Pisanje znanstvenog Pisanje znanstvenog radarada

“There is no way to get experience except through experience.”

"You lose all your readers, but at least you can't be accused of being an idiot. Instead,

the readers are made to feel like they're idiots." (Science, 15 Aug 97)

“The fact that the author thinks slowly is not serious, but the fact that he publishes

faster than he thinks is inexcusable.” - Wolfgang Pauli (physicists)

"Hell - sitting on a hot stone reading your own scientific publications” - Erik Ursin

(fish biologist)

What is a scientific paper?

A scientific paper is a written and published report describing original

research results

““Scientists are rated by what they Scientists are rated by what they finish, not by what they attempt”finish, not by what they attempt”

Why write and publish research papers?

Ideally – to share research findings and discoveries with the hope of improving healthcare.

Practically - to get funding- to get promoted- to get a job- to keep your job!

What kind of research papers?

• Journals• Workshop/Conference Papers• Dissertations/Thesis• Technical Reports• Popular Science Publications

Things to consider before writing

1. Time to write the paper? - has a significant advancement been made?- is the hypothesis straightforward?- did the experiments test the hypothesis?- are the controls appropriate and sufficient?- can you describe the study in 1 or 2 minutes?- can the key message be written in 1 or 2

sentences?2. Tables and figures

- must be clear and concise- should be self-explanatory

3. Read references - will help in choosing journal- better insight into possible reviewers

4. Choose journal - study “instructions to authors”- think about possible reviewers- quality of journal “impact factor”

5. Tentative title and concept

Things to consider before writing

6. Autorship- Who will be coauthors- Who only will be acknowledged- Order of authors

Important tips!Important tips!

FALLACY:FALLACY: It’s only the number of papers that count.

FACT:FACT: One good detailed paper in a prestigious journal is worth far more than smaller component papers in lesser journals!

(not applicable for majority of researchers)(in Croatia not applicable at all, although

changes are currently under way!!!)

Important tips!Important tips!

• It is not enough to write so that the reader can understand; You should write so that the reader cannot misunderstand!

• You can learn a lot from studying other people’s work, but ... never, ever, claim somebody else’s work as your own.

Seven deadly Seven deadly sinssins

1. Data manipulation, falsification

2. Duplicate manuscripts3. Redundant publication4. Plagiarism5. Author conflicts of interest6. Animal use concerns7. Humans use concerns

Etički kodeks u znanostihttp://public.mzos.hr/fgs.axd?id=14038

Journal selection

Strategies to choose the journal:

• Where many of the papers cited were published?• Journal scope – appropriate research fields?• Journal rating (impact factor in the respective category)• Open access• Where do cited scientists publish their work?• Read the avertising statements of journals• Read the “Instruction for Authors”• Read the table of contents of potential journals• Examine several articles in potential journals• Does your concept fits the journal (length, colour, ...)?• Identify publication costs – too expensive?

ISI Web of Knowledge database, Journal Citation Reportshttp://www.isiknowledge.com

Journal selection

Biological Conservation (www.elsevier.com)

Biological Conservation has as its main purpose the dissemination of original papers from a wide international field dealing with the conservation of wildlife and the wise use of biological and allied natural resources. It is concerned with plants and animals and their habitats in a changing and increasingly human-dominated biosphere - in fresh and salt waters, as well as on land and in the atmosphere. Biological Conservation publishes field studies, analytical and modeling studies and review articles. ...Original papers should report the results of original research. The material must not have been previously published elsewhere. Full length articles usually are usually up to 8.000 words.

IF = 3.57 in 2008 (ranked #14 of 163 in Environmental Sciences)

Colour illustrations in print will be charged to the author. Illustration costs are EURO 350 for every first page. All subsequent pages cost EURO 175. Colour illustrations in the web (ScienceDirect) are free of charge.

Journal selection

Progres in Oceanography (www.elsevier.com)

Progress in Oceanography publishes the longer, more comprehensive papers that most oceanographers feel are necessary, on occasion, to do justice to their work. Contributions are generally either a review of an aspect of oceanography or a treatise on an expanding oceanographic subject. The articles cover the entire spectrum of disciplines within the science of oceanography. Occasionally, volumes are devoted to collections of papers and conference proceedings of exceptional interest....Authors should try to confine the text to no more than 120 pages. As an approximate guide for shorter papers authors should try to confine the text to 25-30 pages, with a total manuscript length, including figures and tables, of 45-50 pages.

IF = 3.17 (ranked #4 of 50 in Oceanography)

The cost of fold-in charts or diagrams and of colour figures must be borne by the author or his institution. Authos will be charged for colour reproduction as follows: Euro 350 (or USD 350) for the first page, Euro 175 (or USD 175) for subsequent pages. More than one figure may be included per page.

Journal selectionJournal of Geophysical Research - Oceans (www.agu.org)

Top journal in physical oceanography

IF = 3.17 (ranked #11 of 144 in Geosciences, Multidisciplinary)

Authors who have funding are expected to help support the costs of publication; those who do not may request a reduction or a waiver of fees. Waivers of excess length fees must be approved by the Editor. Most fees related to publication in AGU journals are based on the Publication Unit (PU) as described below. Using the online calculator (http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/wc/wc.cgi), authors can determine for themselves the likely charges prior to submitting a contribution to an AGU journal.

