A comprehensive guide to writing a research manuscript

Writing a manuscript can be a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. Whether you are an aspiring author, a researcher preparing a scholarly article, or someone with a story to tell, the process of crafting a manuscript requires careful planning and dedication. In this comprehensive guide, will discuss the essential steps of writing and designing the research manuscript, from the initial idea to the final draft. Most journals follow the IMRAD design: Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.

Title

The title serves as the first impression for potential readers, so it should be clear, informative, and engaging not more than 20 words. Here are some guidelines on how to write an effective title:

• Clarity and accuracy: Ensure that the title accurately reflects the main theme of the manuscript.

• Conciseness: Keep the title as concise as possible while conveying the essential information. Avoid unnecessary words or phrases that do not contribute to the main message.
• Avoid jargon: Avoid using too much technical jargon in the title. Make it accessible to a broader audience.
• Key concepts: Include key concepts or keywords that highlight the central themes of the manuscript. This can improve searchability and help potential readers quickly understand the content.
• Active voice: Use the active voice to make the title more dynamic and engaging.
• Intrigue and Interest: Craft a title that sparks curiosity and interest.
• Avoid redundancy: Ensure that the title does not duplicate information that is already present in the abstract or other parts of the manuscript. Use the title to provide unique insight.
• Consider the target audience: Tailor the tone and language of the title to your intended audience.
• Formatting: Follow any specific formatting guidelines provided by the journal or publisher. This may include rules about capitalization, italics, or special characters.
• Review and revise: Take the time to review and revise your title.

A well-crafted title can increase the visibility of the manuscript and contribute to its overall impact.

Author names and affiliations

The placement of author names and affiliations in a research manuscript follows a standardized format, and it is important to adhere to the journal guidelines to which you are submitting your manuscript. While specific requirements may vary, there are common practices that you can consider:

Author names

• Author first name and last name: In the manuscript, authors should be identified by their first name and last name.

• Order of Authors: List authors in order of their contribution to the work. The first author is the one who made the most significant contribution, and subsequent authors follow in descending order of contribution.
• Affiliation Superscripts: Use superscript numbers to denote affiliations for each author. These numbers should correspond to the affiliated institutions listed separately.
• Corresponding Author: Clearly indicate the corresponding author, often with an asterisk (*) or other symbol. Include the corresponding author's email address for contact.

Author affiliations

• Affiliation Block: Provide a block of text below the author names with each author's affiliation. Include the name of the department, institution, city, state (or region), and country.

• Superscript Numbers: Use superscript numbers to link each author to their respective affiliation. Ensure that the numbers match those used in the author list.

Abstract

An abstract is a concise summary of a research paper that provides readers with a brief overview of the study's purpose, methods, results, and conclusions. Follow a structured format that includes the following elements: Background or Introduction; Methods; Results; Conclusion. Summarize the key implications and contributions of the research. State any recommendations for future work. The recommended abstract length is 250-300 words. Most of the time when you send paper to a journal, the Editor-In-Chief will read the abstract to see if your paper can be send to external reviewer. Readers use the abstract to decide whether or not to read andcite the paper. The abstract is not an introduction to the paper. Avoid references and citations in abstract. Past or present tense may be used.

Keywords

Provide 3-5 key words directly below the abstract to succinctly convey the manuscript's precise content. These keywords play a crucial role in indexing and determining the future citation potential of your paper. Academic researchers use keywords when searching for papers online, and the right selection ensures your paper is visible to them, increasing the likelihood of citation. Include keywords in the title, selecting terms that represent the primary domains of the paper. Opt for keywords similar to those used in web browser searches for papers akin to yours.

Introduction

In a research article introduction, succinctly establish the context and significance of the study. Begin with a compelling hook to engage readers, followed by a concise problem statement. Address how the problem currently being addressed and associated limitations. Clearly state the research gap, what is new in your study and highlight the paper's purpose. Outline the objectives and briefly mention the methodology. Provide a snapshot of the key findings and their potential impact on the field and limitations. This concise introduction serves to captivate interest, define the study's importance, and set the stage for the subsequent sections.

Methods

Ensure comprehensive details in your Method section, leaving no gaps for clarity, especially for readers unfamiliar with your work. Optimize self-containment based on available space. Employ sub-sections to structure the method, addressing distinct components.Start with a detailed portrayal of the study population and location, outlining the study design. Specify the questionnaires used and their sources, highlighting any pre-tests or validations. Elaborate on your sampling methods.Explicitly state ethics approval from the institutional review board, confirming participants' signed consent forms. Provide insight into the statistical approach, detailing the tests employed and elucidating the types of study variables analyzed.

