Scientific writing for publication can be a satisfying endeavour laced with challenges to communicate and convey results of clinical experiments to others. The ability and task to examine, review, relate and interlinking research evidence can be rewarding but daunting and time‐consuming. There are guidelines and courses available online that help researchers to write scientific papers for successful submissions and publications.
Scientific research papers
A scientific research paper is a method or medium of communicating to others specific research data or information gathered. A scientific paper is a written format of describing or reporting original research results defined by centuries of editorial practice, developing tradition and scientific ethics. It can also be described as a written report of original research observations that involves interplay of publishing and printing services. A scientific research paper reports new research periodically in academic journals published with intentions of futuristic and scientific progress. It is used by scientists and researchers to document and communicate their ideas, activities and findings to others.
Scientific journals utilize rigorous process of reviewing primary source of new information or discovery that impacts clinical practice. The results obtained via scientifically conducted clinical research and scholarship of discovery is written, published and accessible to other professionals for a greater effect on the scientific community. Peer‐reviewed journals publish scientific and clinical discovery through manuscripts evaluated by peer author’s or content experts. The manuscript is reviewed and recommended to be published, revised or rejected.
Process of scientific writing
Scientific writing is a formal writing process that requires firm foundation of punctuations, good vocabulary and sentence construction. The purpose of scientific writing is to disseminate scientific research findings to others using specific and generalized scientific writing styles commonly known across many disciplines. The different forms of scientific writing include a project report or article in a scientific magazine or paper in an academic journal.
The most important step in writing a good research paper includes outlining an abstract, introduction and a conclusion. The two purposes of the abstract in a scientific paper are to decide on acquiring or reading the full paper and intending to collect the details presented. The six main parts of a standard format in a research paper helps readers to find expected analysed information in Title or subject under study; Abstract or summary of paper describing the objective; Introduction of the topic under study; Methods and Materials undertaken; Results found and conclusion of the study; Discussion to signify the results pattern. The presentation or format of the references or bibliography differs from one paper to another, although the generalised theme remains the same.
The process of writing a scientific paper and submitting for publication to a journal can be helpful in promoting the process of effective writing skills and scientific thinking of professionals that participate in scientific conversations. The system of peer-review manuscript publication requires technical writing skills developed and improved with practice on understanding the structure of the process for the likelihood of the submitted manuscript to be successfully published. Clear communication of the research findings is essential for the development and growth of professional and scientific practice. The culmination of the publication process provides the researcher protection of intellectual property, dissemination of research results, helps in decision‐making and cultivation of new ideas to facilitate scholarly discourse. Publication of scientific papers provides satisfaction to advance evidence and research based practice in various disciplines.
Scientific writing courses
Barriers in the task of effective writing are writing anxiety, poor writing habits, lack of experience, unfamiliarity or lack of confidence with scholarly writing, fear of failure and resistance to collect or accept feedback. Writing courses teaches researchers and scientists to be effective writers and face the challenges of writing through practical exercises and examples. Students are benefited through training on the general principles of effective writing. Topics covered include tricks for faster writing, principles of good writing with less anxiety, proper format of a scientific manuscript and understanding issues related to peer-review publication. These courses teach skills needed for effective and efficient research writing by navigating through the world of academic writing, journals and research article submissions or publications. These courses allow greater frequency of submitting or publishing in higher-ranked journals on understanding the complete process and choosing the right journals for publication. The skills needed to overcome challenges of writing process and boost confidence are acquired during the entire training program delivered by experienced editors and writers.
Online Course at JLI
James Lind Institute (JLI) provides an online program – Advanced PG Diploma in Scientific Writing & Medical Journalism to develop better scientific writing skills.
For more information please visit: www.jli.edu.in