A Beginner's Guide to Writing a Research Article , For Post Graduate Trainees and Senior Registrars , defining basic structure of an article or a publication. Describes different components of a publication or a Research

1. Writing a Research Paper
Dr. Noman Ali Ghazanfar
SR UROLOGY
SIMS / SHL

2. Objectives of this Presentation
• How to write an Article / Research Paper ??
• Structure of a research article ….
• Terminologies associated with research …..
• How to Cite / How to find References in a research?.....
• Creating a Google Scholar Profile / How to Use Google Scholar ….
• Role of Chatgpt in Research / Plagiarism / Similarity index / Paraphrasing
• Brief look at Case Report structure and Clinical Audit

4. Research
• Significance
• Subjectivity
• Topic Selection /
Literature Review
• Journal Selection

5. Article Submission/ Types of Journals
• PubMed Indexed Journals
• Peer Reviewed Journals ( 2 Internal + 2 External Reviewers )
• Avoid Predatory Journal
• Look for Impact Factor , ISSN / Cross Ref , Google scholar , Scopus ,
HEC approved
• X / Y / Z / W category

6. HEC Approved Journals

7. Structure and Sections of a Research Writing (IMRAD )
• Abstract ( Background , Objective , Material and
method , Results , Conclusion )
• Title
• Introduction
• Material and Method
• Results

8. • Discussion
• Conclusions
• Key Words
• Conflict of Interests
• Source of Funding
• Consent
• References / Citable Evidence / Bibliography

9. Consent Form
• I_________________________________________ give my consent for this information about
myself, relating to the subject matter above to appear in a journal article, or to be used for the
purpose of a thesis or presentation.
• I understand the following:
• The Information will be published without my name attached and every attempt will be made
to ensure anonymity. I understand, however, that complete anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
• The Information may be published in a journal which is read worldwide or an online journal.
Journals are aimed mainly at health care professionals but may be seen by many non-doctors,
including journalists.
• The Information may be placed on a website.
• I can withdraw my consent at any time before online publication, but once the Information has
been committed to publication it will not be possible to withdraw the consent.
•
• Signed:__________________________________ Date: ______________________

10. Data Form / Data Sheet
• Create a Data Form with Patient’s Biodata
• As comprehensive as possible
• Manageable
• Include all the factors , you need to study

11. Abstract
• Summary / Quick Look / Attraction point / Quintessential Marketing Tool
• 250 – 300 words
• May be the Only visible part at some places
• Background ( Briefly describe significance of study in 2 sentences or 3)
• Objective ( The purpose of study )
• Material and method ( Main inclusion criteria , study group and intervention or
parameters used )
• Results
• Conclusion

12. Title
• Reflective / Appropriate
• Word Count ( 14 )
• Easily searchable keywords on PubMed or Medline
• Should Get more Citations and Reads
• Should include the main factor or disease studied
• Should include the population studied
• Can include design of Study

13. Introduction
• Should Generate Curiosity to read More
• Significance of Your study
• What are you intending to achieve with it ?
• What’s New in it ?
• Explain the Utility of your work
• Suitably balance between being very obvious and avoid unnecessary details .
• 7 – 10 References

14. Introduction
• Typically Contains 3 Paragraphs
• 1st Indicating : Background of disease , Disease Burden , Prevalence ,
indicating how Significant your work is ….
• 2nd is Literature on the subject : Worldwide , General beliefs …
• 3rd is Local work / Studies in Pakistan on the subject
• Always end with thus there is need to study …. Thus indicating the
purpose of this study …

15. Material and Method
• Mention Type of Study
• Where was the work done
• Period of your research
• Explain in details what Parameters you are using
• Explain your Data Collection Process

16. Material and Method
• Should Include Statistical Analysis of your Variable e.g. Age , with
means and standard Deviation
• Level of significance and software Used
• Justification of sample size
• Take Help from Biostatistician where Stuck

17. Material and Method
• Explain all the Variables upon which you can base your results
• Contains Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria ***
• Do not contains References / Citable Evidence
• Mention of Gadgets and Tools ( Biochemical , Radiological , Clinical )
• Mention briefly that consent was obtained from Ethical committee

18. Standard Deviation
• Mean ( Add all values / Number )
• Difference from Mean ( Each Value , + , - )
• Square of each Difference
• Add them ( The squared Values )
• Divide this value by n- 1 ( n is number of values )
…. Variance
• Square root the Variance is your SD
• Indicates Errors and Skewed Values