- $1000 Basic publication fee (formerly called “page charges”).- $250/Page, Excess length fee.

Color figures:-free

Average publication cost = 1000-1500 $

So, you:

- Have reliable and publishable scientific results- decided in which journal you will publish themNow you can start the writing, but ...

... the hardest part is getting started!

First you can write a concept

Summer breakout of trapped bottom dense water from the northern Adriatic

Ivica Vilibić, Gordana Beg Paklar, Nenad Domijan, Hrvoje Mihanović, Miroslava Pasarić, Nastjenjka Supić, Mark Žagar, Nedjeljka Žagar

Abstract1. Introduction2. Material and methods 2.1. The measurements 2.2. The models (COAMPS, POM)3. The observations 3.1. Temperature series (Fig. 2) 3.2. CTD sections (Figs. 3,4) 3.3. Currents (Figs. 5-7) 3.4. Meteorological series and coastal fluxes (Fig. 8) 3.5. Satellite images (Fig. 9,10)4. Numerical modelling of the storm 4.1. Atmospheric processes (Figs. 10-12) 4.1. Oceanic response (Figs. 13-15)5. Discussion and conclusions (Fig. 16)Appendix

Then you can start with the simplest section (my preference is Section 2 – Data and methods,

Material and methods, ...)

• Enough information for an experienced investigator to repeat your work• Avoid tiresome detail•Tests, procedures, methods, experiments, processes, equipment, data structures, algorithms, etc.• Reference published methods where appropriate• If unusual complexities, consider appendix

• Don’t describe dead ends.

The next section(s) is the largest and the whole manuscript is relying on it, so please write carefully and concisely – The

results

• Logical sequence of presentation• Present main findings referring to tables/figures (Fig. X, Table Y)• Use figures and tables with self-contained legends to convey your most important results “at a glance”• Do not speculate or over discuss results• Minimize “unpublished results”• Use subheadings• A lot of numbers, make Table• Don’t repeat data in text and tables

Mathematical conciseness

Then you can go back to the Section 1 - Introduction

• Long enough to place paper in context• Make a short, simple opening statement of the context in a few, accessible sentences - avoiding over-ambitious vagueness or immediately impenetrable jargon• Logical sequence and research issues downscaled - introduce broader area and issues, then existing knowledge on specific issues, explicit rationale, hypothesis (written a priori), a summary of the organization of the paper.• Motivation - why should you bother writing this paper and why should I bother reading it?• Don’t provide a complete history of field!

Now you have an overview of the knowledge related to your research, so you can discuss

your results in the frame of the existing knowledge, last

section(s) – Discussion and conclusions

• First answer question posed in Introduction• Relate your conclusion to existing knowledge• Discuss weaknesses and discrepancies• Explain what is new without exaggerating • Do not repeat results• Conclusion/summary, perspectives, implications

Yeah, just a few things to do ...

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS• Those not listed as authors who helped with studyIntellectual input, Encouragement, Special measurements/reagents, Secretarial assistance, ...• Research support

REFERENCES• Make sure all references are referenced• Relevant and recent• Be highly selective• Read the references• Do not misquote• Use correct style for journal

...

ABSTRACT• Précis writing• Summarizes problem, result, and uses• Informative, not descriptive• Some numbers, but not in excess• Determines if paper will be read

FIGURES AND TABLES• Do before writing• Redraw, redraw, simplify• Legend – gives message, not a story• Use same units as in text• Obtain permission for use of previously published material

... and that’s all, folks!!!

“malo morgen”

Revise, revise and revise(but you can leave a bit to the reviewers)

• All authors should participate• Review order of data presentation• Polish the writing style• Double check references• Look for typos• Double check spelling

Secret of writing is rewriting Secret of rewriting is re-

thinking

American Journal Expertswww.journalexperts.com

Deadline – do a plan of activities

Finally you are satisfied with the quality of the paper.

Submit it!

• Read instructions carefully• Fill out all necessary forms• Address letter to Editor• Describe paper in 3-4 sentences• If allowable, suggest reviewers• Define any competitors who you feel would give unfair review

Completion of research

Preparation of manuscript

Submission of manuscript

Assignment and review

Decision

Revision

Resubmission

Re-reviewAcceptance

Publication

Rejection

Rejection

You get nasty reviews (e.g. major revision of the paper).

What to do?• Carefully prepare your responses• Each comment should be addressed• Each change should be stated• Be enthusiastic• Reviewer may be wrong• Be tactful – thank the reviewers• Do not respond to reviewers while upset• Never call the editor, don’t try to “muscle” the Reviewer• Get help from other authors• Start with polite intro to each reviewer: “We are grateful to reviewer A for useful comments ....”

Common mistakes

Aspect Reason for rejectionTopic irrelevant topic or topic of local interest onlyNewness papers offers nothing newFocus topic, objectives and conclusions are not connectedMethodology unclear and misleading argumentation;Style unclear, unfocused and incoherent textData Quality flawed design; insignificant sample number;

preliminary findings only

What does people read?

Abstract 87%Introduction 43%Middle 12%Summary and Conclusions 55%

Benefits of writing

• Benefit greater to author than reader• Invaluable mental discipline• Enhances clear thinking• Making a subject intelligible to others means you understand it• Improve your reading skills• Satisfies a creative instinct

And that’s all, folks!

Any questions ???Any questions ???