research writing report

7/28/2019 Research Writing Report

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WRITING OF REPORT

Dr.Indu.D, Asst Professor,

Dept of Community Medicine,

MCH,Tvm.

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Types of scientific writing

Thesis

Research Report

Review Article

Journal Article

Letter/ Short Communication

Chapter/ Book

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Writing a Scientific Manuscript

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Format of writing manuscript

Abstract

Title page

Introduction - Why

Review of literature

Objectives - What

Methods - How

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

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Structure of a Research Report

Introduction - Why did I doit?

Methods - What did I do?

Results - What did I find?

Discussion - What might itmean?

Writing

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Abstract

Writing

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Abstract

Summary of Manuscript (200-300Words) Problem investigated

Purpose of Research

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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Abstract

Common Mistakes Too much background or methods information

Figures or images

References to other literature, figures or images

Abbreviations or acronyms

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Title page

Brief but informative title

Fewest possible words that accurately

describe the content

Omit waste words such as

"A study of...

"Investigations of ..."

"Observations on ..."

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Title: Typical Structure

"Effect of X on Y in Z"

Independent variable you manipulated (X)Dependent variables you observed ormeasured (Y)

Animal or population and material on whichyou did the work (Z)

Writing

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Introduction

Broad information on topic Previous research

Narrower background information Need for study

Focus of paper Hypothesis should come at end of introduction

Summary of problem (selling point) Overall 300-500 words

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IntroductionWriting

Start with a "global" statement

Describe the scientific context/immediate background

What is known?

Describe the problem

What is unknown?

State goals of the study (and experimental approach)

What is the question or hypothesis?

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Introduction

Unknown clearly statedas such:

X has not been established Y has not been determined Z is not known

Writing

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Introduction

Common Mistakes Too much or not enough information

Unclear purpose

Lists

Confusing structure

First-Person anecdotes

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Review of literature

Should begin at the time of conceiving

the study

Should go on after your results are ready

Helps you to formulate your conclusions

and discussion

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Writing the review

Select the important articles that give valid

results and conclusions

String together the main ideas in these papersto form the contextual setting for your

research question

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Objectives

What you attempt to do in the present

exercise

Primary/ Secondary objectives

Arise directly from your research question

In the form of statements with action verbs

like

to define to compare... to identify... etc.

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Materials and Methods

Writing

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Methods and Materials

Provides instruction on exactly how torepeat experiment Study design

Subjects, inclusion& exclusion criteria

Sample size & justification

Sampling techniques

Study setting

Field site description

Data collection protocol Data analysis techniques

Any computer programs used

Description of equipment and its use

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Results

Writing

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Results

Objective presentation of experimentresults Summary of data

NOT a Discussion!

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Results

Results vs Data

Data: facts obtained from experiments

and observations; can be raw,summarized or transformed

Results: statements that interpret data

Writing

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Results

Results vs Data

Data: In the 20 control subjects, the mean testing

blood pressure was 855 (SD) mmHg. Incomparison, in the 30 tennis players, the meanresting blood pressure was 943 mmHg.

Results: The mean resting pressure was higher inthe 30 tennis players than in the 20 controlsubjects [943 (SD) vs. 855 mmHg, P< 0.02]

Writing

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Results

Graphs, tables and descriptions of observations inplain text

Photographs are to be given whenever necessary

as aids to clinical or pathological descriptions. Use only that much tables, figures or pictures as is

enough to tell your story

Do not use a table and a graph to present the samedata

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Tables & Illustrations

For evidence and emphasis

Do not use if points can be stated in the text

Use descriptive headings so that the readercan understand without reference to the

text.

All tables should be referred to in the text

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Figures/Photographs

Only include if absolutely essential

For histological photographs, provide

stain used and magnification

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Results

Common mistakes Raw data

Redundancy

Discussion and interpretation of data

No figures or tables

Methods/materials reported

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Discussion

Writing

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Discussion

Interpret results Did the study confirm/deny the hypothesis?

If not, did the results provide an alternativehypothesis? What interpretation can be made?

Do results agree with other research? Sources oferror/anomalous data?

Implications of study for field

Suggestions for improvement and future research?

Relate to previous research

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Discussion

Discuss ideas according to their

importance

Substantiate your arguments

Comparisons with previous studies

A brief critique of your study Implication of your research

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Inference/ Conclusion

Do not go beyond your data

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References - Vancouver style

International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.

Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts submitted

to Biomedical Journals

Ann In tern Med. 1997;126:36-47

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Journal Article:

Elements of a Citation:

Author's surname Initials, Author's surname Initials.Title of article. Title of Journal. [abbreviated]

Year of publication Month date;Volume Number(Issuenumber):page numbers.

Example:

Smithline HA, Mader TJ, Ali FM, Cocchi MN.

