Scientific papers, getting published and reviewing the work of others (or How to avoid getting kicked )

Professor Michael Gelfand ( ) University of Zimbabwe

Overview and Goals How to avoid kicks –writing a decent paper How to respond when kicked - responding to reviewers

Magic happens

The magic of the pen lies in the concentration of your thoughts upon one object. Lewes, George Henry British Writer Lewes, George Henry

Sweat Think Organize Practice

TITLE Title - 3 routes Describe the Battle The effect of X on Y Declare Victory X increases Y Declare you Won the War X cures cancer

AUTHORS - Make friends or enemies? Authors ? –Does everyone qualify? –Have you left anyone out? –Order? –Seen it? –Never forge a signature

Abstract – Only thing most people read –Structured abstract –Data

Introduction Introduction –Why did the study? Not a literature review –Have to sell the idea (why should I care?) –If haven’t hooked the reader you are lost

METHODS and RESULTS Methods –IRB and informed consent –How you did the study –How you analyzed the data Results – What you found. Tell a story – Emphasize the positive –Don’t repeat data

Discussion –So What ? –Tell a story, avoid bias - you’ve seen the same movie (the data) –Not a literature review (but think) –Avoid Industry style –The function of statistics is to tell you if findings are statistically significant

CONCLUSION Conclusion –Based on your data –Brief –How much speculation can you get away with ?

References –Primary source often but not always –Reasonable number, avoid narcissism, Refman –Do you cite the journal submitting to? Style? Tables – Self Standing. Careful with Abbreviations – Data in Tables and text must match – Reasonable number Figures –Reasonable number –Abbreviations –Quality –Measures of spread

Details Which Journal ? –Aim high or low? –Appropriate? –Instructions Cover Letter –responsibilities of the author –Not a book Don’t bug the Editor too much Success = 1. new 2. interesting, 3. important and 4. valid

Kisses of Death “We thus confirmed …”(New) No story (Interesting) Story and data do not match

Kisses of Death Reader can’t understand what you did Fails the “So what test” (can’t understand why you did it)(Important) Salami publication Invalid – Design, Analysis (Valid)

Kisses of Death Make your paper as dense and intelligent (but unintelligible) as possible. Use lots of abbreviations “ In vivo high-resolution CEMRI is capable of quantitatively measuring the dimensions of the intact FC and LR-NC. These new parameters may be useful to evaluate plaque vulnerability and provide continuous variables for characterizing the intact FC and LR-NC in progression and regression studies.” Circulation 2005:112:

Bad Form Sloppy Missing pages Illegible pages Wrong version Typos Comments visible Poor English etc

Very Bad Form Submitting to 2 journals at once Blindsided authors Salami publication

GOING TO JAIL FORM Duplicate publication Making up data

Telling a story In the beginning …… So what? One sentence telegraphs the next One paragraph telegraphs the next Imaginary Headings Proffread

STOP

SUMMARY How to avoid kicks –writing a decent paper SWEAT, THINK, ORGANIZE, PRACTICE How to respond when kicked - responding to reviewers SWEAT, THINK, ORGANIZE, PRACTICE