1. Writing and Publishing Article
&
Plagiarism
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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2. “There is no way to get
experience except
through experience.”
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
2

3. Few Questions?
1.
How many of you have known about Plagiarism earlier?
2. How many of you have published Research article
in Any Indexed journals?
3. How Many of you have published Research
articles in Nursing and Other Journals of Nepal?
4. How many of you have published any health
related article in any journals?
5. How many of you have B&W CV ready?
6. So How contribute to Professor?
7. Visit: www.slideshare.net/rsmehta
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
3

4. Why write and publish
research papers?
Ideally –
to share research findings and discoveries
with the hope of improving healthcare.
Practically –
to get funding
to get promoted
to get a job
to keep your job!
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
4

5. “Scientists are rated by
what they finish, not by
what they attempt”
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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6. Getting a paper published
 Competition for space in journals
 Rejection rates vary
 AJP = 50%
 JBC = 65%
 NEJM, Science, Nature = 90%
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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7. Major reasons for
rejection
 Confirmatory (not novel article)
 Poor experimental design
- Poor controls
- Hypothesis not adequately tested
 Inappropriate for journal
 Poorly written
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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8. Tips
1. Know the journal, its editors, and why you
submitted the paper there
2. Pay close attention to spelling, grammar, and
punctuation
3. Make sure references are comprehensive and
accurate
4. Avoid careless mistakes
5. Read and conformRtoMehta, MSND, BPKIHS for Authors”
Dr. S “Instructions
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9. Publish or perish
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
9

10. Publish and perish
“The Seven Deadly Sins”
1. Data manipulation, falsification
2. Duplicate manuscripts
3. Redundant publication (unnecessary/useless)
4. Plagiarism
5. Author conflicts of interest
6. Animal use concerns
7. Humans use concerns
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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11. What makes a good research paper?
 Good science
 Good writing
 Publication in good journals
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
11

12. What constitutes good science?
Novel – new and not resembling something
formerly known or used (can be novel but not
important)
Mechanistic – testing a hypothesis - determining
the fundamental processes involved in or
responsible for an action, reaction, or other natural
phenomenon
Descriptive – describes how are things are but
does not test how things work – hypotheses are
not tested.
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
12

13. What constitutes a good journal?
Impact factor –
average number of times published papers
are cited up to two years after publication.
Immediacy Index –
average number of times published papers
are cited during year of publication.
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
13

14. Journal Citation Report, 2003
Journal
Nature
Science
Impact Factor
Immediacy Index
30.979
06.679
AM J MATH 0002-9327 002353 00.962 00.122
29.162
05.589
Hypertens
AJ P Heart
Physiol Rev
05.630
03.658
36.831
00.838
00.675
03.727
Am J Math
Ann Math
00.962
01.505
00.122
00.564
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
5907 journals14

15. Things to consider before writing
1. Time to write the paper?
- has a significant advancement been made?
- is the hypothesis straightforward?
- did the experiments test the hypothesis?
- are the controls appropriate and sufficient?
- can you describe the study in 1 or 2 minutes?
- can the key message be written in 1 or 2 sentences?
“Those who have the most to say
usually say it with the fewest words”
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
15

16. Things to consider before writing
2. Tables and figures
- must be clear and concise
- should be self-explanatory
3. Read references
- will help in choosing journal
- better insight into possible reviewers
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
16

17. Things to consider before writing
4. Choose journal
- study “instructions to authors”
- think about possible reviewers
- quality of journal “impact factor”
5. Tentative title and summary
6. Choose authors
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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18. Authorship
Guidelines on authorshop, International committee of Medical Journal Editors,
Reprinted by kind permission of the Editor of the British Medical Journal of Sept
14, 1985. J Clin Pathol 39: 110, 1986 Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
Dr. R S
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19. Writing the manuscript
The hardest part is
getting started.
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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20. Parts of a manuscript
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgements
References
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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21. Write in what order?
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgements
References
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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22. Methods and materials
 Best to begin writing when experiments still in progress.
 Should be detailed enough so results can be repeated
by others.
 Reference published methods where appropriate.
 Include animal/human use approval information.
 Use descriptive subheadings
 Animals
 Surgical procedures
 Histochemistry
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
22

