Week 3: Manuscripts Flashcards
What are the two different types of writing style?
Passive voice:
“Our hour was spent by the raters to observe the patients movement patterns so that the number of changes in static posture could be documented”
(Makes sentences ponderous and dull)
Active:
“The raters spent one hour observing the patients movement patterns to document the number if changes in static posture”
(A sentence written in active is powerful and concrete)
The research manuscript
Articles are typically divided into the following sections:
I’m Rad
Which are the articles that have a different structure to this?
- abstract
- introduction
- methods
- results
- discussion
- references
Case reports, literature reviews, and editorials have different structure
Abstract
- a brief summary of the article that is usually limited to a few paragraphs
- provides a synopsis of the entire article
- not merely an introduction
- you review abstracts to quickly determine whether the article is worth reading
Structured abstracts are common:
-contain subheadings and subsections eg background, objectives, method, result sum and conclusion.
This type is more preferred than the traditional paragraph structured
Introduction
Provides a rationale for the study and conveys the articles purpose
- a brief review if the literature is provided.
- highlights other research on the topic
- it should describe the context of the research
- should stimulate the readers interest
An introduction should go from general to specific
Appraising the introduction:
- the purpose of the study is provided, it is clear and logical
- should include a review of relevant literature
Methods
How did you do it?
- study design
- criteria for methods of subject selection
- description and number of subjects
- measurement methods and data collection techniques
- data analysis procedure
- method should be in enough detail that another researcher could produce it
- if human participants or animals are involved it should include a statement about how ethical standards were handled
Appraising the methods:
- the research design is appropriate for the studies purpose
- the populations and samples are identified (to look for potential bias)
- methods of data collection are described in detail
Results:
What happened?
- narrative description if statistical outcomes
- tables and figures that summarise findings
- statements to support or reject hypothesis
- make sure all data has been reported
- missing data may be a sigh of the author ignoring data that are contradictory to the studies hypothesis
- texts and tables should be reviewed for accuracy
- any statements should be supported by the data
Appraising the results:
- the data are reported in sufficient detail
- demographic characteristics are presented
- statistical tests are described
- they are appropriate for the type of data involved in the study
Discussion
What does this all mean?
- interpretation of statistical outcomes
- discussion of clinical significance of outcomes
- importance of the work
- comparison of results with the work of others
- how results support or conflict with theory
- critique of the studies limitations and strengths
- suggestions of further study
- conclusion
References:
Appraising the references:
References are:
-appropriate
-from high quality evidence sources (usually primary sources)
-adequate amount to support statements made in the article
Research presentations
Platform presentation
Poster presentation.
Platform presentation:
- the best of the best
- involves an oral presentation of completed research project
Poster presentation
- usually second grade research submissions
- involves the visual presentation of a completed research project with some Q and A
