1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Analysis of papers submitted to the BMJ

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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. Other elements
Title
Abstract
References
Acknowledgements
Authors

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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. Conclusions Clarity Conciseness Accuracy
Read the Instructions to Authors

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

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

35. 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)

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. Any questions?