods descriptive enough to be replicated; appropriate statistical analyses
Figures and Tables stand on their own, support conclusions, well constructed
Citations relevant to topic
Discussion within boundaries of findings; demonstrate how findings have helped resolve
stated problem; implications and future work addressed
Writing clear, terse, logical
Manuscript follows journal guidelines
Top 10 Reasons Manuscripts
Rejected
1.
Wrong journal, format, preparation
2.
Disorganized study design
3.
Defective tables, figures
4.
Poor organization throughout, writing, spelling
5.
No hypothesis or problem statement
6.
No or insufficient conclusion
7.
Overinterpretation of results
8.
Article unfocused, too verbose and long
9.
Inappropriate statistical methods; methods not sufficient to repeat study
10.
Poorly written abstract/title
Pierson DJ, Respiratory Care 49(10), 2004
Byrne DW, Publishing Medical Research Papers, Williams and Wilkins, 1998
Checking
PLAGIARISM
Able to check English and Persian texts
Able to check English and Persian texts
Able to check English and Persian texts
DUPLICATE PUBLICATION
Duplicate publication
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Duplicate publication, multiple publication,
or redundant publication refers to
publishing the same intellectual material
more than once, by the author or publisher.
It does not refer to the unauthorized
republication by someone else, which
constitutes plagiarism, copyright violation,
or both.
Guidance on writing research papers
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors
uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to
biomedical journals
http://www.icmje.org/
•
Reporting guidelines for research, at the EQUATOR
network resource centre
http://www.equator-network.org/