Transcript It’s Time to Write for Publication: Demystifying the

Barbara Resnick, PhD, APRN
Kathy Michael, PhD
University of Maryland, School of Nursing
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I
don’t write very well
 I am not qualified to write
 It isn’t worth it
 I don’t have time
 It is too hard
 Etc……
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 We
will review overall paper
components but take….1
component at a time.
 We are shooting for success
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 Paper
component by component
will be done to result in a
publishable manuscript
 Opportunity to submit for peer
review to Geriatric Nursing for a
Special Issue
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 Title
Page
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
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 Think
about the main points in your
study you want to stress
 Be clear on your focus and reflect
this in the title
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 Determine
use of 1st, 2nd or 3rd person
◦ First person is “I,” and the plural form is “we.”
◦ The second person uses the pronouns “you,”
“your,” and “yours.”
◦ The third person uses “he,” “she,” or “it” when
referring to a person, place, thing, or idea
 Use
the reference style of the journal
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 Avoid
the passive voice, use active
voice (the subject is doing the
action)
 Include one idea per paragraph
 Have transitions between
paragraphs
 Define all abbreviations
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 Avoid
starting sentences with
“it,” “this,” “It is important to
note that”
 Use computer’s spell check
 Proof read the manuscript
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Use normal prose
 Stay focused on the research topic
 Proceed logically
 Use present tense to report well accepted facts
 Use past test to describe your study…which is
done and over
 Avoid informal wording
 Don’t address the reader directly
 Don’t use jargon, slang or superlatives
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1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat)
6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
7. Be more or less specific.
8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually)
unnecessary.
9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
10. No sentence fragments.
11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be
used.
12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
13. Do not be redundant;
14. One should NEVER generalize.
15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
16. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
17. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
18. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
19. The passive voice is to be ignored.
20. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary.
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21. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
22. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
23. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earthshaking ideas.
24. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate
quotations. Tell me what you know."
25. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times:
Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
26. Puns are for children, not groan readers.
27. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
28. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
29. Who needs rhetorical questions?
30. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
31. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
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 Primary
audience
◦ Nursing?
◦ Interdisciplinary?
◦ Clinical focus?
◦ Methods focus?
◦ How high can/should you reach?
 Sample size
 RCT versus pilot work
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 Primary
Research Aims
 Methodological paper
 Theoretical or Concept Paper
 Secondary Analysis
 Avoid Slicing/Dicing and getting
yourself in trouble!
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Determine the journal’s audience
Find out if the journal is peer reviewed (refereed)
Examine the journal
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NR
JOGN
CNR
GN
GNR
PHN
WJNR
JAGS
JAMDA
Public Health Journals: PHN; JCFN;
Journal of Women’s Health
Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
Behavior change Journals: Annals of Behavioral Medicine;
Translational Behavioral Medicine
◦ Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
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 Kosher
authorship
◦ Let ethics guide you…..Review authorship
guidelines
 Single
author
◦ REALLY????
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International Committee of Medical
Journal Editors
icmje.org
All three of the following conditions must
be met
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Substantial contributions to conception and design,
or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation
of data
Drafting the article or revising it critically for
important intellectual content
Final approval of the version to be published
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The following factors by themselves do
not justify authorship:
 Acquisition of funding
 The collection of data
 Supervision of the research group
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 Negotiate
at onset
 Don’t assume
 Document for all team members
 All authors sign copyright transfer
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Title….generally avoid too cutesy
Select an informative title
Think about the focus of the work….is the primary
point about exercise; falls; anxiety; is it measurement?
Include the name(s) and address(es) of all authors.
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 DO
NOT COPY PASTE FROM YOUR
DISSERTATION…..
◦Update and review as your
dissertation/capstone didn’t
happen overnight.Methods
◦Avoid references > 5 years old
unless classic
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◦ Where are you going? What do you want to do? You
need to provide a rational for why this study needed to
be done.
 IT WAS not because you had this data base available
and wanted to get done with your doctoral studies
 It is not because you thought it might be a good idea
 What are the clinical challenges and issues that drove
you to this?
