Manuscript Preparation for International Journals

Manuscript Preparation for International Journals

• Manuscripts follow the IMRAD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion)
• Introduction answers: What did others do? Why did you do the research?
• Methods section explains how the research was conducted
• Results section presents the findings
• Discussion section interprets the results and relates them to other work
• A separate section for Conclusion, Acknowledgements, References, and Supporting Materials follows the main text
• The order of sections can sometimes vary depending on the specific journal's guidelines

Article Structure

• Title, Abstract, and Keywords are the initial sections for easy identification and indexing
• Effective titles should attract attention, be concise, and accurately reflect the main issue
• Keywords are specific labels used by indexing/abstracting services and should use established abbreviations
• Abstract should summarize problem, methods, results, and conclusions in a single, concise paragraph
• The IMRAD section (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion) follows
• The manuscript should be clear and easy to understand
• Illustrations and figures/tables should be used efficiently, using them only for ESSENTIAL data

Authorship

• First author typically conducts and supervises data collection, analysis, and interpretation
• Corresponding author may be first author or a senior author
• Avoid ghost authorship (excludes authors who participated) and gift authorship (includes authors who did not contribute)
• Be consistent with author names

Keywords

• Keywords are used for indexing and abstracting services and must be specific
• Avoid general keywords and use only established abbreviations
• Check journal guidelines to ensure proper usage

Abstract

• Summarizes the problem, methods, results, and conclusions in a single paragraph
• Must be interesting and understandable, ideally concise
• Should highlight the work and influence whether or not it is considered

Introduction

• Provides context for the manuscript and convinces readers why the research is significant for the field
• Clearly identifies the problem, solutions, and limitations of the research
• The perspective should match the journal where submitted, a unique introduction is required for every submission

Methods

• Describes the research process in detail. A skilled reader should be able to replicate your experiments
• Avoid re-writing previously published procedures - instead, cite them in the References
• Detail equipment, materials, and their sources. Any variability in quality should be evident in the methods section
• All experiments on humans or animals must adhere to ethical standards, like the Helsinki Declaration and/or relevant guidelines, the approval of the local ethics committee is essential and should be specified in the manuscript/ covering letter/ submission system

Results

• Present only the most important results relevant for the discussion
• Results of similar type should be grouped in subheadings
• Statistical analysis should highlight significant findings
• Unexpected results should be discussed
• Illustrations/figures should clarify/aid understanding

Discussion

• This is the most critical part, which interprets the results and their significance in the context of the field.
• The interpretation of the results is essential, not just repeating them from the Results section
• Provide a comparative discussion of your results with the established literature
• Avoid statements that go beyond the data in the experiment
• Clarify and define all terms used

Conclusion

• Concisely explains how the work advances the field
• Justify the significance of the work

Acknowledgements

• Include thanks to advisors, financial supporters, proofreaders, and suppliers of materials

References

• Use only necessary and relevant references, avoiding excessive self-citations or references from a particular region/institution
• Adhere strictly to the style guide for references, ensuring proper format

This quiz explores the essential components and structure of manuscript preparation for submission to international journals. It covers the IMRAD format, effective title crafting, and the importance of abstracts and keywords. Additionally, it addresses the variations in section order according to different journal guidelines.