1. Preparing a Scientific Article for Publication

2. Article Outline Title Abstract Introduction Data & Methods
Results/Findings
Discussion/Conclusions
References

3. The Introduction
Beginning my studies the first step pleas'd me so much, The mere fact consciousness, these forms, the power of motion, The least insect or animal, the senses, eyesight, love, The first step I say awed me and pleas'd me so much, I have hardly gone and hardly wish'd to go any farther, But stop and loiter all the time to sing it in ecstatic songs. Whitman

4. The Introduction Overall Purpose:
Convince the reader that your study will add knowledge or knowhow that is new and useful

5. The Introduction Further Purposes Stimulate the reader’s interest
Provide background information which is pertinent to the study
State the research question -- the most important part of the study

6. Outline of the Introduction
Identify topic of paper / General problem statement / Gap in knowledge
More specific problem statement with literature background and highlights
Point out where important knowledge is missing
Give relevant limitations of previous studies
Be clear that filling this gap will be useful
Give study purpose and hypotheses
Be clear that your approach is new and addresses limitations of previous studies.

7. The Problem Statement What is the general problem of interest?
Why is the problem important/significant? (Provide numbers, rates, costs, etc.)
What specific populations are involved?

8. Problem Statement Example
Despite programs and policies in a number of countries designed to lower the incidence of preterm birth and low birthweight, these adverse birth outcomes have not decreased in the last 10 to 15 years. In some countries they have actually increased substantially.

9. Background Information
Results of previous studies on this topic
Areas of disagreement or uncertainty
Contextual issues or other factors that affected study design
Contextual information that is important for interpretation of results
The Introduction should provide the background information the reader needs to understand and evaluate the study. This should include results of previous work on your topic and gaps in knowledge that your study will seek to address.
An example of contextual factors affecting design might be use of a methodology that would allow you – for example -- to assess parasitemia in several villages very rapidly in one day, so you could leave an insecure area before dark.

10. Highlighting the Literature
Moving from the general problem to the specific issue to be addressed, highlight the previous literature on the problem, thereby establishing the background for the study.
Example: Over this same period, the rates of multiple births have risen in many countries. Because multiple births are at high risk of resulting in preterm birth or low birthweight, their increasing incidence affects the overall rates of both conditions. Previous studies on the effects of multiple births have shown their important influence on pregnancy outcomes.

11. Where is the Knowledge Gap?
Provide an overview of existing theories, controversies and unresolved issues that are specific to the study and will be addressed by the manuscript.
Select references in an impartial manner.
Example: No study has explored the independent effect of twin and triplet deliveries on trends in preterm birth and low birthweight from an international perspective; that is, in countries with different health indicators and health care systems.

12. Study Purpose and Hypotheses
State the study purpose(s) and the hypotheses to be tested.
Provide a clear description of what this study hopes to accomplish.
Example: The purpose of this study is to explore the role of Specifically, we hypothesize that...

13. Example of Study Purpose Statement
“This study provides an estimate of the proportion of orphanhood attributable to parental HIV-infection, as a way of planning for vulnerable children”
Let’s talk about Purpose statements, which often comprise the last paragraph of the Introduction section. If you can write a well-focused purpose statement, the rest of your paper will be easy.
Here we have a couple of examples of effective, comprehensive purpose statements. In the first case, the authors’ purpose was to examine whether current clinical practice guidelines were justified, and in the second, by Dr. Wafaie W. Fawzi and others, the research was done to guide programs and policies related to breastfeeding.
This part of the Introduction section tells the reader why you did the study, gives a clear description of the research questions, some indication of the potential theoretical or practical implications of the research.
[There should be a handout on Purpose statements.]

14. Common Problems: Introduction
Study question too vague
Study objectives
Citations of other key studies on specific topic
Background information too broad
Information too elementary
Unpublished literature, theses cited
Unnecessary acronyms
Results given at end of Introduction section
Here are a few more common problems that we find when we edit the Introduction sections of papers. They are pretty self-explanatory. You can avoid them by reading good examples of papers from the journal you plan to submit to, and paying attention to the level of detail that other authors use.

15. Common Problems: Vague Purpose Statements
Compare these examples:
“This study reports our experience with two types of mosquito feeding: direct feeding and membrane feeding.”
“Our purpose was to determine seasonal infectivity rates by direct feeding among gametocyte carriers 18 years old and younger, and to compare malaria transmission-blocking activity via direct versus membrane feeding.”
If we look at the examples in your notebook [see the “Introduction” section in the notebook] – we can see what happens if your purpose statement is either too broad or too vague.
The first example just says the investigator looked at two types of mosquito feeding. The last, which is more fully developed is much more specific, much more informative.
If you’re not sure if your purpose statement communicates your research effectively, show it to a colleague and ask them if what you’re doing and why you’re doing it is clear.

16. Literature Review Within Introduction to Set Context
Comprehensive review/assessment of the current knowledge (for YOUR knowledge, then…)
Representative sample, not everything
Describe relevant studies/theories
Provide a theoretical/conceptual framework

17. Sources of Literature Review
Bibliographic databases
MEDLINE (PubMed)
EMBASE
AIDSLINE
POPLINE
JSTOR
Specialized databases
American College of Physicians
ProQuest Digital Dissertation
US Gov CDC
WHO

18. Other Resources Experts/colleagues
Supplements specific points
Cited as personal reference
Internet ( search engines include:
Google
Alta Vista
HotBot

19. Elements of the Introduction: A Summary
GAP
GB – Key BACKGROUND to the gap.
GU – Why filling the gap will be USEFUL.
GL – Key LIMITATION(S) of previous studies responsible for the gap.
APPROACH
AB – BACKGROUND to the approach
AN – What is NEW about the approach taken in the current study.
AL – How does this new approach address the LIMITATIONS of previous
studies.
Six building blocks to the introduction
(pg 26 from handouts…)