How to write a scientific paper

NIDA NAEEMMBA (w/e)

What is research?

RESEARCH is purposely and methodically search for new knowledge and practical solutions in the form of answers to questions.

Serendipity

A PHENOMENON of finding something unexpected and useful while you are looking for something completely different. 

Types of Research Studies

There are two main types of research studies:

Experimental studies  Observational

studies 

Types of Research Studies

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY:An experiment is a study in which a

treatment, procedure, or program is intentionally introduced and a result or outcome is observed.

Types of Research Studies

OBSERVATIONAL STUDY:An observational study is a study in

which a researcher simply observes behavior in a systematic manner without influencing or interfering with the behavior.

Types of Research Studies

Experimental study

Uncontrolled trials: A clinical study that lacks a comparison

(i.e., a control) group. Controlled trials:A clinical study that have a control group

for comparison

Experimental study

Randomized controlled trialsThese studies are called randomized

controlled trials because people are randomly assigned to a certain behavior or treatment.

Non randomizedA clinical trial in which the participants

are not assigned by chance to different treatment groups.

Observational study

Cohort study:Comparison between the exposed and the non

exposed groups for a particular factor. Prospective cohort studiesA prospective cohort study follows a large group of

people forward in time. It basically collects information(exposure) from the beginning of the study.

Retrospective cohort studiesResearchers go back in time (retrospectively) and

collects information of an exposed disease.

Observational study

Case-control studiesPatients who already have a certain

condition are compared with people who do not.

Cross sectional studiesA cross sectional study, also referred to as

a cross sectional analysis, is a research study in which a disease and factors causing it are examined at the same time by a group of individuals.

How does research develop?

What is a scientific paper?

A scientific paper is a written and published report describing original research results.

A scientific experiment is not complete until the results have been published and understood.

What is the purpose of Scientific Writing?

The purpose of scientific writing is to communicate new scientific findings

Thus it has to be clear, simple and well ordered communication to transmit new scientific findings

A good research paper is the one that easily conveyed your idea to the reader

Why do we need scientific writing?

Knowledge is lost without written records

Knowledge could not be widely circulated with no effective duplication

Scientific Research Paper Components

Scientific papers generally follow a conventional format that includes a title, an abstract, a reference (or Literature cited) section and the components of the IMRAD structure.

The IMRAD Structure

Introduction answers ‘’why’’ Methods answers ‘’when, where, how,

how much?’’ Results answers ‘’what?’’ And Discussion answers ‘’so what?’’

Essential Parts of a Scientific paper

The Title The Abstract The Introduction Methods Results(tables and figures) the Discussion References

The Title

A good title is defined as the fewest possible words that describe the contents of the paper.

An improperly titled paper will get lost and will never be read.

Informative and specific Concise Understandable

How to Prepare the Title

Make a list of the most important keywords

Think of a title that contains these words

The title could state the conclusion of the paper

ABSTRACT:

It should be written in clear and simple words, as it is the first and sometimes the only part of the manuscript read.

It should provide a complete and selective summary of the most significant ideas and information

Describe the methods used Summarize the results, and State the principal conclusions

Criteria of the Abstract

It should not exceed 250 words It should be written in one paragraph. Long words should be followed by its

abbreviation which would be used through out the abstract and paper.

It should never give any information or conclusion that is not stated in the paper

Introduction

The introduction should answer the following questions:

What was I studying? Why was this an important question? What did I know about this topic before

I did this study? What model was I testing? and What approach did I take in this study?

Introduction

Methods

Be precise, complete and concise. Include only relevant information-no unnecessary

details, anecdotes, excuses or confessions. Detailed experimental procedures Questions such as “how” or “how much” must

be answered and not left to be puzzled over Explains analytical techniques used

Result (tables and figures)

It is the core or heart of the paper It needs to be clearly and simply stated since it

constitutes the new knowledge contributed to the world

Summarize and illustrate the findings in an orderly and logical sequence, without interpretation

Should guide the reader through the findings, stressing the major points

Tables and Figures

Tables and Figures are the foundation of your story

Figures and tables should stand alone and tell a complete story

The reader should not need to refer back to the main text

Tips on Tables and Figures

Use the fewest figures and tables needed to tell the story.

Do not present the same data in both a figure and a table

Discussion

It is the hardest section to write. Its primary purpose is to show the

relationships among observed facts It should end with a short summary or

conclusion regarding the significance of the work.

State your conclusions as clearly as possible

Summarize your evidence for each conclusion

DiscussionANSWER THE QUESTIONS ASKEDSUPPORT YOUR CONCLUSION (YOUR DATA, OTHER’S DATA)DEFEND YOUR CONCLUSIONGIVE THE BIG PICTURE’’TAKE HOME MESSAGE’’

Invert the cone!

References

What is referencing? Referencing is a standardized way of

acknowledging the sources of information and ideas that you have used in your document.

A list of ALL the references used in the text must be written.

Reference List

Any papers not cited in the text should not be included.

Reference lists allow readers to investigate the subject in greater depth.

A reference list contains only the books, articles, and web pages etc that are cited in the text of the document.

Why Is Research so Important?

for gathering information so that existing problems can be solved

doing research we are able to make smart decisions

Understand, well, exactly what we are researching

improve knowledge about the subject.

How researchers publish

Researchers publish and disseminate their work in many different ways

through formal publication in books and in learned and professional journals; through conferences and their proceedings; and through a variety of less formal means, now including web-based tools for social networking.