Determining pretest probability of DVT: clinicalintuition vs. validated scoring systems. N Engl J Med.2003 Apr 4;21(2):161-2.

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Books:

Elements of a Citation: Author/Editor/Compiler'ssurname Initials. Title of the book. # ed.[if not 1st]Place of publication: Publisher's name; Year of

publication. Only first words of the article title and words that

normally begin with a capital letter are capitalised.

Example:

Carlson BM. Human embryology and developmentalbiology. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 2004.

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Conference paper:

Elements of a citation:Author's surname Initials. Title of paper. In: Editor'ssurname Initials, editor. Title of the Conference; Date

of conference; Place of publication: Publisher's name;Year of Publication. p. page numbers. Example:

Anderson JC. Current status of chorion villus biopsy.In: Tudenhope D, Chenoweth J, editors. Proceedingsof the 4th Congress of the Australian Perinatal

Society; 1986: Brisbane, Queensland: AustralianPerinatal Society; 1987. p. 190-6.

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Journal article on the internet Elements of a Citation: Author's surname Initials, Author's surname Initials. Title of

article. Abbreviated Title of Journal [serial on the Internet].Year of publication Month day [cited Year Month

Day];Volume Number(Issue number):[about number ofpages or screens]. Available from: URL Only cite month/day if applicable Can list either pages or screens Example:

Aylin P, Bottle A, Jarman B, Elliott, P. Paediatric cardiacsurgical mortality in England after Bristol: descriptiveanalysis of hospital episode statistics 1991-2002. BMJ[serial on the Internet]. 2004 Oct 9;[cited 2004 October15]; 329:[about 10 screens]. Available from:http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/329/7470/825

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Rules of composition

Make the paragraph the unit of composition

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Use the active voice

There was a higher mean

level of serum cholesterol

in females when

compared to males

Women had a highermean serum cholesterol

than men

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Put statements positively

He was not very often on

time

The proportion of obese

individuals in the two

groups were not very

much different

He usually came late

The two groups had

a similar proportion

of obese subjects

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Use definite, specific,

concrete language

A period of unfavourableweather set in

Subjects were selected

for the study according tothe criterion of whetherthey had normal vision

It rained every day

We chose for the studysubjects with 6/6 vision

only

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Omit unnecessary words

The question as towhether

Used for food purposes

This is a subject that

The reason why

Whether

Used as food

This subject

Why

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Always follow guidelines of the journal

Review manuscript requirements for the journal:running title, structured abstract, format of references,

tables, figures, nomenclature of drugs, disease namesand names of organisms, units of measure, abbreviationsand symbols,number of copies

Get the manuscript typed in accordance with the

journals requirements

Writing for journals

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Tables & Graphics

Needed in three circumstances

Research paper in journal

Oral presentation in conferences

Posters

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Tables

Consists of rows and columns

Rows read from left to right; labeled on the

left

Columns read from top to bottom; labeled

on top

Generally the eye scan information from

top left

Computers help create tables

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Table design

Descriptive title and headings

Essential explanation at the bottom

Number of items per table should be

minimum

Too much space between columns or too

little between rows reduces readability

Horizontal lines across rows - easier

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TablePrevalance of worm ova in stools in primary school childdren in TVM ditrict1978-1999

Class of worm Year

Highland 1978 1999

Any worm 100 64

Roundworm 72 56

Hookworm 26 0

Whipworm 15 19

Midland

Any worm 92 32

Roundworm 77 46

Hookworm 2 1

Whipworm 15 16

Coastal

Any worm 92 78

Roundworm 76 74

Hookworm 24 1

Whipworm 22 24

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Table

Prevalance of worm ova in stools in primary school childdren in TVM ditrict 1978-1999

Class of worm Highland Midland Coastal

Year Year Year

1978 1999 1978 1999 1978 1999

Any worm 100 64 92 32 92 78

Roundworm 72 56 77 46 76 74

Hookworm 26 0 2 1 24 1

Whipworm 15 19 15 16 22 24

*number denotes percentage

Too much space between columns makes reading

across rows difficult,

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Table



Year Year Year

1978 1999 1978 1999 1978 1999

Any worm 100 64 92 32 92 78

Roundworm 72 56 77 46 76 74

Hookworm 26 0 2 1 24 1

Whipworm 15 19 15 16 22 24


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Table



Year Year Year

1978 1999 1978 1999 1978 1999

Any worm 100 64 92 32 92 78

Roundworm 72 56 77 46 76 74

Hookworm 26 0 2 1 24 1

Whipworm 15 19 15 16 22 24


Thin horizontal lines across rows makes reading

easier.

