HOW TO SET UP, CONDUCT AND REPORT A SCIENTIFIC STUDY

What is it about?

This continuing education paper gives some guidelines on how to write a scientific paper. A good paper begins with a high quality experiment! Therefore, based on an idea, authors should first inform themselves by reading the literature, refine their idea and convert it into a scientific question. This is all laid down in the first draft of the “Introduction” of the future paper. The authors must seek for ways to answer the scientific question stated above, which is done by describing it in detail in the “Material & Methods” section of the paper. This may require a pilot study. Once the experimental design, the parameters to be measured and the materials involved are known, it is good practice to consult a statistician in order to determine the statistical method to be used for analyzing the results.The execution phase is dominated by meticulously applying the methods described above and documenting everything in detail. Once results are obtained, they should be first displayed in a descriptive manner to determine the final quantitative analysis, which leads to tables and figures showing the significant differences.What is left at this point is to write a “Discussion”, which should be well structured and then to compile the whole manuscript in the format required by the journal of choice to submit to.Finally some hints are given how to successfully deal with reviewers.Conclusion: Following the recommendations given, the probability to obtain acceptance of a paper may be quite good.Keywords: experimental design, scientific writing, publishing

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