How to get your research How to get your research publishedpublished

(Intermediate Level)(Intermediate Level)

Shahin Akhondzadeh Ph.D., FBPharmacolS Professor of Clinical Neuroscience

Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Planning a research projectPlanning a research project

Choose a clear research question Is your question of interest to others? Is your question original? Plan how you will answer your question Get help from others before you start

Stages in a research study Stages in a research study

Planning the study & writing the protocol Carrying out the study & collecting the data Analysis & writing-up Going through the editorial process

What is Publication?What is Publication?

Publication is not a dichotomous event it is a continuum

Traditionally– Once it appeared in a paper journal

Today– Traditional journals & “eprint”

Strong and Weak publication ELPS

Dissemination of FindingsDissemination of Findings

Scientific papers Posters Abstracts Letters to editors Case reports Review

Choose a JournalChoose a Journal

Select before you write so format is appropriate

Focus of journal should be appropriate– Are similar papers in this journal?

Choose the best journal – Availability and readership– Ranking (“impact factor”)– Time to publication

How the BMJ handles papersHow the BMJ handles papers

Read by an editor

Peer review

Editorial Meeting

Editorial committee

Revision

15% (650) Accepted

Read by a second editor

85% (4,000) Rejected

Analysis of papers submitted Analysis of papers submitted to the BMJto the BMJ

1998Submitted

1998Accepted

1999Submitted

1999Accepted

2000Submitted

2000Accepted

All 4976 15% 5603 14% 5751 14%

UK 3182 18% 3583 16% 3517 12%Ireland 38 11% 50 18% 43 15%

How the BMJ reaches a How the BMJ reaches a decision on a paperdecision on a paper

Originality Importance Methods correct Interesting to readers

What editors like about papersWhat editors like about papers

Clear research questions Messages that matter Brevity and clarity in writing Good abstract Good grammar and spelling Clear presentation of methods and results

What editors dislikeWhat editors dislike

Unoriginal research Very long papers (> 3,000 words) Incorrect or flawed research methods Unrepresentative samples Non-randomised interventions

Why papers are rejected IWhy papers are rejected I

Research question not important Study not original Ethical approval not obtained Incorrect methods used Unrepresentative sample Sample size too small Problems with recruiting patients

When to Write?When to Write?

After you think you have a good story All critical experiments are finished Before you finish tying up all of the loose

ends– Writing up will show you clearly what

controls/additional experiments still need to be performed

Writing your paperWriting your paper

Most papers follow the IMRAD structure Introduction, methods, results and

conclusions Don’t forget other types of articles Editorials, education, debate, reviews Read the Instructions to Authors

In What Order Should Paper In What Order Should Paper Be Written?Be Written?

Figures and Legends Results Methods (easy part!) Introduction Discussion Abstract Referencing Letter to the Editor

Just Do ItJust Do It

Find a place where you will not be interrupted

Set down a first draft and do not worry about style- just write! - you can edit later

Better to write something than nothing Save mechanical stuff (references, methods,

figures) for the days you have brain fog

Figures and TablesFigures and Tables Easy to read and in logical order; not too many small

panels – figures should not need legends to be comprehensible– can figures be reduced severely without loss of legibility? – use the reducing Xerox machine to make sure fonts are large

enough– minimize white space

Try different types of format: tables vs bar graphs vs. figures- which is easiest to interpret?– Tables provide exact information while figures clearly show

trends Dependent variable goes on the inside of the table

Results IResults I

What you found (text, tables & figures) Give numbers as well as percentages Avoid over-complicated tables and figures Tables and figures should stand alone Don’t repeat yourself Guide the reader to the results you want

them to know about

Results IIResults II

Response rate (< 70% considered bad) Characteristics of responders and non-

responders - any significant differences? P values & confidence intervals Avoid discussing results in this section

Methods IMethods I

The study design Ethical approval Was there an intervention? Prospective or retrospective? Controlled or uncontrolled? If controlled, was it randomised?

Methods IIMethods II

Sample size calculation How the subjects were recruited Is the sample representative? What were the inclusion/exclusion criteria How was bias avoided Statistical methods Ethical approval

IntroductionIntroduction

Keep it short (2-3 paragraphs) The background to the study Why you have done your study What the research question is What kind of study you have done

DiscussionDiscussion

Main findings Summary of previous work and how your

results compare to this Limitations of methods What your results mean - clinical practice,

management, policy The need for further study Avoid speculation

Other elementsOther elements

Title Abstract References Acknowledgements Authors

TitleTitle

Make it concise and informative Mention subject Mention design Don’t give the answer to the question

Abstract- write last!Abstract- write last!

Summarizes the major findings in the broad context of the work

Consists of two or three sentences of topic introduction

Selected results (not all but the most important)

Concludes with implications of work About 250 words

ReferencesReferences

Cite references accurately - you must read them first

Limit to those that have a direct bearing on your work

Avoid citing too many papers Follow journal’s house style

Good writing styleGood writing style

Spend time acquiring a good, readable style of writing

Be clear and concise Avoid using too many long sentences When you have the choice of two words, use

the simpler one Use active rather than passive verbs Avoid using colloquial language

ConclusionsConclusions

Clarity Conciseness Accuracy Read the Instructions to Authors

Editing- GlobalEditing- Global

Save the journal space by writing concisely and by eliminating unnecessary or negative figures and tables

Proof all text carefully for errors-– typos, omissions, inconsistencies in the data,

redundancies, or errors in referencing.

Expect to revise again and again- 10 times ? Until language is perfect

– Take a break between drafts to get a fresh viewpoint

Editing- GlobalEditing- Global

Major alterations- is the order correct? (easiest to understand, most logical)– Cut up and lay out differently

Are all the correct elements in every section? Give your paper to colleagues for input on clarity Never give anyone anything that is not spell-

checked If English is not your native language try to have a

native speaker look at it

Editing/PolishingEditing/Polishing

Paragraphs- does each form a cohesive unit with a topic sentence?

Are they the right length- neither one or two sentences nor page-length?

At end, a summarizing statement or intro to next paragraph is very helpful

Writing Good SentencesWriting Good Sentences

Use active voice when possible Use the correct tense- present means it is

true while past means it is true under a specific set of circumstances

Do not switch tenses frequently

Writing Good SentencesWriting Good Sentences

Neither too short nor too long Avoid long strings of adjectives Avoid long strings of nouns

Writing Good Sentences and Writing Good Sentences and WordsWords

Use the best word for the job (for example, “utilize” is overused)

Make sure punctuation is correct (semicolon before “however”)

Omit all unnecessary words- the shortest phrasing is usually the best

DATA is a plural word! Limit the use of abbreviations unless standard

(ATP)

Submitting PapersSubmitting Papers

Write a simple direct cover letter to the Editor using his/her name

Suggest three reviewers if at all possible No need to plug the paper in the letter Submit electronically if you have a choice

as it will speed your review

Rebuttal LetterRebuttal Letter

Thank the reviewers for their time. They did not have to spend it on your work!

Address each criticism in numbered order Repeat or include the criticism in your answer You are allowed to argue one or two items but

most items should be addressed precisely the way the referee indicates

Conclude by saying that you feel the paper is improved and you hope it is now acceptable for publication

Further readingFurther reading

How to write a paper. George Hall. BMJ Publishing Group, 1994.

How to read a paper. Trish Greenhalgh. BMJ Publishing Group, 1997.

Medical writing. A prescription for clarity. Neville Goodman. CUP, 1996.

An introduction to medical statistics. Martin Bland. Oxford University Press, 1995

Any questions?Any questions?