How to Write a Research Paper ?

ByDr.Shaik Shaffi Ahamed

Associate ProfessorDept. of Family & Community Medicine

Why to Write?

To advance knowledge Improvement in understanding of subject

To advance your institution Academic accomplishment, prestige, funding

To advance yourself Enhances clear thinking & scholarship ability Promotion, career development, reputation To get A+

Benefits often greater to author than reader

Writing a Paper: Getting Started

No single best way Varies from paper to paper Background reading--Literature

search! Decide on authorship

“The only way to learn to write is to write” --Peggy Teeters

Writing a Paper

Fix realistic schedule (Adherence) Need stretch of protected hours or

days Ideas come while writing When time is short: prepare, revise Location (nothing to distract) Maintain momentum

Academicians rated by what they finish, not by what they attempt

TitleAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences

Parts of a Manuscript--Structure

“Writing is a lot easier if you have something to say” --Sholem Asch

Methods I

For readers this is the most important section

Past tense Study design(prospective or

retrospective) Explicit inclusion/exclusion criteria Selection of study subjects

WHAT DID YOU DO?

Methods II

Ethical approval (IRB) Statistical methods(sampling technique,

sample size, & statistical tests) Data collection tool ( its validity &

reliability) Detailed enough so results can be

repeated by others

WHAT DID YOU DO?

Results I

Just the facts, in a logical sequence Past tense Check, recheck data/numbers-must add

up Give numbers and percentages: 1 (10%) of

10… P- values and confidence intervals Avoid discussion of results in this section

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

Results II

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

Tables & figures-straightforward, Tables & figures-straightforward, concise, not duplicative, should concise, not duplicative, should stand alone stand alone

Table(s) short & specific title at top Table(s) short & specific title at top

Figure(s) - concise legends, avoid Figure(s) - concise legends, avoid distractersdistracters

Discussion I

Always focus on your results Outline 3 to 5 main points that

come from results Build a paragraph for each point Finally permitted latitude to

elaborate and speculate

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Discussion II

First answer to the research question posed in the Introduction

Summarize previous work-compare your results

Explain what is new without exaggerating and its implications

What does your results mean? Strengths and weaknesses in

relation to other studies, particularly any differences in results

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Introduction

Short (3 paragraphs) First paragraph Brief background-establish context, relevance,

nature of the problem/question/purpose Second paragraph Importance of the problem and unresolved

issues Last paragraph Rationale: state hypothesis/main

objective/purpose

WHAT IS THE QUESTION/OBJECTIVE?

What we know?

What we don’t know?

Why we did this study?

Abstract

Critical part of paper Determines further reading of

paper Structured format Avoid abbreviations Write and rewrite until flawless Clear and concise

Writing StyleAccuracy & Clarity

Proper words in proper places make the true definition of style. --Jonathan Swift

Have something to say and say it as clearly as you can… the essence of style. --Matthew Arnold

If writing is unclear, readers and reviewers won’t understand

Avoid vague language Multiple mistakes in spelling and syntax,

suggests similar sloppiness in the project Check and double check data

Writing StyleAccuracy & Clarity

Use active voice whenever possible Active voice: the subject is performing the verb Passive voice: the subject receives the action

expressed in the verb Passive (more wordy) Active (more concise) For eg.,

There are treatment guidelines for carcinoma that were reported by Khalid, et al.

Correction: Treatment guidelines for carcinoma were reported by Khalid, et al.

Better: Khalid, et al. reported treatment guidelines for carcinoma. (Active voice)

Writing StyleAccuracy & Clarity

All first drafts have too many words Next drafts: prune vigorously, avoid

repetition, wordiness, long sentences, excessive adverbs/adjectives

Strip every sentence Writing improves in proportion to deletion

of unnecessary words When you have the choice of two words,

use the simpler one The most valuable of all talents is that of

never using two words when one will do. --Thomas Jefferson

Simplify a majority of = most a considerable amount of =

much a number of = several/some on account of = because referred to as = called has the capacity to = can it is clear that = clearly at the present time = now give rise to = cause is defined as = is subsequent to = after

“Those who have the most to say usually say it with the fewest words”

Revise, Revise and Revise

You may not be a very good writer, but be an excellent rewriter

Always look from a distance--see your paper as a reviewer

Polish the writing style Double check spelling Double check references

Submission

Identify the appropriate journal Read “Instructions for Authors”

thoroughly Conform to “Instructions” precisely Avoid careless mistakes

What Editors Like About Papers Originality Interesting to readers, important

messages Clear questions, correct methods Clear presentation (style) Good grammar

Editors and reviewers spend hours reading manuscripts, and greatly appreciate receiving papers that are easy to read and edit!

What Happens Next?

Acceptance

Revision

Rejection

The Review Process