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Learn the essential technicalities of academic paper writing, from structuring your paper to crafting a compelling title, abstract, and discussion. This comprehensive guide covers the AIMRD structure, authorship criteria, abstract word count, referencing, methodology, results, and more. Elevate your writing skills and enhance the impact of your research with expert advice from Professor Roger Jones and the British Journal of General Practice.
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THE TECHNICALITIES OF WRITING PAPERSProfessor Roger Jones, Editor, British Journal of General Practice
Basic AIMRD structure • Abstract • Introduction • Methods • Results • Discussion
Preparatory work • Choice of journal – pre-submission enquiry • Careful reading of Instructions for Authors • Word Count • House style – abstract, section headings, references • Figures and diagrams • References • ICMJE guidance • COPE guidance
The title • House style • Important because of citation and archiving, as well as attracting readers • Clarity rather than levity in the main title • Clear indication of the methodology and setting in the sub-title • Running head • Key words
Authors • ICJME has authorship criteria • Essential to agree on authorship before putting pen to paper • Power relations can be problematic –departmental policy if appropriate, otherwise some structure for mediation • Gift authorship • Order of names • Contributorship should be clearly stated and may be printed
Abstract • Word count and structure specified by journal • May not exactly parallel the IMRD structure • Increasingly important as paper short/web long increases • Involved in some citation counts
Introduction • An arresting first sentence • Say enough to show that you know the field but don’t over-do it – 10 or so key references? • Tell the story which takes the reader to the need for this piece of research, and end the section by stating the research question
Methods • “What the abstract giveth, the methods taketh away” • Sufficient detail to allow replication • Reference, rather than describe in full, the measuring and analytic tools you will use • Pre-specification of end points and analysis (ITT, per protocol, grounded theory, thematic analysis, etc)
Results • Main findings • Detailed findings • Reporting guidance/frameworks eg CONSORT, STARD, PRISMA: the EQUATOR network (equator-network.org) • Figures and tables • Avoid duplication of text and tables • Additional on line material – data tables, questionnaires, interview schedules • Specific aspects of the presentation of quantitative and qualitative data – eg numerical/statistical precision, quotations in boxes
Discussion • Structured • Headline findings….”for the first time….” • What’s new • Comparison with other literature • Strengths and weaknesses • Implications for practice and research • Conclusion if necessary
Tailenders • Acknowledgements • Funding source • Ethical permission • Authorship/ contributorship • Conflicts of/ competing interests • References – convention, dois and papers – use web references sparingly and wiki not at all
New and contentious topics • Open access publishing: author/funder pays the article publishing fee • Predatory open access journals • Paper short/very short: web long, eg BMJ Picos, BJGP 2-page summaries • Continuous online publication • Online only journals • Open data/ Fair data: prior publication • Dissemination – doesn’t stop at the paper