radiologic technologists american society of … guide for authors will help you develop your...

1 ©2007 American Society of Radiologic Technologists. All rights reserved.

guide for

authors

American Society ofRadiologic Technologists

®

IntroductionThe Guide for Authors will help you develop your manuscript and other materials. The entire guide can be downloaded, or pages can be downloaded separately. Using this guide will help ensure that you prepare all necessary materials and include all required documents.

Refer to the guide for help in the following areas:

ASRT Journals

provides an overview of the content of ASRT’s scholarly journals and the differences between peer-reviewed and nonpeer-reviewed articles.

The Peer-reviewed Manuscript

describes the parts of a peer-reviewed manuscript and the format required for submission to the ASRT journals.

Submitting a Peer-reviewed Article

explains the peer-review process and provides specific guidelines for submitting your manuscript for peer review.

Columns

describes the various types of nonpeer-reviewed articles that appear in Radiologic Technology and Radiation Therapist, including descriptions of each column, word counts and examples of column topics.

Submitting a Column

provides specific guidelines for submitting a column to the journal editor.

Manuscript Outlines

explains how to organize and create an outline for your article.

References and Reference Style

reviews reference citation and gives examples of how to cite references in American Medical Association style.

Permissions

provides guidelines for requesting permission to reprint previously published artwork and other material or to publish a photo of a human subject. ASRT strongly discourages use of copyrighted artwork from other sources.


guide for

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ASRT JournalsASRT scholarly journals, Radiologic Technology and Radiation Therapist, keep readers informed about new developments in the profession. Journal content includes peer-reviewed articles, continuing education articles (Directed Readings) and technical columns. Peer-reviewed articles contain original research conducted by radiologic science professionals. Directed Readings are educational articles written by professional science writers or experienced radiologic technologists. Columns, or department articles, update readers on various aspects of the profession, and share and explore new ideas, applications and perspectives. Radiologic science professionals, experts in related fields or officials from radiologic science organizations write these articles.

The focus of each journal is distinct. Radiologic Technology is published six times per year. The journal focuses on all aspects of medical imaging and radiologic technology practice, including education and radiology administration. Articles cover specific diagnostic imaging techniques, anatomy, disease processes, patient positioning, equipment protocols, radiation safety, radiation protection and basic patient care.

Radiation Therapist is published two times per year. The journal covers all aspects of radiation therapy practice, including education and radiation oncology management. Articles cover specific radiation therapy techniques, anatomy, disease processes, patient positioning, equipment protocols, radiation safety, radiation protection and basic patient care.

Articles and Columns

ASRT has specific guidelines regarding the types of articles published in its journals.

n Peer-reviewed Articles – Scholarly writing makes use of citations and builds on the body of academic literature serving the profession. These articles report original research results, describe technical innovations or review the literature on a specific topic. Such work should reflect fresh research or thought and be unpublished. Only original work is accepted and should not be under consideration by other publishers at the time of submission. To be accepted for publication, these articles are evaluated by at least two members of the Editorial Review Board of the journal. See the Submitting a Peer-reviewed Article page for more information.

n Nonpeer-reviewed Articles – ASRT journals also feature columns or department sections in which writing with a more casual style is appropriate. Consult the Columns page of the Guide for Authors for a description of column topics and a more comprehensive list of requirements. A nonpeer-reviewed article may be submitted electronically to the journal’s editor at asrt.msubmit.net.


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The Peer-reviewed ManuscriptThis page describes the required sections of peer-reviewed manuscripts and specifies the required format for the various parts of your submission.

Peer-reviewed articles published in the ASRT journals fall into two major categories: quantitative research manuscripts and technical or literature review manuscripts. An author conducting quantitative research poses a question or hypothesis and then collects and analyzes data to answer the question or prove the hypothesis. Technical manuscripts describe a new practice technique, including historical background and implications for practice. Literature review manuscripts analyze previously published material on a specific topic, summarizing the research and drawing original or unique conclusions.

Consult Peer-reviewed Article Samples for examples of quantitative research and technical and literature review articles that have been published in Radiologic Technology and Radiation Therapist.

Definitions

Section Purpose

Abstract To explain the purpose of the article and provide a brief summary of the findings. Limit abstracts to 150 to 200 words.

Introduction To define the problem or need addressed in the manuscript, describe its relevance to practice, present relevant background material and clearly state the purpose of the research.

Literature review To identify published research and findings to which your work has added.

Methods or Procedure

Methodology

To describe the research processes used and identify the equipment used in the research (technical and literature review manuscripts).

To describe the research design, data gathering procedures, sample selection process, research instrument and statistical analyses used (quantitative manuscripts).

