How to publish an article Saleem Saaed Qader MBChB, MD, MSc, MPH, PhD, SBGS Consultant General...
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Transcript of How to publish an article Saleem Saaed Qader MBChB, MD, MSc, MPH, PhD, SBGS Consultant General...
How to publish an articleHow to publish an article
Saleem Saaed QaderSaleem Saaed Qader
MBChB, MD, MSc, MPH, PhD, SBGSMBChB, MD, MSc, MPH, PhD, SBGS
Consultant General Surgeon and LecturerConsultant General Surgeon and Lecturer
General DirectorGeneral Director
Medical Research Centre, Hawler Medical University, ErbilMedical Research Centre, Hawler Medical University, Erbil
Department of Surgery, Medical College, Hawler Medical Department of Surgery, Medical College, Hawler Medical UniversityUniversity
Department of Surgery, Rizgary Teaching Hospital, ErbilDepartment of Surgery, Rizgary Teaching Hospital, Erbil
TMCTMC
Oct 2014Oct 2014
Scientific paper
Is a written and published documentA report describing original research results
1. To assess observations
2. To repeat experiments
3. Must have an impact
4. Available to scientific community without restriction
5. Available for regular screening by one or more of the major recognized secondary services (Pub Med etc…)
Brilliant writing can NOT mask a poor experiment Brilliant writing can NOT mask a poor experiment But poor writing can mask a brilliant experimentBut poor writing can mask a brilliant experiment
Why should scientists publish?
To share COMMUNITY with something that advances (not repeats) knowledge in a certain field
To present a review/ summary of the field
Academic career depends on publication list Getting employ easier (to get you short listed)
A scientific experiment is not complete until the results have been published & understood
The knowledge should be distributed to all others Knowledge could not be circulated without publication
PhD degree?
Which journal?
Where to look for the journal:Personal experienceColleagues’ experienceLibraryCitations and published articlesOnline
PAUSE & PONDER
Questions to answer in choosing a journal
1. National or international audience? 2. Language? 3. Disciplinary? 4. The journal’s content area/culture? 5. Chances of acceptance? 6. Indexed journal (PubMed) 7. What about the impact factor? 8. Practical matters (time to publication, etc.)
Know your journal targets?
a) Impact factor and prestige b) Content of one of the journal issues
a) Which kind of manuscripts are published ?b) What are the preferred formats ?
c) Style and recent trends in the journald) Who is the editor-in-chief ? Can you contact him ?e) Who are the members of the editorial-board? They are
very aware of the journal’s publication policyf) How much it costs?g) Citation index
Nature around 20
On PublicationsAuthorship
all authors must have scientific contribution
How many authors? No matter how many are ...Review process
getting a postive comments means that you are able to publish the paper
You need to convince editors that your topic is interested and significant: Letters to editros/ cover letterApproval copyAny conflict
Submission process
The average reviewing time (assistant of the editors) Is there an online submission process? Can you track your manuscript status online?
Citation rates
The Institute of Scientific InformationInstitute of Scientific Information (ISI)(ISI) records scientific citations/references
Citation Index: The number of times a publication has been cited within a certain period
Published annually in the Journal Citation Reports
Impact factor
The recorded number of citations within a certain year (eg 2003) to the items published in the journal during the preceding two years (e.g. 2001 and 2002)
Citation Half Life
How long articles in a journal continue to be cited after publication
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
J Natl Cancer Institute 10.730 12.945 14.159 14.240 14.500
J of Clinical Oncology 8.228 7.963 8.773 8.530 9.868
Cancer Research 8.370 8.614 8.460 8.302 8.318
Clinical Cancer Research 2.941 3.442 4.643 5.076 5.991
Oncogene 6.192 6.517 6.490 6.737 5.979
Gene Chromosome Cancer 3.804 4.902 4.534 4.416 4.199
Int Jrnl Cancer 3.283 3.545 3.918 4.233 4.056
Cancer 3.660 3.362 3.611 3.909 3.941
Annals of Oncology 2.867 3.195 3.249 3.153 3.114
Impact Factor: Oncology
Getting your paper accepted
Keep it simple (focus on one specific theme)
Announce that idea in abstract, intro & conclusion
Follow style and structure the journal you have in mind
If more ideas or themes come to mind: split it off for future publications
Help Editors/ Referees (and yourself); Number all pages
Re-writing
Be prepared to re-write and revise and revisere-write and revise and reviseGo through revisions and feedback: colleagues, supervisors,
native speakers, editors.Follow suggestions from editorsWelcome useful suggestions but make sure you remain
coherent & consistentIf you disagree with reviewer’s suggestions: make a case to
the editorBe self-critical, but not to the point of paralysis
What to do with rejected papers?Read rejection letter, don’t send angry impulsive emailsReturn to it after a couple of days?Take criticism into account, may be change angle of the
paper, focus on strongest points, if necessary rework design & analysis
Submit to another journalSee it as new projectAim for a slightly less prestigious journal
Who is going to deal with your paper?
