How to get your research published (Intermediate Level) Shahin Akhondzadeh Ph.D., FBPharmacolS Professor of Clinical Neuroscience Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Planning a research project Choose a clear research question Is your question of interest to others? Is your question original? Plan how you will answer your question Get help from others before you start

Stages in a research study Planning the study & writing the protocol Carrying out the study & collecting the data Analysis & writing-up Going through the editorial process

What is Publication? Publication is not a dichotomous event it is a continuum Traditionally Once it appeared in a paper journal Today Traditional journals & “eprint” Strong and Weak publication ELPS

Dissemination of Findings Scientific papers Posters Abstracts Letters to editors Case reports Review

Choose a Journal Select before you write so format is appropriate Focus of journal should be appropriate Are similar papers in this journal? Choose the best journal Availability and readership Ranking (“impact factor”) Time to publication

How the BMJ handles papers Read by an editor Peer review Editorial Meeting Editorial committee Revision 15% (650) Accepted Read by a second editor 85% (4,000) Rejected

Analysis of papers submitted to the BMJ

How the BMJ reaches a decision on a paper Originality Importance Methods correct Interesting to readers

What editors like about papers Clear research questions Messages that matter Brevity and clarity in writing Good abstract Good grammar and spelling Clear presentation of methods and results

What editors dislike Unoriginal research Very long papers (> 3,000 words) Incorrect or flawed research methods Unrepresentative samples Non-randomised interventions

Why papers are rejected I Research question not important Study not original Ethical approval not obtained Incorrect methods used Unrepresentative sample Sample size too small Problems with recruiting patients

When to Write? After you think you have a good story All critical experiments are finished Before you finish tying up all of the loose ends Writing up will show you clearly what controls/additional experiments still need to be performed

Writing your paper Most papers follow the IMRAD structure Introduction, methods, results and conclusions Don’t forget other types of articles Editorials, education, debate, reviews Read the Instructions to Authors

In What Order Should Paper Be Written? Figures and Legends Results Methods (easy part!) Introduction Discussion Abstract Referencing Letter to the Editor

Just Do It Find a place where you will not be interrupted Set down a first draft and do not worry about style- just write! - you can edit later Better to write something than nothing Save mechanical stuff (references, methods, figures) for the days you have brain fog

Figures and Tables Easy to read and in logical order; not too many small panels figures should not need legends to be comprehensible can figures be reduced severely without loss of legibility? use the reducing Xerox machine to make sure fonts are large enough minimize white space Try different types of format: tables vs bar graphs vs. figures- which is easiest to interpret? Tables provide exact information while figures clearly show trends Dependent variable goes on the inside of the table

Results I What you found (text, tables & figures) Give numbers as well as percentages Avoid over-complicated tables and figures Tables and figures should stand alone Don’t repeat yourself Guide the reader to the results you want them to know about

Results II Response rate (< 70% considered bad) Characteristics of responders and non-responders - any significant differences? P values & confidence intervals Avoid discussing results in this section

Methods I The study design Ethical approval Was there an intervention? Prospective or retrospective? Controlled or uncontrolled? If controlled, was it randomised?

Methods II Sample size calculation How the subjects were recruited Is the sample representative? What were the inclusion/exclusion criteria How was bias avoided Statistical methods Ethical approval

Introduction Keep it short (2-3 paragraphs) The background to the study Why you have done your study What the research question is What kind of study you have done

Discussion Main findings Summary of previous work and how your results compare to this Limitations of methods What your results mean - clinical practice, management, policy The need for further study Avoid speculation

Other elements Title Abstract References Acknowledgements Authors

Title Make it concise and informative Mention subject Mention design Don’t give the answer to the question

Abstract- write last! Summarizes the major findings in the broad context of the work Consists of two or three sentences of topic introduction Selected results (not all but the most important) Concludes with implications of work About 250 words

References Cite references accurately - you must read them first Limit to those that have a direct bearing on your work Avoid citing too many papers Follow journal’s house style

Good writing style Spend time acquiring a good, readable style of writing Be clear and concise Avoid using too many long sentences When you have the choice of two words, use the simpler one Use active rather than passive verbs Avoid using colloquial language

Conclusions Clarity Conciseness Accuracy Read the Instructions to Authors

Editing- Global Save the journal space by writing concisely and by eliminating unnecessary or negative figures and tables Proof all text carefully for errors- typos, omissions, inconsistencies in the data, redundancies, or errors in referencing. Expect to revise again and again- 10 times ? Until language is perfect Take a break between drafts to get a fresh viewpoint

Editing- Global Major alterations- is the order correct? (easiest to understand, most logical) Cut up and lay out differently Are all the correct elements in every section? Give your paper to colleagues for input on clarity Never give anyone anything that is not spell-checked If English is not your native language try to have a native speaker look at it

Editing/Polishing Paragraphs- does each form a cohesive unit with a topic sentence? Are they the right length- neither one or two sentences nor page-length? At end, a summarizing statement or intro to next paragraph is very helpful

Writing Good Sentences Use active voice when possible Use the correct tense- present means it is true while past means it is true under a specific set of circumstances Do not switch tenses frequently

Writing Good Sentences Neither too short nor too long Avoid long strings of adjectives Avoid long strings of nouns

Writing Good Sentences and Words Use the best word for the job (for example, “utilize” is overused) Make sure punctuation is correct (semicolon before “however”) Omit all unnecessary words- the shortest phrasing is usually the best DATA is a plural word! Limit the use of abbreviations unless standard (ATP)

Submitting Papers Write a simple direct cover letter to the Editor using his/her name Suggest three reviewers if at all possible No need to plug the paper in the letter Submit electronically if you have a choice as it will speed your review

Rebuttal Letter Thank the reviewers for their time. They did not have to spend it on your work! Address each criticism in numbered order Repeat or include the criticism in your answer You are allowed to argue one or two items but most items should be addressed precisely the way the referee indicates Conclude by saying that you feel the paper is improved and you hope it is now acceptable for publication

Further reading How to write a paper. George Hall. BMJ Publishing Group, 1994. How to read a paper. Trish Greenhalgh. BMJ Publishing Group, 1997. Medical writing. A prescription for clarity. Neville Goodman. CUP, 1996. An introduction to medical statistics. Martin Bland. Oxford University Press, 1995

Any questions?