Results To report return rates, describe demographics of the sample and present results of statistical analyses (quantitative manuscripts).

Discussion or Comment To address whether the study results support the research question or hypothesis and to place the results in the context of other published literature. This section also should discuss implications for practice, limitations of the study and directions for future research, if appropriate.

Format

Element Format or Style

Title Times, 16 pt, bold

Body text Times, 12 pt

Margins 1” on all sides

Line spacing 1.5 spacing

Tables Single space on separate pages, flush left

Figure captions Listed on a separate page

Footnotes (for tables or figures)

Ordered accordingly: *, †, ‡, **, ††, ‡‡


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Submitting a Peer-reviewed Article ASRT welcomes submissions for the peer-reviewed section of Radiologic Technology and Radiation Therapist. Members of the Editorial Review Board (ERB) of the appropriate journal review manuscripts according to strict standards. This page explains the peer-review process and how to submit your manuscript.

What To Include With Your Submission

A peer-reviewed article submission must include the organized manuscript and a letter of transmittal assigning copyright to the ASRT. Use the Letter of Transmittal form. Please consult the following chart to ensure that you submit all the required materials.

The Manuscript The Letter of Transmittal

The manuscript should include the following sections, in the following order:

n Title page.

n Abstract.

n Introduction.

n Review of literature.

n Methods.

n Results.

n Discussion or conclusions.

n References.

n Footnotes (if applicable).

n Tables (if applicable).

n Figure captions (if applicable).

n Permissions for reprinted artwork (if applicable).

The letter of transmittal should attest to the originality of authorship and agree to assign copyright to the ASRT. Please include the following information:

n Name of the article.

n The following text: “In consideration of the ASRT journal taking action in reviewing and editing my (our) original manuscript, the author(s) undersigned hereby transfers, assigns or otherwise conveys all copyright ownership to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists in the event that said work is published by the ASRT in any printed or electronic format. The author(s) declares that the original manuscript contains no matter that is libelous, unlawful or that infringes upon anyone’s common law or statutory copyright.”

n All research funded by the National Institutes of Health is subject to the NIH’s Public Access Policy. The author(s) takes full responsibility for complying with laws requiring that NIH-funded research be submitted to the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central.

n The signature (with date) of all authors, listed separately.

How To Submit Your Manuscript

Manuscripts should be submitted electronically. To submit a manuscript to Radiologic Technology or Radiation Therapist, go to the ASRT Manuscript Submission Center at asrt.msubmit.net. Provide manuscripts as a Microsoft Word document. Submit artwork as separate electronic files; do not embed artwork in the manuscript document. Consult the Artwork Guidelines for artwork submission instructions. E-mail [email protected] with questions concerning the submission process.

The Peer-review Process

Reviews by ERB members are “double blind,” meaning that reviewers do not know the names of the authors, nor do authors know who is reviewing their manuscript. The peer-review process consists of the following steps and takes about eight weeks.

1. The manuscript is sent to the chairman of the ERB.

2. The chairman assigns the manuscript to at least two members of the ERB for review.


3. Reviewers evaluate the manuscript using a standard checklist. The Original Research Checklist, Literature Review Checklist, and Case Report Checklist used by ERB reviewers are available to authors.

4. Reviewers recommend that the manuscript be published, returned to the author for revisions or rejected.


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ColumnsArticles that do not go through the peer-review process, more commonly known as columns, appear in both ASRT journals. These columns vary in topic, emphasis and length. They may include tables, images or other supplemental information.

Radiologic Technology and Radiation Therapist Columns

Column Definition Word Count Example

Bookshelf Presents short book reviews on new medical imaging and radiation therapy texts.

300-500 A review of the Handbook of MRI Scanning

Case Summary Presents an unusual or challenging patient case or imaging assignment

1,000-2,000 Special techniques for imaging the augmented breast

Global Outlook Reports on education and practice of radiologic technologists in other nations

600-2,000 Advanced practice for mammographers in England

In the Clinic Provides practical technical information for on-the-job use

600-3,500 A new or unusual positioning technique

Management Toolbox

Focuses on practical issues concerning radiology department management and professional growth

600-3,500 Factors to consider when redesigning a radiology department

My Perspective Provides a personal opinion on a topic related to or experience in radiologic technology

600-1,500 The importance of considering patients’ emotional needs

Professional Review

Summarizes existing knowledge regarding a specific disease or addresses an issue of concern to the radiologic science profession as a whole

600-2,000 Discussion of alternative medicine and radiation therapy practice

Teaching Techniques

Focuses on teaching and learning in the radiologic sciences

600-3,500 Distance learning programs

Technical Query Covers troubleshooting image acquisition and processing

300-500 The cause of a halo effect on a radiograph and how it was corrected

Note: Some columns have regular authors and serve a special function. For example, Innovations showcases the latest medical research findings and new products in the radiologic sciences. RE: Registry addresses issues concerning the ARRT and the Patient Page explains specific procedures to patients and helps them prepare for an examination. Guide for Authors offers writers tips for getting an article published in an ASRT journal.

