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SCIENTIFIC WRITING FAQs: Tips for Content, Structure, and Organization

SCIENTIFIC WRITING FAQs: Tips for Content, Structure, and Organization. Michelle DeCoux Hampton, RN, PhD, MS Associate Professor and DNP Program Director. Footer. Creative Writing.

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SCIENTIFIC WRITING FAQs: Tips for Content, Structure, and Organization

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  1. SCIENTIFIC WRITING FAQs: Tips for Content, Structure, and Organization Michelle DeCoux Hampton, RN, PhD, MS Associate Professor and DNP Program Director Footer

  2. Creative Writing Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.- E. L. Doctorow http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-quotes http://www.philipwilley.com/uploads/1/4/2/4/14243058/6815262_orig.jpg

  3. Scientific Writing "Information is interpreted more easily and more uniformly if it is placed where most readers expect to find it. ... Readers have relatively fixed expectations about where in the structure of prose they will encounter particular items of its substance. If writers can become consciously aware of these locations, they can better control the degrees of recognition and emphasis a reader will give to the various pieces of information being presented.” George D. Gopen and Judith A. Swan.The Science of Scientific Writing.Appeared in American Scientist78(6):550-558 (Nov-Dec 1990). http://www.win.tue.nl/~wstomv/quotes/science-of-scientific-writing.html

  4. Basic Formula • Introduction • What’s the problem? • Definition • Extent • What is known? • How it’s been studied • How it’s been treated or managed • Often divided into subheadings • Support purpose with data • What is unknown? • Gap in knowledge • Purpose • Addresses gap in knowledge directly • Sometimes stated as hypothesis or research question (PICO) http://www.latextemplates.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/article_21.png

  5. Basic Formula • Methods • What was done to achieve the stated purpose? • Sample selection, procedures involved in study, data collection, data analysis (expanding upon PICO) • Results • What were the results of data analysis? • Descriptives of sample, specific data that answers the research question • Discussion • How are the results of statistical analysis interpreted? • How do results compare to similar studies • Report and consider impact of study limitations • Conclusion • What do the results mean in terms of next steps for research? • What are the practice implications?

  6. Common Errors Citations Summary vs. Critique What is the difference between summarizing and critiquing? One study at a time or synthesis? What to critique? “Bad” vs. “good” study? Gaps in the literature overall? What is most relevant vs. all evaluation criteria • What can you say without citing a source? • What can you cite? • Primary vs. secondary sources • How to cite? • Paraphrase or quotation? • What is plagiarism? Is it plagiarism if it wasn’t intentional? • Citation of singular vs. multiple studies • Citing a long passage from a singular source

  7. Common Errors Terminology Style Avoid: Vague terms Exaggerations Variations in use of terms Passive voice (except for methods section) Distance between subject and verb in sentence • Overuse of acronyms • Independent vs. dependent variables • Outcomes vs. hypotheses • Operational definitions

  8. What can you say without citing? Introduction Many individuals with mental illness are suffering from substance use disorders as well. Unfortunately, there are no easy solutions to this problem. A patient with both a mental illness and substance use disorder has a long and tumultuous treatment road ahead. It is unacceptable that this lack of treatment continues and something must be done immediately. Introduction Substance use disorders are highly prevalent among adults with schizophrenia, bipolar, and severe major depressive disorders, also known as severe mental illness (SMI). Among SMI adults in acute care settings, estimated rates of dual diagnosis range from 50-60% (Dixon, 1999; Levin & Hennessy, 2004). As a result, this population is at significant risk for the negative outcomes associated with substance use.

