Organizing the Structure of a Manuscript

Structure of a Manuscript

Microdis Annual Meeting

Brussels- Feb. 25-27 2009

Structure of a Manuscript

1.Overview

2.Title

3.Writing an abstract

4.The introduction

5.Methods

6.Results

7.Discussion

8.Tables & Figures

9.References and Citations

Generalities

–Structure=packaging of the message

–Objective: to present findings

•Coherently/Logically

•Clearly

•Consistently

–Active voice; short sentences (one idea persentence)

Generalities II

–Read “Instructions to Authors” alwayscarefully

–Decide about length and format:

•Brief report

•Original Research

•Qualitative Report

•Review

•Policy paper- Viewpoint

Title

–Coherent-Clear-Consistent

•Short better than long

•Should convey or hint at main message(s)

–Should be conform to journal preference

•Declarative: “Provider self-efficacy and attitudesrelated to cardiovascular prevention are notassociated with better treatment outcomes”

•Hypothesis-driven: “Data Quality Bias: AnUnder-Recognized Source of Misclassification inPay for Performance Reporting?”

Title II

•Indicative of design: “Association ofIntervention Outcomes with Practices’ Capacityto Change: Subgroup analysis from a group-randomized trial”

•Descriptive: “Association of NeighborhoodSocioeconomic Status with Physical Fitness inHealthy Young Adults: the CARDIA Study”

•Provocative: “Is epidemiology really dead,anyway?”

Writing an Abstract

–Should meet criteria above

–Should conform to journal preference(structured vs. “unstructured”; word count)

–Summarize but be specific

Writing an abstract

One format:

•Introduction/Background (2-3 sentences):

•Methods (4-5 sentences): Study design, Setting,Sample, Main measures (predictors andoutcomes), Analytic approach

•Results (4-5 sentences): Descriptive (participantcharacteristics; response rate), main findings –bivariate, then multivariate results if appropriate;

•Discussion/Conclusion (2-3 sentences): DO NOTREPEAT RESULTS; interpret findings withincontext of the current state of knowledge;

Introduction

WRITE THIS THIRD

–Maximize clarity; logical flow of ideas;showcase novelty of approach

–Set the stage for the objective (what are theknowledge gaps?, why are they important?Hint at implications)

–State the objective

–Avoid mentioning methods and results here

 MANY EDITORS STOP READING HERE

Methods

WRITE WHILE WAITING FOR RESULTS !!!

–3-4 pages

–Must match objective

–Describe

•study design early – be explicit

•Setting

•Participants (inclusion, exclusion)

•Conceptual model (as appropriate)

•Measures (definition of outcome; definition of predictors;definition of covariates and explanation for why they areincluded)

Methods II

•Analytical strategy (+/- analytic software used);supplemental analyses (provide rationale)

•Comment on power if quantitative study;comment on expected number for themesaturation if qualitative study

•Human subjects considerations/approvals

•Avoid mentioning results here unless part ofrationale for analytic strategy

THIS IS THE SECTION OFTEN MOSTCAREFULLY SCRUTINIZED BY REVIEWERS

Results

WRITE THIS SECTION FIRST

–short enough 1 – 1 ½ pages

–Use Tables, Figures as extra space to presentresults (add visual interest)

–DO NOT REPEAT CONTENTS OFTABLES/FIGURES in narrative;

–Make sure you identify the key findings;

–look for consistency and patterns among results;

–Start thinking about interpretation, implications,alternate explanations

Discussion

WRITE LAST

–(3-4 pages)

–Paragraph 1: main message(s)

–Paragraphs 2-5+: interpretation, comparison withother work, alternate explanations

–Paragraph 6: limitations/strengths

–Last paragraph: conclusions (repeat main messageand provide implications)

–Don’t make any statements that are unsupported byyour data

–Be aware of the tone of your writing; should bebalanced rather than strident

Tables & Figures

GENERATE WHEN WRITING RESULTS

–Must “stand-alone” (use descriptive title,explanatory notes or legend)

–Intended to facilitate presentation (therefore,should not be data-dense)

–Contents are driven by nature of study(case-control, qualitative)

References and Citations

–Formatting must adhere to instructions forAuthors

–Consider using a reference managingprogram, e.g. EndNote or ReferenceManager

thank you for your attention!