Letters to the editor are always welcome and are published in the Open Forum column. They may be edited for style and content and must be signed by the author. Those interested in reviewing books for the ASRT journals should e-mail [email protected].


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Submitting a Column ASRT welcomes nonpeer-reviewed submissions to Radiologic Technology and Radiation Therapist. The editor of the journal or a technical consultant reviews submissions for columns and departments.

What To Include With Your Submission

An article submission must include the organized manuscript and a letter of transmittal assigning copyright to the ASRT. Use the Letter of Transmittal form. Please consult the following chart to ensure that you submit all the required materials.

The Manuscript The Letter of Transmittal

The manuscript should include the following sections, in the following order:

n Main text.

n References (if applicable).

n Tables (if applicable).

n Figure captions (if applicable).

The letter of transmittal should attest to the originality of authorship and agree to assign copyright to the ASRT. Please include the following information:

n Name of the article.

n The following text: “In consideration of the ASRT journal taking action in reviewing and editing my (our) original manuscript, the author(s) undersigned hereby transfers, assigns or otherwise conveys all copyright ownership to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists in the event that said work is published by the ASRT in any printed or electronic format. The author(s) declares that the original manuscript contains no matter that is libelous, unlawful or that infringes upon anyone’s common law or statutory copyright.”

n All research funded by the National Institutes of Health is subject to the NIH’s Public Access Policy. The author(s) takes full responsibility for complying with laws requiring that NIH-funded research be submitted to the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central.

n The signature (with date) of all authors, listed separately.

How To Submit Your Manuscript

Manuscripts should be submitted electronically by the editorial copy deadline. Provide manuscripts as a Microsoft Word document. Submit artwork as separate electronic files; do not embed artwork in the manuscript document. Consult the Artwork Guidelines for artwork submission instructions. Submit your manuscript to asrt.msubmit.net.

Format

Element Format or Style

Title Times, 16 pt, bold

Body text Times, 12 pt

Margins 1 inch on all sides

Line spacing 1.5 spacing

Tables Single space on separate pages, flush left

Figure captions Listed on a separate page


guide for

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Manuscript OutlinesAn outline creates a plan for your article. Although readers will not see your outline, it can help organize your article. Your outline should consist of the major and minor topics included in your manuscript. If you are inexperienced with scholarly publication, the ideas on this sheet may help you put together an outline.

When creating and ordering your manuscript, it is important not only to recognize categories and related topics among your notes and research findings, but also to present them in a logical order, with one major idea leading to the next. The following recommendations can help you organize your notes into logical sections and present them in a way that makes sense to the reader.

Creating Topic Categories

To translate your notes and research findings into an outline, follow these steps:

1. Identify the major topics from your notes and research.

2. Turn these topics into headings.

3. Organize all of your information under these headings.

4. Consider ordering the information within topics in this way: idea, fact, detail, example.

Ordering Topics in Your Outline

After you have classified your information into a few major topic headings, the next step is to order the major headings logically. You will need to determine the connections between and among topics, and organize them accordingly. A few easy ways to do this include:

Ordering Technique Description/Content Example

Chronological n Order information or events according to the passage of time

The historical progression of radiologic equipment, a use of an imaging technique or the radiologic technologist’s role in a particular area

Cause and Effect n Identify and explain a cause or initial event

n Describe the effects

n Explain how the effects are linked to the cause

An explanation of a new development in radiologic technology and its effects on both radiologic technologists and patients

Definition and Application n Define and explain a new innovation

n Describe and explain its current or future uses

A description of a new radiation therapy technology, explanation of various applications for the technique and prediction of ways that the technology might be used in the future


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ReferencesASRT journals follow American Medical Association (AMA) style for reference citations. References must be cited in two places: within the text and at the end of the article. The following guidelines briefly review reference citation. Consult the AMA Manual of Style for complete information.

Choosing Appropriate References

In your manuscript, you must cite research that supports your points or findings; you also must correctly acknowledge the ideas and work of other authors. When choosing appropriate references and support materials, keep in mind the following general guidelines:

n References should be timely or historically significant, and sufficiently support the manuscript.

n Documentation of a personal communication, such as a telephone conversation or e-mail, should appear parenthetically within the text, not on the reference page.

n Internet references should be chosen carefully and used sparingly; they should represent reliable research sources, such as government Web sites (e.g., National Institutes of Health), universities or online scientific and medical journals (e.g., Radiology). Avoid using marketing or trade publications.