23. Results
 Tables and figures must be straight forward and
concise
 Present main findings referring to tables/figures.
 Do not speculate or over discuss results.
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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24. Introduction
 Build case for why study is important/
necessary
 Provide brief background
 State hypothesis / central question
 Give a one sentence summary of findings
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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25. Discussion
 First answer question posed in introduction
 Relate your conclusion to existing knowledge
 Discuss weaknesses and discrepancies
 Explain what is new without exaggerating
 Do not repeat results
 Conclusion
 Implications
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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26. References
 Relevant and recent
 Be highly selective
 Read the references
 Do not misquote
 Use correct style for journal
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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27. Abstract
 Critical part of paper
 State main objective
 Summarize most important results
 State major conclusions and significance
 Avoid acronyms
 Write and rewrite until flawless
•Descriptive/unstructured or informative or structured.
•Word limit: 100-400, average 250
•Headings:
- Background/Objective
- Methodology
- Results
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
- Conclusion
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28. Title
 Will determine whether paper gets read
 Avoid long title (see journal rules)
 Avoid abbreviations
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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29. Words and expressions to avoid
Jargon
a considerable amount of
on account of
a number of
Referred to as
In a number of cases
Has the capacity to
It is clear that
It is apparent that
Employ
Fabricate
Preferred use
much
because
several
called
some
can
clearly
apparently
use
make
Day, RA. “How to write and publish a scientific
29
paper,” 5th edition, Oryx Press, 1998.
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS

30. Revise, revise and revise
 All authors should participate
 Review order of data presentation
 Polish the writing style
 Double check references
 Double check spelling
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
30

31. Develop a good writing style
Read well written articles
Try to get good writers to review
Learn from editing changes
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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32. Report Writing: Review
•
•
•
•
•
One idea per sentences only
Not more than 20 words per sentences
Not more than 5 sentences per paragraph
Not more than 3 paragraph per heading
Do not use that or which more than one
per sentences
• Check spelling and grammar
• Acknowledge: original source

33. RULES FOR MAKING A TABLE
1. Should be self explanatory
2. Should always have table number & title
3. Names of the variables (units) must be
mentioned
4. Choice of row and column
5. Number should always add to the group
total

34. RULES FOR MAKING A TABLE (contd.)
•
•
•
•
•
Percentages should be rounded to make
total 100.0
Number of digits after the decimal
place(output)
Table and text could co-exist on the same
page
For binary variable, one category and the
total can be given
For quantitative variable, specify (mean,
SD, median, range, etc.)

35. RULES FOR MAKING A DIAGRAM
1.
2.
3.
4.
As simple as possible and self-explanatory
Mostly to show important points
Table followed by a diagram, not advisable
Must specify: names of variables, units,
legends
5. Like tables, graph and text can be on the
same page
6. Golden rule is that it should speak by itself

36. Submission
1. Read instructions carefully
2. Fill out all necessary forms
Copyright transfer
Conflict of interest
3. Write cover letter (suggest reviewers)
4. Confirm receipt after 6 weeks
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
36

37. Process of Research Publication
Completion of research
Preparation of manuscript
Submission of manuscript
Assignment and review
Decision
Rejection
Revision
Resubmission
Re-review
Acceptance
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
Publication
Rejection
37

38. Responding to reviewers
1. Carefully prepare your responses
Each comment should be addressed
Each change should be stated
Be enthusiastic
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Reviewer may be wrong
Be tactful – thank the reviewers
Do not respond to reviewers while upset
Never call the editor
Get help from other authors
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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39. Important Resource
 International Committee of Medical Journal
Editors website www.icmje.org
‘Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts
Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing
and Editing for Biomedical Publication’
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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40. Remember:
Every paper will get published
somewhere!
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
40

41. Plagiarism: Catching the Cheats
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
41

42. •Deliberate plagiarism is cheating.
•Deliberate plagiarism is copying the work of others
and turning it as your own.
•Whether you copy from a published essay, an
encyclopedia article, or a paper from a fraternity's
files, you are plagiarizing.
•If you do so, you run a terrible risk. You could be
punished, suspended, or even expelled.
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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43. •The verbatim copying of others work
without acknowledgement.
• The close paraphrasing of others
work by simply changing a few words
of altering the order of presentation.
• The unacknowledged quotation of
phrases.
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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44. Catching the Cheats
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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45. Turnitin Programme: The turnitin software
programme is widely available for originality checking and
submitting the online assignments of the student to their
concerned teachers.
This programme has the facilities of assignment
submission on online, originality checking, peer marking,
grading the assignments, marking the assignment and
feedback the students.
This programme requires individual user account and
passwords. Now a day in western universities it is
commonly used and in India it’s use is rapidly increasing.
The detail of the programme and online audiovisual
demonstration is available atMSND, BPKIHS
Dr. R S Mehta, www.turnitin.com
45

46. iThenticate Programme:
This programme iThenticate has the facilities of
Plagiarism or Duplication prevention, IP
Protection, and Doc-to-Doc Comparison.
iThenticate offers the ultimate in context
verification technology, whether ensuring contents
integrity, discouraging, misappropriation of
property content or performing textual comparison
between documents
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
46

47. Cross-Check received the Association
for Learned and Professional Society
Publishers Award for Publishing
Innovation in 2008.
The details of the programme
iThenticate along with audiovisual
demonstration is available at
www.lithenticate.com
Dr. R S Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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48. Thank You
Dr. RS Mehta, MSND, BPKIHS
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