Research Methodology for purpose of writing and for different styles

Writing for academic purpose

Why write up your work?

• part of training process of any researcher
• good academic practice
• communication between you and the 
• Guide
• industrial sponsor (Research Report)
• other researchers (Abstract, Poster, Publication etc.)

• get feedback on your work
• make your claims
• become known to other researchers
• peer-reviewed work is an asset for your
• PhD.D. Thesis
• CV

The Importance of writing

• clarifies your thoughts
• helps you to identify the “loose ends”
• helps you to identify your next steps
• gets you organised
• Have all details on materials and methods been obtained?
• Are the results conclusive?
• How far have you gone with your literature review?
• helps you to learn and to practice scientific language
• helps you to learn the citation of references
• helps you to put your own work into context with what others do or have done

Scientific style of writing

• make a plan!
• use terminology related to your subject
• avoid jargon
• do not use endless numbers of abbreviations
• explain abbreviations, if used
• explain special terminology adapted from adjacent areas
• avoid long and complicated sentences
• ensure correct spelling and grammar

Critical style of writing?

• be fair to others!
• put your own work into context
• highlight the strengths and the shortcomings of your work in a constructive manner
• justify your claims
• provide evidence for claims
• if you criticize work, this must be evidence-based
• references to literature
• avoid review articles and second-hand sources as your main references
• always identify the true first originator of a method, a finding, a statement etc.
• never rely on citations by others

Style of references

• different styles are around
• most frequently used: Harvard system of citation
• Referencing systems: Harvard and Numerical
• you must follow the rules outlined in the “Instructions to Authors”
• different journals use different rules
• all references in the reference list must have been cited in the text and vice versa
• do not copy (text, figures, thoughts)

Experimental Work

• section forms the backbone of any writing
• must enable an experimenter to get similar results
• exact sources of materials must be stated (manufacturer’s details, batch numbers)
• state any pre processing required to perform before experimentation
• any process, even if considered less important, must be described in sufficient detail
• GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICE(that to be standardized)

Writing a publication

Typical outline of a paper in a journal:

• Title
• Affiliations/contact details of the author(s)
• Abstract (state briefly what you set out to do, how you have done it, what you have found and what conclusions you can draw from this)
• Introduction (at the end state aims and objectives of the work)
• Materials and Methods
• Results and Discussion (normally not split to enhance readability and to reduce repetition)
• Conclusions (Future work planned is not part of a publication!)
• Acknowledgements
• References

Choice of journal

• Journals have different aims and objectives, even if they are in the same subject group
• identify the journal(s) with aims and objectives matching your work
• What is the audience you wish to reach like?
• What is the reputation of the journal?
• Citation index
• Impact factor
• Journal position in its subject group
• Author of correspondence

Responding to reviewers

• Carefully prepare your responses
• Each comment should be addressed
• Each change should be stated
• Be enthusiastic
• Reviewer may be wrong
• Be tactful –thank the reviewers
• Do not respond to reviewers while upset
• Get help from Guide

And finally…

• it can be done, but writing for academic purposes requires concentration, effort and attention to detail
• You can do it!