19. Results
• Do not contains References
• Do not contains Commentary or Discussion
• Simply mention values and your results
• No need to repeat material and method
• Do not use the phrases as … surprisingly , interestingly etc.
• Can use both text / tables and figures …. / Pie charts / Data Summary
• Data if numerical will be with Standard Deviations

20. Discussion
• Starts with brief recap of main finding of your study
• But in Recap do not repeat your results , just rephrase in a way that shows the core
of your results / trend
• Compare your results with similar credible studies conducted worldwide ( With
References )
• Should include 7- 10 References
• Do criticize the other studies , to elevate your study but be diplomatic

21. Discussion
• Force your reader to believe this is not “ Just another Paper’’ but a significant
progress in literature
• Mention Your Shortcomings / Criticize your on work with promise to rectify in
future research work
• Again Typically Contains 3 paragraphs
• 1st …. Rephrasing of results
• 2nd …. Worldwide Comparison with similar Study
• 3rd …. Comparison or mention of local work in the same domain + Self analysis
and mention of shortcomings with promise to future work …..

22. Discussion

23. Conclusion
•In two or three Sentences , conclude
your study or work done on basis of your
results and evidence that you have
presented ….

24. References

25. References
• Can be up to 20
• Widely accepted facts , need not to be referenced
• Equally distributed in Introduction and Discussion
• Source : PubMed / Medline / Google Scholar
• Use Open access / Public articles on PubMed to avoid future Trouble
or Copyright issues

26. References
• DOI ( Digital Object Identifier ) ….. CrossRef.org ( Using Metasearch )
• URL
• Apart from articles … published books and tables from books can also
be referenced , but should be properly cited
• Follow Your journal guidelines for styling of references

27. References
• Can be written as Superscript BPH 2 , Superscript with Brackets (9) , Plain Brackets
[ 9 ]
• MLA ( Modern Language Association ) system Humanities and Arts
• APA (American Psychological Association ) Education and Psychology
• Harvard system
• Vancouver Style ( Medicine and Health Sciences ) / NLM ( National Library of
Medicine ) / Author-Number System / AMA ( American Medical Association )
• MHRA ( Modern Humanities Research Association ) System

28. Example of Vancouver Styling
Format x. Author(s). Title. Edition. Place of
publication: Publisher; Year.
Example
1. Wilkinson IB, Raine T, Wiles K,
Goodhart A, Hall C, O'Neill H. Oxford
handbook of clinical medicine. 10th ed.
Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2017.

29. Literature search / How to Cite

30. Reference Converter / Reference Launcher
• Site this for me
• MyBib
• Citation Machine
• Journal Sites

32. Conflict of Interest / Source of Funding
• A conflict of interest is anything that interferes with,
or could reasonably be perceived as interfering with,
the full and objective presentation, commissioning,
peer review, editorial decision-making, or publication
of research or non-research articles submitted to AIP
Publishing Journals.

33. EXAMPLES of Conflict of Interest
•Comparison of Efficacy And Safety Between
Tamsulosin And Ureterorenoscopy For 1.5
cm Mid Ureteric STONE

34. •Source of Funding : CCL Pharma /
Get Pharma /….
•Might be getting a grant or payment

35. Example of Conflict of Interest
• Research Articles on COVID Vaccines ….sponsored by
Pfizer
• Most Famous example in year 2020 : Relation of
vitamin D levels with morbidity and mortality related
to Coronavirus

36. Example
• Relationship /employee of the editorial Board / Work of same
organization
• It’s a Reader’s Right to Know the statement for conflict of
interest and Source of Funding

37. Key words / MeSH (Medical Subject
Headings)
• Use Commonly used PubMed friendly Key words to get for Citations
and Reads….
• Easily Discoverable …..

38. Adjuvants
• Title Page ( Name and Titles of Authors , Word count, Number of Figures and
Tables )
• Declaration Form ( Undertaking with name of Authors and Signatures )
• Covering Letter ( Letter to editor stating significance of research and request for
Publication)
• Check - List

39. Article Submission / OJS ( Open Journal System )

40. Google Scholar

41. Google Scholar Profile

42. • Chatgpt
• Similarity Index
• Plagiarism

43. Paraphrasing

44. Case Reports
• Title
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Case Presentation
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Consent / Conflict of Interest / Source of funding

45. Clinical Audits / Article Reviews