  9. Primary vs. Secondary Source Introduction (*Hampton, Chafetz, & Portillo, 2012) Substance use disorders are highly prevalent among adults with schizophrenia, bipolar, and severe major depressive disorders, also known as severe mental illness (SMI). Among SMI adults in acute care settings, estimated rates of dual diagnosis range from 50-60% (Dixon, 1999; Levin & Hennessy, 2004). As a result, this population is at significant risk for the negative outcomes associated with substance use… Results…Of the 252 subjects, 64 (25.4%) reported a diagnosis of either HIV or HCV (triple diagnosis) and 188 were either disease free or unaware of infection (dual diagnosis). Among the triple diagnosis group, 15 (6.0% of sample) reported a diagnosis of HIV only, 38 (15.1%) reported HCV only, and 11 (4.4%) reported co-infection with both HIV and HCV… If you were going to use this study as a source for your paper, what information could you cite for Hampton, Chafetz, & Portillo? • 50-60% of adults with SMI have both mental and substance use disorders • The rates of infection for HIV and HCV were 6% and 15%, respectively.

  10. How to cite… Results…Of the 252 subjects, 64 (25.4%) reported a diagnosis of either HIV or HCV (triple diagnosis) and 188 were either disease free or unaware of infection (dual diagnosis). Among the triple diagnosis group, 15 (6.0% of sample) reported a diagnosis of HIV only, 38 (15.1%) reported HCV only, and 11 (4.4%) reported co-infection with both HIV and HCV… If you were going to cite this result, what’s the preferred way to write it? • “Fifteen (6%) reported a diagnosis of HIV, 38(15.1%) reported HCV only, and 11…” • The rates of infection for HIV and HCV were 6% and 15%, respectively.

  11. Which of these is plagiarism? Results…Of the 252 subjects, 64 (25.4%) reported a diagnosis of either HIV or HCV (triple diagnosis) and 188 were either disease free or unaware of infection (dual diagnosis). Among the triple diagnosis group, 15 (6.0% of sample) reported a diagnosis of HIV only, 38 (15.1%) reported HCV only, and 11 (4.4%) reported co-infection with both HIV and HCV… *Hampton, Chafetz, & Portillo, 2012 • Sixty-four subjects reported HIV or HCV diagnoses and the rest were disease free or did not know they were infected (Hampton, Chafetz, & Portillo, 2012). • Twenty-five percent of adults with severe mental illness have diagnoses of HIV or HCV.

  12. Citation of Single vs. Multiple Studies Introduction Substance use disorders are highly prevalent among adults with schizophrenia, bipolar, and severe major depressive disorders, also known as severe mental illness (SMI). In Dixon’s (1999) study of SMI adults in acute care settings, 50% had both mental and substance disorder diagnoses. In another study, Levin & Hennessy (2004) found a 60% rate of dual diagnosis. As a result, this population is at significant risk for the negative outcomes associated with substance use. Introduction Substance use disorders are highly prevalent among adults with schizophrenia, bipolar, and severe major depressive disorders, also known as severe mental illness (SMI). Among SMI adults in acute care settings, estimated rates of dual diagnosis range from 50-60% (Dixon, 1999; Levin & Hennessy, 2004). As a result, this population is at significant risk for the negative outcomes associated with substance use. *In Hampton, Chafetz, & Portillo, 2012

  13. Citing a long passage from the same source Quality of life interview. The Lehman Quality of Life Interview, brief version, I (Lehman, 2000) was used to collect descriptive data on a broad range of socio-demographic characteristics. For the purposes of this study, data regarding age, gender, and race as well as items that were specific to high-risk groups of SMI adults, including being a victim of violent crime, receipt of social security benefits, and homelessness were collected (Lehman, 2000)… *In Hampton, Chafetz, & Portillo, 2012

  14. Summary or Critique – Which is Which? Hampton, et al’s study (2012) of 252 adults with SMI reported HIV and HCV infection rates at 6% and 15%, respectively. However, these rates were drawn from self-report data and could underestimate true prevalence. Hampton, et al.’s study (2012) of 252 adults with SMI found that 6% were infected with HIV and 15% with HCV. Eleven percent had both infections and were untreated at the time of enrollment.