Results

Tables and figures

Limit tables to 4-5.  Figures should in 600 dpi each with a clear, self-explanatory title. Where applicable, incorporate confidence intervals and p-values.

When citing data:

• Referencing data: "As outlined in / derived from Fig. 1..."

• Identify X: "X is discernible from Table 2."
• Comparative statements in Fig. 9: "In Fig. 9, we compare / present…"
• Drawing conclusions from Fig. 8a: "We observe / conclude / deduce from Fig. 8a that…"
• Highlighting findings in Fig. 10: "Data in Fig. 10 indicate / illustrate / reveal / show…"
• Reporting small volume changes in Fig. 6: "Small volume changes are reported in Fig. 6."

Discussion

In the first paragraph, succinctly present the main findings of the study. In the second paragraph, outline the study's limitations. In the third and fourth paragraphs, conduct a comparative analysis with prior studies, emphasizing key findings. Evaluate the data's implications, justifying any assumptions, and maintain a narrative link to the introduction. Discuss alternative explanations, acknowledging limitations. Assess alignment or deviation from previous studies, exploring contradictions or surprises and their significance. Clarify the contributions of your work, using modal verbs such as 'may,' 'might,' 'could,' and 'should' to convey degrees of certainty or possibility in the discussion.

Conclusion

In the conclusion, succinctly outline your contributions to the field and suggest avenues for future work in 3-4 sentences. As Schulman (1996) suggests, the conclusion is simplified by transforming the abstract, altering the tense from present to past.

Declarations

In a research article, several declarations should be included to ensure transparency, ethical conduct, and credibility. Common declarations include:

• Conflict of interest statement: Disclose any financial or non-financial interests that may influence the research. This ensures transparency and helps readers assess potential bias.

• Ethical approval and informed consent: Clearly state if the study received ethical approval from relevant review boards or committees. Confirm that participants provided informed consent, emphasizing respect for ethical standards.
• Funding statement: Declare the source(s) of funding for the research. Transparency regarding financial support enhances credibility and helps readers assess potential influences on the study.
• Author contributions: Specify the contributions of each author to the research. This promotes accountability and recognizes individual contributions to the study.
• Data availability statement: Indicate whether the data supporting the findings are available and where they can be accessed. This supports reproducibility and allows others to validate the study.
• Acknowledgments: Acknowledge individuals or organizations that contributed to the research but may not qualify for authorship. This enhances transparency and recognizes various forms of support.

Including these declarations strengthens the research article's integrity, transparency, and ethical standards, fostering trust among readers and the broader academic community.

References

Writing references in a research article involves listing the sources (Usually 20-40 maximum) cited in the text. Proper referencing is crucial for several reasons:

• Credibility and academic integrity: Accurate referencing adds credibility to your work by demonstrating that your research is built on a foundation of existing knowledge. It also upholds academic integrity by giving credit to the original authors.

• Avoiding plagiarism: Referencing helps prevent plagiarism by clearly attributing ideas, data, or words to their rightful owners. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense, and proper referencing is a key strategy to avoid it.
• Facilitating reproducibility: Providing comprehensive references enables others to locate the sources you used, allowing them to verify your claims, reproduce your study, or build upon your research.

Use a consistent citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) as specified by the journal or your academic institution. This ensures uniformity and clarity for readers and reviewers. Always check the specific guidelines provided by the journal where you intend to submit your research article, as different journals may have different formatting requirements for references.

How to start

• Begin with methods: Initiate your writing process by detailing the methods employed in your research.

• Tables and figures: Follow with the inclusion of tables and figures that visually complement your methods section.
• Results section: Progress to presenting your results, providing a comprehensive overview of your findings.
• Introduction: Craft the introduction after delineating your results, setting the stage for the study's context and significance.
• Discussion: Subsequently, delve into the discussion section, evaluating your findings, addressing implications, and linking back to the introduction.
• State keywords: Explicitly state the keywords pertinent to your research, aiding in its discoverability.
• Abstract last: Reserve the abstract for the final stage of your writing process. Distill key elements from the introduction and conclusion, extract essential points from the methods section, and encapsulate major findings from the results. Conclude with a sentence or two summarizing the study. Ensure adherence to the journal's specified format (structured or unstructured)

In conclusion, writing a manuscript is a multifaceted process that requires careful planning, dedication, and perseverance. By following these steps and staying true to your vision, you can create a compelling and polished manuscript that resonates with your audience. Remember, every writer's journey is unique, so find the approach that works best for you and enjoy the process of bringing your ideas to life on the page.