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Table



Year Year Year

1978 1999 1978 1999 1978 1999

Any worm 100 64 92 32 92 78

Roundworm 72 56 77 46 76 74

Hookworm 26 0 2 1 24 1

Whipworm 15 19 15 16 22 24


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Type faces

The author chooses the type faces

Two broad categories

Serif : finishing shapes at the ends of letters

Sans Serif : no shapes at the ends

Different types of fonts

Straight

Italics

Thin

Normal

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Type faces

This is 14 point serif type(straight)

This is 14-point serif type(italics)

This is 14 point serif type(bold)

This is 28 point serif type(straight)

This is 28-point serif type(italics)

This is 28 point serif type(bold)

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Type faces

This is 14 point Sans serif type(straight)

This is 14-point Sans serif type(italics)

This is 14 point Sans serif type(bold)

This is 28 point Sans serif type(straight)

This is 28-point Sans serif type(italics)

This is 28 point Sans serif type(bold)

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Charts

Bar Charts

Column graphs

Bar graphs

Histograms

Pie charts

Line charts

Box plots

Scatter plots

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Charts - preferred formats

Line charts orScattergrams if independent and

dependent variables are numeric

Bar graphs if only the dependent variable is

numeric

Bar graphs orPie charts for proportions

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0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

60

Percent

Age group

Column graph

Prevalence of smoking among males

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0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

60

Percent

Age group

Column graph

Prevalence of smoking among males

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Bar graphs

Kuravara

Ottasekharamangalam

Tirupuram

Neyyattinkara

0 5 1 0 15 2 0

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Histogram

Body weight in Kg

20.019.018.017.016.015.014.013.012.0

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Body weight in Kg

Count

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Pie charts

Used when categorical data adds upto

100 percent

Too many slices makes it less

communicative

Segments can be in proximity or

separate

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5 7 .2 8

2 3 . 3 3

1 9 . 3 2

0 .0 2

8 2

1 2 . 1 2

2 .3 4

3 .5 6

Hin d u s

Mu s l ims

Ch r is t ia n s

O ther s

57 . 28

23 . 33

19 . 32

0 . 02

8 2

1 2 . 1 2

2 .3 43 .5 6

Hin d u s

Mu s l ims

Ch r is t ia n s

O ther s

KERALA INDIA

Pie charts

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Line charts

On many occasions this is the best form

Serial data that involve temporal

relationship

Two Y axis can be used

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0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1911192119311941195119611971198119912001

Per1000

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Female literacy and infant mortality - Kerala

Line chart

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N i l 1 - 1 0 1 1 - 2 0 2 1 - 3 0 3 1 - 4 0

0

1 0

2 0

3 0

4 0

5 0

C i g a r e t t e s / d a y

e a / y e r 1 ,

Cigarettes / day

Nil 1-10 11-20 21-30 >30

Deathperyear/100,000

Cigarette smoking and mortality of male doctors

Scatter plots

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Column graphs (2D)

Prevalance of smoking among males

0

5

10

15

20

2530

35

40

45

60

Age group

Percentage

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Column graphs (3D)

60

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Percentage

Age group

Prevalance of smoking among males

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Misleading Graphics

Misuse to sell the viewpoint

Omission of zero on the Y axis Deliberate shortening of X axis

Exaggerates the visual effect

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4.5

5

5.5

6

60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 Year

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 Year

Death rate

Misleading Graphics

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5

5.5

6

60 65 70 Year4.5

5

5.5

6

60 62 64 66 68 70 Year

Trends in standardized mortality1960-1970

Misleading Graphics

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Misleading Graphics

Deliberate manipulation of the axis.

Inadequate labeling on the graphic

Distracting ornamentation

Quoting data out of context

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Structure of a scientific paper

Introduction Start the section with a general background of the topic. Add 2-3 paragraphs that discuss previous work. Point out issues that are being addressed in the present work. Experimental Section Divide this section into Materials & Methods, Characterization, Measurements and Data analysis Results and Discussion (These two sections can be combined or separate) Describe the results in detail and include a healthy, detailed discussion The order of figures should follow the discussion themes and not the sequence they were conducted Discuss how your data compare or contrast with previous results. Include schemes, photographs to enhance the scope of discussion

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Structure of a scientific paper Conclusions Include major findings followed by brief discussion on future perspectives and/or application of present work to other

disciplines. Important: Do not rewrite the abstract. Statements with Investigated or Studied are not

conclusions!

Acknowledgments Remember to thank the funding agency and Colleagues/scientists/technicians who might have provided

assistance References The styles vary for different journals. (Use ENDNOTE,

RefWorks)

Some journals require complete titles of the citedreferences

Please check for the accuracy of all citations Supporting Information Include methods, analysis, blank experiments, additional

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What is writtenwithout effort is ingeneral readwithout pleasure.

~Samuel Johnson

Parting Words

research writing report

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