Scientific writingA.H. Mehrparvar

Occupational Medicine Department

Types of information Raw data Descriptive statistics Analytical statistics

Structure of the resultsThe Results include: Principal results (answer to the study question) secondary results Supporting information Any results that contradict the hypothesis

Beginning of results

Two methods:give a general panorama of the study

Directly starting the results

Negative results

Results Report data Do not interpret data Text Tables Figures Images

Using textWe don’t have extensive or complicated

dataWhen putting data into a table creates a

table with 2 or fewer columnsData is secondary or irrelevant to the

main study findings

TextSimple present tense:

Locate the dataSimple past tense:

To report dataActive or passive

Using table To show many and precise numerical values

and other specific data in a small space To compare and contrast data values or

characteristics among related items

Using a figure To show trends, patterns, and relationships when

general pattern is more important than the exact data values

To summarize research results To present a visual explanation of a sequence of

events, procedures

Tables and Figures Should be self-explanatory Refer in the text Not repeat data in the text Be consistent Clear, informative titles Journal guidelines

Guidelines for Tables Combine repetitive tables Large tables Empty cells Not to crowded Highlight a relevant result Abbreviations and symbols Units

Guidelines for figuresImage clarityAppropriate legendsLabel important partsUnits

Referring to tables/figures in the text

The figure/table shows…put the figure or table reference at

the end of the sentenceDo not repeat the information that

should already be contained in the table

Just point out the key result or trend

Frequent Mistakes• Failure to provide the data that is critical to

answering the research question• Adding interpretation to the findings• Inadequate statistical evidences• Over presentation of unnecessary details • Present accidental findings• Repeating the data from tables and figures

in the text• Repeating the statistical methods in the

result section

Discussion

Structure of discussion• The relation between the question of the

study and results• Comparison with other

studies/consistency/agreement• personal interpretation of findings• other possible interpretations• limitations of the study• Confounding factors or other factors

influencing the results

Discussion Statement of principal findings Strengths and weaknesses of the study Strengths and weaknesses in relation to

other studies: important differences in results

Meaning of the study: possible explanations and implications for clinicians and policymakers

Unanswered questions and future research

Beginning of discussion

• Objectives of the study• Refer back to the questions (hypotheses,

predictions etc.) that you posed in your Introduction

• Refer back papers you cited in your Review of the Literature

• Briefly restate the most important points from your Results

Comparisons

• A general statement regarding the findings• Mention another author’s work that relates

directly to the findings• Make a link between her/his work and your

work• Clearly state how your work differs from

her/his work• State the conclusions that can be drawn

from your results in light of these considerations

Frequent mistakesOver presentation of the resultsExaggeration of the importance of the findings

Conclusions that are not supported by the data

Refering to all published papers in the field

Conclusion Not just a summary Don’t merely repeat what you said in the

Abstract and Introduction A very brief revisit of the most important

findings A final judgment on the importance and

significance those findings Suggestions for improvements

Frequent mistakes

• Repeat introduction• Present new data• Repeat data presentation• General statements• Broad claims and strong statements

Other parts Conflict of Interest Acknowledgement Authors’ Contribution