Writing A Scientific Paper

Writing a Scientific Paper: Basics of Content and Organization Compiled by Hussein Sabit, Ph.D:

Writing a Scientific Paper: Basics of Content and Organization Compiled by Hussein Sabit, Ph.D

Why bother?:

Why bother? “ A naturalist life would be a happy one if he had only to observe and never to write ” Charles Darwin. The goal of scientific research is publication . No one benefits if results are not shared. Bad writing dooms good science. Simplicity and clarity-” the best English is that which gives the sense in the fewest short words. 2 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Scientific writing history:

Scientific writing history First journals began in 1655 in France & England. Until mid-1800s all papers were of descriptive style. In the mid-1800s Pasteur introduced experimental papers. 3 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Paper Format:

Paper Format Standard: Abstract Introduction Materials & Methods Results Discussion References Review paper: Abstract (mostly) Introduction Subheadings Conclusion References 4 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Four important questions:

Four important questions What message do I want to convey? What question did I ask? What was my answer? NOT, what was the purpose of this research? NOT, what the experiments did I do? 5 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Organizing your thoughts:

Organizing your thoughts The hardest part of the process. Outlines Brainstorming idea list. Clustering 6 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Finding the pieces:

Finding the pieces Never trust your memory!! Take notes now and through them away later. Construct figures, tables as soon as the data are available. Photocopy relevant papers and documents and take notes on them. 7 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Rabbits and Turtles :

Rabbits and Turtles Rabbits- write everything in one sitting… usually finish quickly … need more revision. Turtles- accept the job and work methodologically .. Usually a sentence or a phrase at a time … write in several sittings … need less revision. 8 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Overview:

Overview Definition of a scientific paper The IMRAD format Front matter: title, author(s), abstract Core of the paper: introduction, methods, results, discussion Tables and figures End matter: acknowledgments, references A suggestion Sources of further guidance 9 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

The IMRAD Format for Scientific Papers:

The IMRAD Format for Scientific Papers I ntroduction: What was the question? M ethods: How did you try to answer it? R esults: What did you find? D iscussion : What does it mean? Note that: People read sections in various orders. 10 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

The Front Matter:

The Front Matter Title Authors Abstract 11 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

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Title:

Title The fewest possible words that adequately indicate the contents of the paper Important in literature searching. Should not include extra words, such as “a study of” Should be specific enough but not overly narrow. 13 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Title:

Title The most read part in the paper Key to the data base access and retrieval Shorter is usually better A label not a sentence or question Be specific No abbreviation or jargons Should be limited to 50 characters Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper 14

The byline:

The byline No general rule for author order First author is the senior author but not necessary to be the senior scientist Corresponding author is the first one unless otherwise noted Names of males and females treated the same Degrees and titles are usually omitted Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper 15

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Authors:

Authors Those with important intellectual contributions to the work Often listed largely from greatest contributions to least Head of research group often is listed last Important to list one’s name the same way from paper to paper 17 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

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Abstract:

Abstract Overview and summarize all the major points in the paper Summarize: what you did how you did it results conclusions Concise Usually the last part of the paper written 19 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Abstract:

Abstract Not more than 250 words Type as single paragraph Written in the past tense No figures or tables No references No abbreviations Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper 20

The Core of the Paper:

The Core of the Paper Introduction Methods Results Discussion 21 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

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Introduction:

Introduction Background information Summarize previous studies Cite all appropriate references Outline question/problem to be addressed Contains the three sentences: Objectives Hypothesis Significance 23 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Introduction:

Introduction Provides background needed to understand the paper and appreciate its importance Identifies the question the research addressed In general, should be fairly short Typically should be funnel-shaped, moving from general to specific. Identify the approach and justify it 24 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

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Materials & Methods:

Materials & Methods What you did How you did it Enough information for someone else to repeat your experiments Falsifiability 26 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Materials:

Materials Use sub headers to guide the reader Do not include results here Provide complete materials list Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper 27

Methods :

