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Professor Michael Gelfand (1912 - 1985) University of Zimbabwe

Scientific papers, getting published and reviewing the work of others (or How to avoid getting kicked ). Professor Michael Gelfand (1912 - 1985) University of Zimbabwe. Overview and Goals. How to avoid kicks –writing a decent paper How to respond when kicked - responding to reviewers.

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Professor Michael Gelfand (1912 - 1985) University of Zimbabwe

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

  2. Professor Michael Gelfand(1912 - 1985) University of Zimbabwe

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

  4. Magic happens

  5. The magic of the pen lies in the concentration of your thoughts upon one object.Lewes, George Henry1817-1878 British Writer

  6. Sweat Think Organize Practice

  7. 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

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

  9. Abstract • Only thing most people read • Structured abstract • Data

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

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

  14. 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

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

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

  17. 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)

  18. 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: 3437 -3444 Kisses of Death

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

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

  21. GOING TO JAIL FORM • Duplicate publication • Making up data

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

  23. STOP

  24. 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

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