Citing References Within the Text

References within the text should be listed in the order of citation, using superscript numerals. Separate numbers with a comma, but no space; a sequence of three or more consecutive references can be shortened to the range of numbers.

Example:Development of a comprehensive marketing plan has been recommended as one solution.1,2 (See Fig. 1.) Others, however, recommend conducting a needs assessment first.3-8 Dr. Meyers has performed significant research in the area.4,6,9-12 He found that an adequate needs assessment can prevent improper allocation of resources (HR Meyers, Ph.D., personal communication, April 5, 2001).

Citing References at the End of the Text

References should be listed in the order of citation in a separate section at the end of the paper. Follow these general guidelines:

n Do not use commas to separate the author’s name and initials.

n Do not put a period after the author’s first and middle initials.

n Capitalize the first letter of the first word and all proper nouns in an article title; use lowercase for all other words in article titles.

n For articles or books with more than six authors, list the first three names, followed by “et al.”

n Italicize the names of journals and books.

n For Internet sources, include the URL and the date the page was accessed.

n See the Reference Style page for helpful examples.

Citing Figures and Tables in the Text

Figures and tables should be cited where they are discussed in the text. Number figures and tables sequentially.


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Reference StyleThe examples on this page show how to reference citations both within the text and at the end of the text, according to AMA style.

Reference Citations Within the Text

Each reference must be cited within the text in the order of citation, using superscript numerals. For complete information, consult the AMA Manual of Style.

Example:Development of a comprehensive marketing plan has been recommended as one solution.1,2 (See Fig. 1.) Others, however, recommend conducting a needs assessment first.3-8 Dr. Meyers has performed significant research in the area.4,6,9-12 He found that an adequate needs assessment can prevent improper allocation of resources (HR Meyers, Ph.D., personal communication, April 5, 2001).

Reference Citations at the End of the Text

References should be listed in the order of citation in a separate section at the end of the paper. National Library of Medicine journal abbreviations can be found at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi. Use the Journals Database to find journal titles.

Examples:

authors title of article

name of journal (use National Library of Medicine abbreviation)

year published volume no. page numbers

1. Lynch HT, de la Chapelle A. Genomic medicine: hereditary colorectal cancer.

N Engl J Med. 2003;348:919-932.

Journal Citation

address of Internet page date page was accessed

3. National Center for Infectious Diseases. Viral hepatitis C. Available at:

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c. Accessed June 13, 2003.Web Site Citation

author title of book edition (if other than 1st)

year of publication page numbers

name of publishing company

2. Netter FH. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 2nd ed. Teterboro, NJ: Icon Learning

Systems;1981:559-596.

Book Citation

city, state where publisher is based


guide for

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PermissionsWriters must obtain permission from the original copyright holder to reprint all previously published work that will appear in an article, including medical images, graphs, figures and tables. You must request both print and electronic permission. Although many publishers hold the copyright to a work, they also may require you to obtain the author’s consent before granting a permission. If you seek permissions online, you must include the same information for both written or electronic requests.

Permission also is required from any human subjects or models that appear in photography used in the article; you should ask these people to sign a release indicating that their picture may be used. Please refer to the following guidelines when acquiring permissions.

Permission To Reprint Work

Use ASRT’s Reprint Release form when requesting permission to reprint work. If you cannot access this form, include all of the following on your request for permission:

n The title of the work you intend to reprint (include the original figure number and figure caption).

n Where and when this work was previously published (use the full reference citation).

n If possible, a photocopy of the specified work from the original source.

n The ASRT journal title in which your article will be published and the article title.

n A brief description of your article and the article’s purpose (specify that you are requesting print and electronic permission).

n Your name, address and phone number.

n A space for the person granting permission to sign and date.

Requesting Permissions Online or by E-mail

When requesting permission online or by e-mail, be sure to:

n Be as specific as possible about where and how the work will be used; be sure to include all the information listed under the “Permission to Reprint Work” above.

n Ask that the person granting permission keep all specified information in their e-mail reply, along with their consent to use requested work.

Model Release

Use ASRT’s Model Release form when requesting permission to reproduce the photograph of a human subject. If you cannot access this form, please include all of the following on your request:

n A place for the model to fill in his/her name, such as, “I, ___________, hereby consent…”

n An explanation indicating that ASRT has the model’s permission to use, reuse, publish or republish the photograph, videotape or audiotape in any medium, for any purpose, at any time.

n A place for the model and a witness to sign and date.

n Your name, address and phone number.

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