Methods Give detailed methodology in general ‘how” and “how much” precisely answered Evidence for repetition and repeatability Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper 28

Methods:

Methods Purposes: to allow others to replicate and to evaluate what you did Should describe the study design Should identify (if applicable) Equipment, organisms, reagents, etc used (and sources thereof) Approval of human or animal research by an appropriate committee Statistical methods 29 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Methods (cont):

Methods (cont) May include tables and figures An issue: level of detail in which to describe Well-known methods Methods previously described but not well known Methods that you yourself devised Helpful to use papers published in the same journal as models 30 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

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Results:

Results What you found Often use tables and figures graphs graphical representations of results Should be easily understandable Should address every point from the methods, if not more 32 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Results :

Results No materials, no methods Should not justify experiments being conducted Written in the past tense First paragraph may be an overview Present information in only one form Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper 33

Results :

Results The core of the paper Often includes tables, figures, or both An issue: how much the information in the text should overlap with that in the tables and figures Should present results but not comment on them 34 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Have you so much data?:

Have you so much data? The journal does not need your lab book “ Including everything, leaving nothing out, does not prove that one has unlimited information; rather it proves that one lacks discrimination” S. Aaronson (1977). Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper 35

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Discussion:

Discussion The real meat of the paper Put your results in light of other studies How does your study conflict or support other studies? Big picture Problems encountered Future directions 37 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Discussion :

Discussion Often the hardest section to write Don’t recaptulate the results Show significance of work Last paragraph may parallel the end paragraph of the introduction – objectives, hypothesis, and significance- Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper 38

Discussion components:

Discussion components Do not introduce new data here Place the results in contest of the previous work Identify the practical application if possible State the conclusion Identify the evidence to support each conclusion Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper 39

Discussion:

Discussion Often should begin with a brief summary of the main findings Should answer the question stated in the introduction Some other items commonly addressed: Limitations of the study Relationship to findings of other research Other research needed 40 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Discussion (cont):

Discussion (cont) Typically should move from specific to general (opposite of introduction) 41 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Tables: A Few Suggestions:

Tables: A Few Suggestions Use tables only if text will not suffice. Design tables to be understandable without the text. If a paper includes a series of tables, use the same format for each. Be sure to follow the instructions to authors. 42 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Figures: A Few Suggestions:

Figures: A Few Suggestions Use figures (graphs, diagrams, maps, photographs, etc) only if they will help convey your information. Avoid including too much information in one figure. Make sure any lettering will be large enough once published. Follow the journal’s instructions. 43 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

General Writing Style:

General Writing Style Don’t be too personal I think that ... They say this, but I don’t believe it ... Use evidence (or lack) Our data show that ... They say this, but their evidence is, at best, sketchy ... 44 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

General Writing Style:

General Writing Style Be clear and concise ! Say what you need to say, then quit Who is your audience? No word contractions e.g., don’t, won’t, can’t Avoid colloquialisms Shows bad English, and we have enough of that already 45 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

End Matter:

End Matter Acknowledgments References 46 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

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Acknowledgments:

Acknowledgments Courtesy, not science A place to thank people who helped with the work but did not make contributions deserving authorship Permission should be obtained from people you wish to list Sometimes the place where sources of financial support are stated 48 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

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References:

References Functions: To give credit To add credibility To help readers find further information Importance of accuracy Existence of various reference formats Availability of citation management software (examples: EndNote, Reference Manager) 50 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

A Suggestion:

A Suggestion Start by drafting whatever part of the paper you find easiest to prepare. (Many people find it easiest to start with the methods section.) 51 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Ethics of scientific writing:

Ethics of scientific writing Avoid the dual publication Don’t use the work of others without appropriate attribution List only those co-authors who contributed substantially to the work 52 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

Main Source:

Main Source How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 6th edition, by Robert A. Day and Barbara Gastel (Greenwood Press/Cambridge University Press, 2006) 53 Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper

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Thank you for paying attention Hussein Sabit, Ph.D®-- How To Write A Scientific paper 54