Scientific Writing 2024 PDF

Scientific Writing Dr. Nahid Karamzad PhD in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics 2024 1  Titles: An article: Title Abstract & keywords Introduction Materials & Methods Results Discussion References 2 ...

Scientific Writing Dr. Nahid Karamzad PhD in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics 2024 1  Titles: An article: Title Abstract & keywords Introduction Materials & Methods Results Discussion References 2 Abstract 3  What is an Abstract?  First impressions are very important  Abstracts are like advertisements for your paper (People read the abstract to determine whether or not that particular paper is applicable to the clinical or scientific issues they want to learn more about)  Should provide a complete and accurate summary of the full paper 4  What is an Abstract?  Used, with title, for electronic search engines  Most often the only part people read  Experienced writers always write the abstract last 5  Abstract types:  Unstructured abstract  Were more common in past  A single paragraph that briefly summarizes each main section of your paper (consisting of background ,methods and results)  Don’t summarize all the most important information of the paper  Structured abstract  The same as unstructured, but divided into several short sections, e.g. Background; Methods; Results; Conclusion 6  Structured abstract… Background:  one or two sentences on the issues that motivated the research and why it is important  clarify the rationale for the research  framework for understanding the rest of the information  should end with a sentence that precisely states the main study aim, question, hypothesis, or objective 7  Structured abstract… Method:  Which type of study this was?  What was done?  Where?  Which kind of subjects? includes the clinical disorder (e.g. “diagnosed with type 2 diabetes”)  How subjects were sampled?  What was measured?  The generic drug name, dosage, administrative route, frequency, and duration in clinical studies  Follow up duration 8  Structured abstract… Results:  All the key findings using exact numbers (p-value, OR)  Treatment-related harms must be reported (many clinicians will make treatment decisions based on reading only the abstract) 9  Structured abstract… Conclusion:  It should start with the main conclusion of the study, whether positive or negative or inconclusive  Do not overgeneralize your findings to other patient populations (Do not speak definitively)  Conclusion subsection may continue with a statement of what further work is first needed before clinical implementation  Trial registration number at the end of clinical trial 10  Basic IMRaD structure  Introduction  Background (Objective)  Methods  Methods  Design  Setting  Subjects (incl./excl.)  Interventions  Main outcomes  Statistics  Results  Findings (Results)  Discussion  Conclusion 11  How Long Should it Be?  The amount of material in the four subsections of the abstract should not be grossly imbalanced  Refer to the journal’s “Instructions to Authors” for their required format for Abstracts  It is about 250-300 words 12 How Should I Begin my Abstract?  You want your abstract to stand out  you are not differentiating yourself from the others, if you begin your abstract with commonly used phrases such as: This paper deals with … - The aim of this paper … - This article explores … - We report … 13  What Should I Not Mention in my Abstract?  Background information that is too generalist for your readers  Claims that are not supported in the paper  Terms that are too technical or too generic - this will depend on your audience  Definitions of key terms  Mathematical equations  Unnecessary details that would be better located in the body of paper, such as the name of your institute, place names that readers will not have heard of 14 What Should I Not Mention in my Abstract?  Generic quantifications (e.g. many, several, few, a wide variety) and the overuse or unjustified use of subjective adjectives (e.g. innovative, interesting, fundamental).  References to other papers. However, if your whole paper is based on an extending or refuting a finding given by one specific author, then you will need to mention this author’s name.  Limitations of your study; Abstract is designed to "sell" your research, you might decide not to mention the limitations until the Discussion. 15  Be careful… Abstract should not say anything different from the main paper An abstract does not include Tables, references and abbreviations (mostly) Check spell and grammar mistakes Is it correct to include the time of study in the abstract? 16  Check list for Abstract  Objectives, methods, results, conclusion?  Key features mentioned?  Anything that does not appear in full text? Results in words?  Conclusion: objective?  Meaningful interpretation  Follows the guidelines 17 Keywords 18  Keywords o Choosing the right keywords is important to increase paper citation o Specifying the place of study in keywords of descriptive studies o study subjects and countries are keywords in prevalence studies o New design or technique can be key word o If an abbreviation is repeated too much in the article o It is about 3-5 words in different journals 19  Keywords  Select terms that you would look up to find your own paper and that would attract the readers you hope to reach  Use phrases as well as single words and alternative words  If the journal asks you to supply only terms that are not in the title of the paper, do so  If necessary, include a term as an indexing term even if the term does not appear in your paper 20 21