1. How to write scientific papers …. and get them published Dr Sue Silver Editor in Chief Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment Ecological Society of America Washington DC Dr Laura A Meyerson Assistant Professor Dept of Natural Resources Science University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China December 15-16, 2008

2. Overview of 2-day course Thanks to Dr Philippa Benson, The Wildlife Society, USA Dr Lindsay Haddon, British Ecological Society, UK Dr Roy Turkington, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Dr Iain Taylor, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Lennie Rhine, HINARI Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008How to get published

3. Overview of 2-day course Format of the workshop  Short talks  Questions and discussion  Exercises How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

4. Overview of 2-day course Topics we will cover  Deciding what sort of paper to write  Deciding which journal to send it to  How to write the different sections of a paper  What to do after you have received the decision letter How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

5. Overview of 2-day course Main sections of a research paper  Introduction  Materials & methods  Results  Discussion  Conclusions  Title, abstract, keywords, conclusions, citations, etc How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

6. Overview of 2-day course Topics we will cover  Figures and tables  Who should be an author  Cover letter  Peer review How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

7. Overview of 2-day course Topics we will cover  Decision letters Rejection (what happens next) Acceptance (what happens next)  Electronic publishing  Ethical issues How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

8. Exercise 1 Top reasons authors choose a journal  Divide into teams and put on team colors  With your team, rank the four most important reasons for choosing a journal for your paper  Give the most important reason a score of 4 the next most important a 3, and so on  Write your scores on the paper handed out and give them to Sue or Laura How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

9. Deciding what kind of paper to write Laura A. Meyerson How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

10. The type of paper you write should depend on: I.What you have to say: –Is it based on data? –Are your results theoretical or applied? –Are you presenting new ideas based on published literature (e.g., a synthesis)? –Have you developed new tools or methods? –Are you informing a policy or expressing an opinion? How to get published Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

11. The type of paper you write should depend on: II.Who your intended audience is: –Scientists in your field –Scientists outside of your field –Policy makers and managers –Public How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

12. Types of papers Research paper Review paper Methods paper Policy paper Opinion paper How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

13. Research Paper = original paper Types of research papers –Standard data paper –Application –Rapid communication –Note Purpose and audience –Presents results or applies results –Generally aimed at colleagues D O YOU WANT TO PRESENT YOUR DATA ? How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

14. Standard research papers Evidence-based –Experimental –Theoretical –Synthetic Clear conclusions Yields valuable insights for journal readers How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

15. Example of a standard research paper

16. Shorter papers: Rapid communications and notes Papers may be shorter because: –Topic is less complex but still complete –Cover only a single aspect of a study –Develop methods in a new way Journals may fast-track publication: –In rapidly developing fields –If your data is ‘novel’, ‘exciting’ or ‘important’ How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

17. Rapid communications Journals often want fast-breaking material They will offer: –Faster processing and publication –Prominent position In return for –Clear cut results –Concise presentation –Justification of importance How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

18. Opinion papers Intended to provoke debate May be speculative –Too soon to publish as full paper –Alternative viewpoints –Attempt to resolve conflicts Will still be peer-reviewed How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

19. Reviews Many journals include reviews. Topical synthesis of a major area in your field. Offer new perspectives on future research. Often by invitation, but not always. How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

20. Do you want to present new ideas based on published literature? –Reviews and synthesizes existing literature. –Overview, critical commentary, or historical perspective. –Generally reaches a (new) conclusion and/or develops new insights for future research. –Often aimed at colleagues but may also be accessible to scientists outside of your narrow field. –Usually lays the basis for new research directions Review Paper How to get published Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

21. Example of a review paper How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

22. Methods Paper Methods paper –Describes or presents new methods of analysis or approaches –Laboratory, field or statistical –Generally aimed at scientists within your field Do you want to publish a new method that you have developed? How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

23. Examples of a methods paper How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

24. Policy or Opinion paper Policy / Opinion paper –Recommends a policy position or solution –Generally aimed at decision makers –Clearly states why the suggested approach is a better way –Meant to encourage discussion or debate Do you want to share information with policy makers or express your opinion? How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

25. Example of a policy or opinion paper How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

26. Example of dissertation work that produced 5 papers by a single author PNAS – Cryptic invasion by a non-native genotype of the common reed, Phragmites australis, into North America Molecular Ecology - Microsatellite variation within and among North American lineages of Phragmites australis Molecular Ecology Notes - A set of primers for amplification of noncoding regions of chloroplast DNA in the grasses Wetlands - A Rapid Method for identifying the origin of North American Phragmites populations using RFLP analysis Estuaries – Genetic variation in Phragmites australis – implications for management How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

