1. An Introduction to Writing Scientific Articles on Tobacco Use
John Hughes
Saul Shiffman

2. Many Options Journal IF Addiction 4.58 Health Psychology 3.832
Addictive Behaviors
2.578
J Cancer Survivorship
3.57
Am J Addictions
1.74
J Consulting and Clinical Psychology
5.01
Am J Health Behavior
1.572
J National Medical Association
1.16
Am J Health Promotion
2.37
J of Behavioral Medicine
2.216
Am J of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
1.55
J of Clinical Oncology
18.04
Am J Preventive Medicine
5.249
J of Substance Abuse
1.25
Am J Public Health
3.93
J of Substance Abuse Treatment
2.914
Annals Behavioral Medicine
3.984
JAMA
30.03
Archives of Internal Medicine
11.46
New England Journal of Medicine
51.65
Cancer, Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention
4.559
Nicotine & Tobacco Research
2.477
Drug & Alcohol Dependence
3.951
Patient Education & Counseling
2.933
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
2.545
Preventive Medicine
4.257
Health Education and Behavior
1.682
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors
2.321
Health Education Research
2.442
Tobacco Control
4.111

3. Choosing a Journal Decide format – brief report, letter, full article
Audience
Prestige of journal important early on in career
Where prior research on topic published
Look at tables of contents
Impact factor- match to quality of study
Use cover letter to describe unusual circumstances

4. Authorship Never too early to discuss Be assertive
First or second important, after that?
Must contribute intellectually
Lab head at end?
ALL authors responsible for content

5. Key Principles for Writing
Empathy for the readers
What do the readers know (and not know)
What do they need to know, in what order
What will grab and keep their interest
Use plain language
Avoid jargon unless necessary or standard
Active voice – who did what to whom?
Shorter sentences

6. Structuring a Paper Tell a story The bones of the story
Set up a question
Explain how you will answer it
Answer it
Explain the implications
The bones of the story
Write an abstract first
Simple declarative statements (bullet points)

7. Introduction Go from the general to the specific
Not a general lit review…. should lead the reader to your question
At the end of review, your question should be obvious and compelling
State the question (and/or hypotheses) and how you will answer it

8. Methods It’s a story, not a form How did you answer your question?
Conceptual structure/format often better than chronological order
Use timeline figures for chronological information
If you did something unusual, explain why
If what you did is standard, keep it short and cite precedents
Explain measures, scoring, subgroups

9. Results Organize by question / hypothesis
Flow from simple / general to complex / specific
Focus on main analyses, mention sub-analyses in passing
Rely on tables/figures for statistical details
Make subjects – not statistics – the subjects of sentences
Make sure direction of effects is clearly stated

10. Discussion
Start with reprise of big picture – the question and the answer
Don’t just summarize, bring out implications
Compare to literature… if relevant
There are always limitations
But…avoid self-flagellation
Mitigating factors if relevant
Cite strengths, too
End on bottom line – what did you learn, and what does it mean, for theory, research, and/or treatment

11. Abstract
Will be read by 20x more people than the paper… so tell the story
Structure
Background (context, motivation)
Question (what were you trying to show)
Approach (how did you approach it)
Methods (essentials)
Results (may not need statistics)
Conclusions (what did you learn)
Implications (why do I care)

12. Language Technical terminology
If standard terms exist, use them
If you need new terms or acronyms, invent them
e.g., if repeating long phrase many times
Direct: Active voice where possible and allowable
Simple: “use” not “utilize”
Precise:
“Predict” implies prospective relationship
Causal language only if have a basis

13. Process Assume multiple drafts Re-write the abstract near the end
When near final, take a break, read hard copy off-line, taking the role of a reader
Get a review from a colleague before submitting

14. Tables Should stand alone (e.g. no “Group A”)
Most readers compare across rows
Most important results in upper left hand corner
Include units
Delete decimals
Only essential numbers
Avoid abbreviations when possible
Include n’s
Use footnotes

15. Figures Read Tufte, 2001; Be creative Major results as figure
Figures for relationships, tables for magnitude or point estimates
Use 1 x 1.5 ratio of axes
Explain and label adequately
Include numerical values and n’s
Avoid bar graphs except as major result
Line graphs for temporal relationships
Appropriate variability indicators

16. Example of Unusual Graphic

17. Submissions and Reviews
Proof-read till absolutely no errors
Include details in cover letter, esp about related papers
Inform of biased reviewers
Ask for update after 6-8 wks, then every 4 wks
Respond to reviews point by point
Don’t be afraid to stand your ground to reviewers and proof editors
Once accepted, send to those you cited