  15. Overuse of Acronyms Prevalence rates among SMI adults were reported to range between 1.7-5.0% for HIV and 19% for HCV (Rosenberg et al 2001); greatly exceeding the rates of 0.5% for HIV (McQuillan & Kruszon-Moran, 2008) and 1.6% for HCV (Armstrong, et al., 2006) in the general population. Substance-related risk behaviors associated with HIV and HCV infection have been identified in a number of studies. Injection drug use (IDU) is a common method of direct transmission that was associated with both HIV (McKinnon & Cournos, 1998) and HCV (Butterfield, et al., 2004) in SMI populations. • Limit to 2 or 3 maximum!

  16. Independent and Dependent Variables

  17. Outcomes or Hypotheses? • HIV infection • HCV infection • Subjects with injection drug use histories will be more likely to have HIV and HCV infections.

  18. Operational Definition • Race • HIV infection

  19. Operational Definition • Race • HIV infection • Self-reported racial identification • Diagnostic records extracted from subject’s medical record. Diagnoses were self-reported.

  20. Vague and Exaggerated Statements Vague and exaggerated Specific Introduction Substance use disorders are highly prevalent among adults with schizophrenia, bipolar, and severe major depressive disorders, also known as severe mental illness (SMI). Among SMI adults in acute care settings, estimated rates of dual diagnosis range from 50-60% (Dixon, 1999; Levin & Hennessy, 2004). Mental illness and substance use are inextricable partners. The rates of co-morbid diagnoses are extremely high and present significant care challenges for both patients and providers.

  21. Variations in Used Terms Introduction (*Hampton, Chafetz, & Portillo, 2012) Substance use disorders are highly prevalent among adults with schizophrenia, bipolar, and severe major depressive disorders, also known as severe mental illness (SMI). Among SMI adults in acute care settings, estimated rates of dual diagnosis range from 50-60% (Dixon, 1999; Levin & Hennessy, 2004). As a result, this population is at significant risk for the negative outcomes associated with substance use… Results…Of the 252 subjects, 64 (25.4%) reported a diagnosis of either HIV or HCV (triple diagnosis) and 188 were either disease free or unaware of infection (dual diagnosis). Among the triple diagnosis group, 15 (6.0% of sample) reported a diagnosis of HIV only, 38 (15.1%) reported HCV only, and 11 (4.4%) reported co-infection with both HIV and HCV… • Severe mental illness • Severe and persistent mental illness • Mental illness • Mental disorders • Schizophrenia • Severe and chronic mental disorders

  22. Trouble getting started?

  23. Sample Approach • Search • Retrieve • Read • Table • Themes/Categories • Outline • Write • Edit • Feedback • Revise…(and repeat 9-11)

  24. Search • Identify: • Search terms • Limits • Relevant databases • Sources to retrieve • Store search results • Opt.: Set up alerts

  25. Retrieve Read Commit and stick to your reading schedule Make notes/comments in margins, highlight (to avoid having to reread the article to retrieve relevant information) http://www.motivationalmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/read-books.jpg • Print or save to a folder • Place interlibrary loan requests as needed • Create a reading schedule that is realistic and works with other responsibilities

  26. Table • Take notes/comments, highlighted information and enter into table • Periodically during reading process or all at once • What can be cited?

  27. Themes and Categorization • What recurrent themes emerge from each article?

  28. Begin Writing • Outline • Write • Handwrite or type (what works best for you) • Don’t worry about errors or wordsmithing, typos, grammar, or flow • Edit • READ ALOUD • Turnitin (GradeMark for grammar and style, Originality for plagiarism check) • Feedback • Mentor • Peer • Office of Academic Support Services • Take a break! • Revise, repeat…until deadline

  29. Resources • APA Style Guide, APA Writing Guide • https://www.samuelmerritt.edu/academic_support • Purdue OWL APA Style Guide • https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ • Writing in Science & Medicine (Principal Investigator’s Association) • http://principalinvestigators.org/product/writing-in-science-medicine/ • Scholarly Writing in Science (Berman) • Send e-mail to request: kward@samuelmerritt.edu

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