How to Write a Scientific Paper

1. How to Write a Scientific Paper Ed Bullmore

2. You should already have started to write your first/next paper, whether you know it or not! Ethics committee applications, job applications, grant applications, protocol presentations etc allow you to rehearse in writing: context, background, literature review emergent hypotheses a sense of motivation for the study major study design elements

3. Introduction (1): Context, background, literature review Make a short, simple opening statement of the context in a few, accessible sentences - avoiding over-ambitious vagueness or immediately impenetrable jargon �Hitherto, the nature of consciousness has proved elusive.� �AR models of residual autocorrelation will fail for 1/f noise� Background, literature review remember this is not a review - so be selective, play favourites remember your paper will be peer-reviewed, by prior autors in the field, so don�t be too selective... acknowledge history!

4. Introduction (2) Hypotheses inevitable, refutable, empirically specific, statistically testable written down a priori Motivation why should you bother writing this paper and why should I bother reading it?

5. MethodsMajor study design elements Sample size, with respect to power composition, with respect to population and stratification Measurements observational experimental Statistical models and testing factorial structure test statistics or outcome measures distributions including priors hypothesis testing, type 1 and type 2 error control

6. Results Use figures and tables with self-contained legends to convey your most important results �at a glance� Let your readers see as much as possible of the data for themselves, without losing narrative coherence use descriptive statistics/graphics as well as hypothesis tests oragnise presentation so that logically or substantively related results are juxtaposed

7. Discussion It is OK to use a less constrained, more conversational style Start positive, headlining key results in context return to hypotheses be thoughtful about any differences between your work and the existing literature Do not simply rehearse results interpretation, synthesis, predictive speculation avoid blob-by-blob decompositions of complex function in fMRI papers pay attention to unexpected/discrepant results Explicitly consider the limitations of your work

8. Title, authors, abstract:The really important stuff

9. Title, authors, abstract:the really important stuff The title is the only part of your paper most people will read - make it clear, self-contained, descriptive The abstract is vitally important - without doubt the most important 200+ words in the paper tailor it to target journal report results use key words for literature searching Authors - first, second, last and corresponding seek guidance from your supervisor

10. How to publish a scientific paper (1) Think about target journals early on high impact equals tight word count impact is not always a six letter word if you aim low you can�t subsequently move up the food chain if you aim high you may have to allow for turnaround time (rejection) or �second album syndrome� (success) Obey instructions to authors use a bibliography manager acknowledge grant support, conflict of interest

11. How to publish a scientific paper (2) Dealing with reviews anticipate revision: it is almost inevitable and generally beneficial organise the final version of the paper and all ancillary data carefully before submission try not to take criticism personallyor as a reflection of incompetence on the part of reviewers their failure to understand is your lack of clarity be respectful, exact and direct in responding to the editor if the reviews are too negative to justify acceptance, incorporate any helpful comments and resubmit whatever you do - do it sooner rather than later! Dealing with proofs Dealing with fame!