RSC550 - Ch 5 - Scientific Paper Structure

Question 1

How do we communicate Research Results?

Answer 1

1. Scientific Paper - most common
2. Scientific Poster
3. Oral Comm at Congress (eg)

Question 2

What is the aim of Scientific Writing?

Answer 2

1. Communicates Finding(s).
2. Inform about scientific findings.

Question 3

What is the aim of Literary Writing?

Answer 3

• Entertain, Educate and Excite
• Use resources as metaphors, figurative language, etc

Question 4

Def: Scientific Paper

Answer 4

Written and published report describing the original results of an investigation.

It has to be ACCURATE, CLEAR, and BRIEF.

Question 5

Scientific paper - accurate, clear and brief

Answer 5

Accuracy - comm exactly, without a doubt, audience know what mean.

Clarity - easy to read and understand, simple language, well constructed sentences, logical order and paragraphs.

Brevity - Only info related to content, fewest words possible.

Question 6

Rules of Scientific Paper?

Answer 6

1. Sketch out results.
2. Be referee.
3. Answer common guideline.

Question 7

IMRYD Model / IMRAD Model

Answer 7

I - Introduction - what is aim of study?
M - Method - how studied?
R - Results - what discovered/found?
A - and
D - Discussion - meaning of results?

Question 8

Anatomy of Scientific Paper

Answer 8

Question 9

Content of TITLE?

Answer 9

• Not more 15 words
• shortest possible summary of paper
• Brief, Clear and Informative
• Fx - advertisement - grab attention so pick up and read

Question 10

Content of AUTHOR?

Answer 10

• Max 6 Authors
• Contribute significantly
• Allow name in database - Web of Science or Google Scholar
• Allow interested parties - contact you directly

Question 11

Affiliation in paper?

Answer 11

• Research institution affiliated to
• Help establish authority for your work by indicating membership

Question 12

Content of ABSTRACT?

Answer 12

• Most important part - often cite paper just from reading abstract.
• Summarise entire paper - research Q, its importance, methodology, findings and conclusions
• Provide scientific visibility in databases.
• Synthesize following:
  
  1. Introduction -> What was studied?
  2. Method -> How was it studied?
  3. Results -> What findings?
  4. Conclusions -> What results mean?
• Journals impose strict wordcount - 200 words or less.

Question 13

Importance of KEYWORDS in Abstract and Introduction

Answer 13

3 - 10 keywords on topic
It helps to find your research
Think from the perspective of the researcher/searcher for data.

Question 14

The function of INTRODUCTION?

Answer 14

Includes problem and importance of the topic,
what others wrote,
the objective of the paper/research,
and the hypothesis.

Question 15

Structure/Components of INTRODUCTION

Answer 15

1. Define research territory
   - usually some literature review
   - establish general context of your work
   - narrow down to specific research territory.
2. Establish niche within research territory
   - identify concrete gap or apparent contradiction in literature
   - point out vulnerable published claim, change due to new info.
   - ID rival theoretical models distinguishable by new data.
3. Occupy the niche.
   - how your work occupy niche identified.
   - Basic approach - experiments/observations
   - Overview of data
   - How data answer central RQ? Hypothesis?

Question 16

METHODS and MATERIALS Section

Answer 16

• Explain how research is done.
• Must be reproducible.
• Outline materials and procedures used to obtain and analyze data.
• Written in past tense

Mention following:
- Sample of study
- Materials used (software, questionnaires, etc)
- Procedure/Methodology
- Statistical tests used.

Question 17

Three issues the METHODS & METHODOLOGY section must address/consider.

Answer 17

1. Organisation/Layout of Methods Section:
   - no specific
   - could start with background, experiments/observations, and analysis.
   - could start with the material and equipment used.
2. Level of Detail:
   - Supply detail on procedure(s).
   - Enough so others can repeat research and verify results.
   - Ethics board approvals mentioned for human subjects.
   - Tell readers about procedures so they can understand the Results.
3. Avoid Self-plagiarism:
   - If using previous work, cite older work for more detail instead of repeating it. It’s classified as plagiarism.
   - cannot reuse the previous methods section.

Question 18

Layout of RESULTS section.

Answer 18

• main objective of paper - comm CLEAR and DETAILED.
• only data that relates to RQ - try direct answer first and other results follow other paragraphs.
• Further data and analysis can follow that support/complement main result.
• Quantitative data best communicated -tables, graphics and figures.

Question 19

What is included in the DISCUSSION section?

Answer 19

1. interpret results to answer RQ - turn data into knowledge.
2. Consider possible limitations.
3. Relate results to previous literature and consider broader implications.
4. Consider prospects for future progress and research.

Critically review your work.

Question 20

What is included in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS section?

Answer 20

Persons and organizations that facilitated research work.
Send them a copy of the article.

Question 21

What is included in the REFERENCES section?

Answer 21

All authors referenced according to APA 7th edition guidelines.

Question 22

Which APPENDIXES are attached to the research paper?

Answer 22

1. Templates of material used.
2. Additional tables not included in research, but relevant to interpret/understand/elaborate.
3. material mentioned in the methodology section.