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Easy steps to write up a research paper
Of course a proposal should be drafted before any research started. But after the data and analysis is in your hands, these are easy steps to write up your research.
1. Start with results.
Place tables and graphs first. Use old dummy tables or adapt some of them. Describe in words what you have found after the data analysis. Describe objective by objective,table by table, graph by graph. When you get this part done, it should encourage you very much to go on with your further writing. Since the hardest thing in writing a research paper is to start it. So start with this easiest part by telling others what you have found after data analysis. Remember do not discuss anything here.
2. Write up the methodology.
Now another easy part. Of course, if you have developed your research proposal well beforehand this can be done within minutes. Tell others your study design. How you get your sample size . Tell them how you collect your data prospective or retrospectively. Writing up a data flow here is very important especially in RCT. Tell them what subjects that you included first. Then tell them what you have excluded and what you have been left with. If there are special terminology or important definitions place them here.
3. Write up background.
Before you do a research you might have reviewed many literatures and found out the knowledge gap that lead you to this research. Write them here. Start with the general epidemiology, current situation or national data of the main topic of this research. Tell them why it is important, if you have to touch some clinical or patho physiology, morbidity , mortality , write all of them here. Now focus to the point you wanna do this study. You can place your research questions here but not the research objective. Review literatures here that tell reader about the point that you focus. How are the results from other researchers locally and abroad. Report as many papers as possible that relate with your research questions here. This will help you in discussion. Later part of the background is telling readers something about your institute and the status of your center. So they will know where you are in Thailand or region and what type of your institute is classified. This will surely help with generaizability of your paper. End this part with the objectives of your research. Write them clearly one by one and tell that these are the purposes of your study.
4. Now write your discussion.
By now discussion wont be a difficult part anymore. You have reviewed and know your research so well from the methodology part, the result part and most importantly the background part. Write 4 parts of discussion as recommended.
If the manuscript needs conclusion, make it brief. Conclusion part is for stating clearly what you have found in your research. Just 1,2 or 3 points, should not more than that. Write shortly about how to imply this result in the daily medical practice. The longer part of the research implication is already in discussion. So, don't write this part long and don't write it more that what you have found in your research.
4 components in discussing a research paper
1. Comparing the results
Compare findings of our paper with others that we have reviewed in the background. Comparing objective by objective.
2. Try to explain
Explain the similarity and dissimilarity of the result comparison by patho-physio , demography or clinical perspective. Tell readers why our outcomes are same or not same comparing to others. Do the best as you can!
3. Weakness of our paper
Do not try to hide this part. The readers will finally find it. So, tell them frankly what are the possible flaws of our paper. The weakness of validity eg. Design, data collection method, incompleteness of data , limitation of doing this research etc.. Possible flaws regarding reliability eg. Sample size, power of study , statistical method used.
4. Suggestions
Suggest readers of how to use the results of your research. What are the implications. How will it change our medical practice. Do not over claim the results. Suggest only what are the results from your study. Suggestion for further research . What should others do to better answer this question. And most importantly what are the new questions raised after this study.
Good luck and enjoy your research!
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