Paper Writing and Abstract Writing Prof Peihying Lu

Paper Writing and Abstract Writing Prof. Peih-ying Lu School of Medicine Kaohsiung Medical University

Components of a research paper • Abstract • Introduction • Methods • Results • Discussion • Conclusion

Introduction Components: • Study background • Importance of nature and context of the problem • Concise review of the literature • Summarized rationale for the study • Purpose of the article/research

Methods • Selection and Description of Participants • Technical information • Statistics

Methods – Components 1 • General introduction and overview of the materials and methods/how the research was carried out • Subheadings: population analysis, plan for analysis, exposure, outcome, statistical analysis, etc. • Sources of materials and equipment used • Essential background information • Subject selection strategy (inclusions, exclusions, samplings) • Subject characteristics (eligibility criteria, final number of participants , etc. )

Methods – Components 2 • Specific and precise details about materials and methods (quantities, temperatures, duration, sequence, conditions, locations, sizes, drugs, dosages, chemicals, interventions, etc. ) • Decisions on statistical software used, measures of variables (SD, 95% CI, etc. ) • Indication that appropriate care was taken (human subject approvals) • Sufficient detail to allow others to reproduce and verify results • Indication of where problems occurred • Approval by institutional review board

Results Components: • Interpretation of information, evaluation of findings, and summary of all data and statistical tests used for analysis (expanding methodology) • General overview of results • Reader reviews results in tables, figures, graphs, illustrations, etc.

Results – components 2 • Specific/key results in detail, with or without explanations • Comparisons with results in other research • Comparison(s) with model predictions • Possible implications of results • Problems with results

Discussion Components - 1 • Reviewing previous sections for possible summarizing of general or key results • Summarizing existing literature (do not summarize sequentially) • Presenting findings as they fit into previous research • Interpreting results and putting them into perspective • Relationships to existing research

Discussion – components 2 • Achievement/contribution (emphasis on new findings and important aspects of study) to the greater scientific community • Refining the implications • Mechanisms, associations if found / look for consistencies, but explain inconsistencies (if possible) • Explanations for data that contradict published work • Strengths, weaknesses, limitations, current and future work, applications

Abstract Components: • Background, purpose, problem, what the research does • Methodology and/or materials, study population, analysis • Results, achievement and/or contribution, implications • Conclusions, outcome, associations, applications

Abstract 1 The four subheadings • Background • Methods • Results • Conclusions

Abstract 1 -2 • with writer states as follows: word count (varies), the • Background: provides background factual information; states the general and/or specific purpose of the study in one sentence ; limitations • Methods: summarizes the methodology, study population, and analysis • Results: provides details on results and associations • Conclusions: presents implications of the research ; indicates achievement of the study

Abstract 2: The one paragraph • with the writer states as follows: word count (varies), • A complication of all sections from abstract 1 enhanced by additional details from each section to fulfill the word count

Time For