27. Summary: Making the decision If you ran an experiment and want to report results research paper If you developed new methods and this is the main point methods paper If you reviewed published literature and reached new conclusions or insights review paper Time to publication – how fast do you need to get this out – Letters, rapid communications, etc. Sue will send slide How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

28. Sue Silver How to get published Understanding impact factors Zhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

29.  What is an Impact Factor?  How is it calculated? By whom?  What can it tells us? What can it NOT tell us?  Some other considerations Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

30. Impact factors: original purpose  Invented by Eugene Garfield (late 1950s/early 1960s)  A method for identifying the most influential science journals ( which journals publish science that is cited most often by other scientists)  Originally intended only as a measure applied to journals (NOT researchers and NOT individual papers) Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

31. Where do impact factors come from?  Thomson Scientific calculates IF of journals they index  Published every year, in May/June, in Journal Citation Reports (JCR) Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

32. Understanding impact factors Thomson ISI journal index  About 16,000 peer-reviewed journals world-wide (1.4 million articles/year)  Every year, about 2000 new journals sent to Thomson Scientific for evaluation (accept about10%)  Index over 7,600 journals (814,000 papers), in 200 disciplines, from 3300 publishers, in 60 countries How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

33. Journal criteria for indexing in JCR  Descriptive title  Named authors  An abstract  Citation list  Regular publication schedule  Published on time Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

34. Frontiers impact factor – 2007 2007 impact factor Citations in 2007 to articles published in 2006 = 168 Citations in 2007 to articles published in 2005 = 293 TOTAL = 461 Number of article published in 2006 = 54 Number of article published in 2005 = 54 TOTAL = 108 Frontiers’ 2007 impact factor: 461 ∕108 = 4.269 Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

35. Understanding impact factors How to get published = IF 30 Wu paper published Wu paper cited Li paper published Li paper cited Wu cited x 30 Li cited x 30 = 60 60 2 2007 impact factor. Published in JCR in June 2008 2005 200620072008 How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

36. IF variations between disciplines  Medical Annual Review of Immunology = 54 JAMA = 24 Lancet = 21  General Nature and Science IF = 30  Ecology & Environmental science Trends in Ecology and Evolution = 14 Environmental Health Perspectives = 5 Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

37. What is counted as a citable item? Papers must include:  Informative title  Named authors + contact details  Abstract  Data or other new scientific information  Citations Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

38. Counted Research papers Reviews Not counted? Editorials News stories Letters to the Editor BUT, If News items, letters to the Editor, etc, are cited, they are added to the numerator, so increasing the IF Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

39. Authors Identify journals in which to publish their research Decide which journals to read Employers Compare and choose candidates for job vacancies Give tenure Grant awarding organizations Used as a criterion for receiving research grants Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

40. Librarians Identify most influential journals for their collections Decide which to subscribe to and which to drop from collections Publishers Compare journals “influence” against competitors Monitor success of new publication strategies Editors Assess effectiveness of editorial policies Monitor the influence of their journals vs competitors Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

41. Acceptable strategies for increasing IF  Reviews receive more citations than research papers  Longer articles receive more citations than shorter ones  Articles in open access journals receive citations sooner  Editorials, news items, etc, may be cited  Editorials and overviews – “best papers last year“ Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

42. Bad strategies for increasing IF  Editors ‘invite’ authors of submitted articles to cite papers in their journal (not professional)  Editors discourage authors from citing papers in a rival journal (not professional) Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

43. Criticisms of the IF system  Authors only want to do research on “hot” topics  Editors only want to publish “hot” topics  Basic research gets more citations than applied research  Less than ¼ of the world’s journals are covered and the majority of those are English language publications  Journals in other languages have low IF because not many indexed journals are likely to cite them Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

44. Criticisms of the IF system (continued)  Thomson can make mistakes!  Authors can make mistakes!  Different areas of science have different citation patterns  For some sciences, 3 years is a better timeframe  Can’t assess quality of a particular article or its author  Can only measure interestingness – not usefulness or importance Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

45. The journal impact factor is a measure of the frequency with which the “average article” in a journal has been cited in a particular year. The impact factor will help you evaluate a journal’s relative importance, especially when you compare it to others in the same field. Definition taken from ISI Web of Knowledge Journal Citation Reports 2008 Understanding impact factors How to get publishedZhejiang University, Hangzhou – 15/16 December 2008

46. Break!