Editors and reviewers:
1.The most precious resource of a journal!
2. Practicing scientists, even leaders in their fields
3. Busy people doing their own research, writing and teaching, and working for journals in their spare time, to contribute to science
Editors may receive a small payment, but reviewers are UNPAID
QUALITY The heart of scientific communication
Do not publish:
1. Reports of no scientific interest
2. Duplication of previously published work
3. Incorrect/unacceptable conclusions
4.“ salami-sliced” papers: datasets too small to be meaningful
Deadly sins-Unethical behavior “ can earn rejection and even a ban from publishing in the journal”
— Terry M Phillips, Editor, Journal of Chromatography B
Multiple submissionsRedundant publicationsPlagiarismData fabrication and falsificationImproper use of human subjects and animals in researchImproper author contribution
Why is revision important and necessary?
Which procedure do you prefer? Send out a sloppily prepared manuscript get
rejected after 4-6 months send out again only a few days later get rejected again….
Take 3-4 months to prepare the manuscript get the first decision after 4 months revise carefully within time limitation….accepted
Please protect your own achievements!
Before submitting your article1. Check the originality of your idea
Have you done something new and interesting?Is there anything challenging in your work?Have you provided solutions to any problems?
2. Decide the type of your manuscript
Full articles/Original articles;Letters/Rapid Communications/Short communications;Review papersAsk your colleagues for advice:
Sometimes outsiders see things more clearly than you
3. Who is your audience?
Do you want to reach specialists, multidisciplinary researchers, a general audience?
Journals reach readers with different backgroundIs readership worldwide or local?
4. Choose the right journalInvestigate all candidate journals to find out: Aims and scope and types of articlesYou can get help from your colleagues Articles in your references will lead you to the right journalDO NOT scatter your manuscript to many journals
Only submit once!
The Process of publishing an article
Writing the manuscript:Moral and ethical standards Obtaining data, analyzing results and writing IMRAD Revision and revision and revision
Getting feedback (supervisor and coauthors)Finding journals (instruction to the author)Submitting (confirmation letter)Revisions (changes and comments) or rejection
2. Revision after 2. Revision after submittion: Carefully submittion: Carefully read the comments and read the comments and prepare a detailed letter prepare a detailed letter of responseof response
Reasons for rejectionDid not address important scientific issueNot originalDid not test authors hypothesisDifferent study should have been performedSample size too smallUncontrolled or inadequately controlledAnalyze incorrect or inappropriateUnjustified conlcusion reched from dataSignificant conflict of interestBadly prepared regarding submittion requirements or poor
English
Rejection: not the end of the world
Everyone has papers rejected-do not take it personally.Try to understand why the paper was rejected.Note that you have received the benefit of the editors and
reviewers’ time; take their advice seriously!Re-evaluate your work and decide whether it is appropriate
to submit the paper elsewhere
If so, begin as if you are going to write a new article Read the guide for authors of the new journal again &
again
What to avoid in the paperSuperficial literature search, Wikipedia-basedDon’t claim that “very little” research has been done in an
area if you’re not 100% sure! => reviewers may react negatively
Sloppiness in presentation of text: respect style sheet, make sure references are in right format, double-check list of references, make sure spelling of surnames is correct
Style that does not match that of journalTaking a side in a debate & ignoring the counter-arguments
Moral standards
Establish a reputation of a reliable & honest researcher (always acknowledge your sources)
Be prepared to give advice to those who seek your adviceAccept to review papers (journals)/ chaptersStick to deadlinesDon’t be pretentious, don’t take your work too seriouslyBe optimistic and friendly with colleagues
If you guessed who reviewed your paper and you meet that
person: don’t start talking about the paper unless the reviewer starts about it
Ethical standardsAs a reviewer in an international journal
Make sure you give constructive criticism together with your honest opinion
Never be nasty or dogmaticDon’t cite/use data of a paper you revisedIf you wish to contact the author/s, ask the editor to pass on
the message
Final recommendations
Research is fun! Publish and flourish! (it’s a game really)Writing up requires patience & perseverance: it is
worth the effort!Nobody is perfect: everybody sweats!Be thankful of the reviewer who sends you a 10
page report with criticism & comments: that person has spent a lot of time and effort on your work (and it may be a major name, who might start referring to your work)