Isnani A. S. SuryonoFKUI - Med J Indones

Penulisan Artikel Ilmiah Internasional-DP2M-DIKTI, Surabaya, 7 November 2008

Structure of a scientific paper

Basic structure IMRAD:Introduction (what question was

asked?)Methodology (How was it studied?)Results (What was found?)AndDiscussion (What does it mean?)

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Read the “Instructions to authors” of the journal you are writing for!!

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What do I have to say?Is it worth saying it?What is the right format for the

message?What is the audience for the

message?What is the right journal for the

message?

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BEGIN WITH THUNDER!Write a strong introductory paragraphRight to the essence of the argumentOpening sentences should be “reader-

grabbers” A provocative questionA new perspectiveA good quotation

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several studies have shown that xxxx (ref: 1-7) and several others have shown that it does not (ref: 8-14). We report further, some of our result support ref. 1-7 & some of them are in accordance with 8-14..

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Two previous studies have reported that xxxxx. These studies were small and uncontrolled, and used only crude measurements of yyyy, and did not follow up.

We report a larger, controlled study, with detailed measurements of yyyy and with .... years follow up.[3]

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You may think definitions are not necessary because colleagues will understand.

Today, many reviewers are statisticians & others outside your subspecialty who may not understand your terminology.

Defining unfamiliar terms makes your study easier to understand & should improve the ratings of your paper.

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Explain why your research question is ImportantInteresting, or Controversial

Do not include information available in textbooks.

Include only: most relevant & significant points.

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If your sample is small/ your do not have ideal control group strenghten it by using a few well-selected findings from published studies.

Position your study, does your study have:A larger sample size?Better control of confounding factors?Longer follow up?More recent data?More accurate measurements?

Summarize concisely, elaborate in the Discussion.

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State the purpose of your study clearly..The specific aim & hypothesis should be

easy to find & understand

Be sure that the reasoning in your paper follows a straight line: from the purpose (in the Introduction) to the conclusion (at the end of the Discussion)

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Authors are often not clear about what they want to say..

Straying from the hypothesis or the objective of the analysis. 4

Authors regularly choose the wrong format..

Not clear about the audience (Acad? Pract? Researchers? Spec? Generalists?)

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You must present a great deal of important information in just a few words! How few?

Check recently published Introductions in the target journal make yours slightly less than, or equal to the average length..

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Consisting of 2 paragraphs ( 1 page):

1.Main reasons for doing the research, explain it in a logical sequence, relevant with selected literature.

2.A summary on how we plan to do it (research design) and research hypothesis, objectives, what we expect the outcome will be.

Physically, Indtroduction..[2]

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“To write an effective introduction you must know your audience, keep it short, tell readers why you have done the study and explain why it’s important, convince them that it is better than what has gone before, and try as hard as you can to hook them in the first line”

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Several styles: Materials & Methods Subjects & MethodsSome journals separated Materials from

Methods

Now most journals include materials/subject of research under the caption: methods

Better to write this part in as much detail as possible, start before the study has started.5

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Important part of the manuscript, since is the most common cause of rejection.

Main purposes: to describe, sometimes to defend the experimental design, provide sufficient details, enough for others to repeat the study,

Standard methods just give the appropriate reference .

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Whenever “modifications” of standard methods are used, authors should : Give complete details of any new methods

used.Give the precision of the measurements

undertaken.Use statistical analysis sensibly.

Help of a statistician needed at the planning stage of study.

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How the study was designed:Keep the description briefInform when the study was conducted &

placePopulation & sample, sampling method Say how randomisation was doneUse names to identify parts of a study

sequence

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How the study was carried out:Describe recruitment (criteria of inclusion )Give reasons for excluding subjects Consider mentioning ethical featuresGive accurate details of materials Give exact drug dosagesGive exact form of treatment & accesible

details of unusual apparatus20

How the data was analysed:Use a p value to disprove the null

hypothesisGive an estimation of the power of the

study (the likelihood of a false negative– the error)

Give the exact tests used for statistical analysis

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Does text describe questions asked?What was being tested? How trustworthy the measurements of the

variables would be?Were these trustworthy measurements

recorded, analysed, & interpreted correctly?Would a suitably qualified reader be able to

repeat the experiment in the same way?

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1. Hall GH. Structure of a scientific paper. In: Hall GH, ed. How to write a paper. London: BMJ, 1994: p. 1-3.

2. Sastroasmoro S. Penulisan makalah ilmiah untuk jurnal: Sistematika dan Format Umum. Pada Workshop on medical report writing. The Second annual Jakarta International Epidemiology Course for Clinicians. FKUI & UICC. Jakarta: 25 Nov-6 Des. 1996

3. Smith R. Introduction. In: Hall GH, ed. How to write a paper. London: BMJ, 1994: p. 6-13

4. Byrne DW. Introduction. In: Publishing your medical research paper. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1998:p. 101-4

5. Drummond G B. Methods. In: Hall GH, ed. How to write a paper. London: BMJ, 1994: p.15-8

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Mohon umpan balikMohon usulan bahan loka-karya

tambahan yang dirasa perlu Apakah perlu informasi tambahan

misalkan mengenai PLAGIARISME?

isnanis@yahoo.com

Isnani.azizah@ui.edu

Terima Kasih!

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