 What were the research findings previously that drove
you to this.
 TELL me in one or two sentences…..then lets start the
outline and the writing.
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The purpose of an introduction is to aquaint the reader
with the rationale behind the work
Defend it…demonstrate the WHY??? Why was this
done? WHY do I want to read it???
As appropriate place your work in a theoretical
context.
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The author should address relevant studies by other
researchers;
Introduction should contain all the background
information a reader needs to understand the rest of
the author’s paper.
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Explain in no uncertain terms exactly what this paper
will address, why, and how.
An Introduction is usually 300 to 500 words, but may
be more, depending on the topic.
Some Introductions especially for social sciences are
several pages long 3-4….NOT 8.
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Start with a relatively broad background of the topic
you are investigating. Prevalence of the problem for
example, why it is important, high cost of falls or
whatever.
Progressively narrow the scope to move toward the
area you are studying . Justify how this topic requires
additional study.
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The author should address relevant studies
by other researchers; NOT a full history of
the topic
 The introduction should contain all the
background information a reader needs to
understand the paper.
 Explain all important concepts.
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Describe the importance (significance) of the
study - why was this worth doing in the first
place? Provide a broad context.
◦ Review prior research in the area
◦ What is known
◦ What is not known
◦ If it is contradictory you have to come to
terms with where the literature is….most
studies……DO NOT LEAVE THE READER
CONFUSED
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 Why
did you use this particular model
or theory?
 If the work is not theoretically
driven…what empirical emphasis
drives it?
◦ What are its advantages?
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State your specific hypothesis(es) or
objective(s).
 The purpose of the study is to test………………..
 Succinctly state 1-3 specific objectives or
hypotheses that your study addresses.
 DO NOT WRITE hypotheses as if it is a
dissertation 0- 10 objectives and 10
hypotheses. SHORT and to the point.
◦ Hypotheses will drive the rest of the paper!
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1. Too Much Information.
◦ Authors sometimes include far too much
information in their Introductions.
◦ Only information related to the subject should be
included.
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2. Not Enough Information.
◦ Don’t assume that the audience knows more than
they do.
◦ Authors often do not explain concepts, do not
provide enough background
◦ Don’t make your readers struggle to understand
your paper – make yourself clear.
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3. Unclear What Study Is.
◦ Bluntly state what this paper will cover, how, and why. Phrases
like “This study examines…” or “In this study…” are valuable.
4. Lists.
◦ Avoid lists and describe your study in prose instead.
5. Confusing Structure
◦ Big problem – my portion of that big problem – hypothesis
(logic underlying my study) – description of my study – why
the reader should care about this study.
6. First-Person Anecdotes.
◦ First-person reporting does not belong in a research
manuscript. The author shouldn’t even say “I found…” but “It
was found…” It’s a passive voice, but a standard one for
reporting research.
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 Have
confidence in yourself
 Avoid delay techniques
 Determine the best time of day to write
 Make time to write
 Find a place to write
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 Break
the process into small parts with
due dates
 Start writing – pick any section
 Write notes to yourself at the end of a
writing session
 Reward yourself
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Study testing a multifactorial falls intervention in
NHs.
 Start with the big problem-falls incidence
 Move to more focus-evidence of prior studies which
demonstrated efficacy but lack of maintenance
 Discuss how you will add a focus to maintenance in
your work
 Clearly state your hypothesis (es)
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 Refer
to the pdf files we sent you for
examples of a good introduction and
a weak introduction that we’ll review
now.
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 Title
page
 Introduction
◦Establish authorship
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 Due
in two weeks—Thursday,
April 11th
 Email to: [email protected]
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If you would like help with your introduction or want to
discuss the comments you received on your
homework, then please sign up for office hours.
April office hours will be held on Thursday, April 11
from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday, April 25, from
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
To sign up for a 15-minute time slot, contact Erin Vigne
with the time and date you would like to request.
Office Hours will be held via GoToMeeting, so you can
attend via phone or your computer.
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 We’ll
see you back here on Thursday,
May 30th at 4:30 p.m. for our next
session:
Reporting Research: Methods
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