Study Title, Abstract, Key Words

1. Skills in Scientific Writing
Study Title, Abstract and Key Words
S. Parasuraman, M.Pharm., Ph.D.,
Associate Professor,
Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University.
Malaysia.

2. Henry Oldenburg
(1619 – 1677)
Creator of scientific peer review
Founding editor and publisher
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
2

3. 12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
3

4. Aristotle, (384–322 BC),
one of the early figures in
the development of the
scientific method.
The research room at the New York Public Library.
Cover of the first
issue of Nature, 4
November 1869.
12/06/2019 4
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI

5. Fleming A. On the Antibacterial Action of Cultures
of a Penicillium, with Special Reference to their
Use in the Isolation of B. influenzæ. Br J Exp
Pathol. 1929;10(3):226–36.
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
5

6. 12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
6

7. 12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
7

8. Study Title, Abstract and Key Words
• The title, abstract, and keywords are playing a
pivotal role in the communication of research.
– Most of the electronic database search article based
on title, abstract and keywords.
– These 3 elements are enable the dissemination of
any research/ review article.
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
8

9. Study Title
• Title is essential and it will introduce the manuscript to
the readers and reviewers. Hence, the title should
grabs attention and describe the contents of the
manuscript.
• An effective title should:
– Convey the main topics of the study
– keep title as clear and short as possible
– Highlight the importance of the research
– Be concise
– Attract readers
– Do not use abbreviations in the title and avoid jargon
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
9

10. Study Title
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
10

11. Study Title
• Characteristics of a good research title
– According to rhetoric scholars Hairston and Keene,
making a good title for a paper involves ensuring that
the title of the research accomplishes four goals.
Title
Predicts
content?
Interesting?
Reflects
tone?
Important
keywords?
Benefits of Meditation for the Nursing
Profession: A Quantitative Investigation
Yes No No Yes
Why Mindful Nurses Make the Best
Communicators
No Yes Yes No
Meditation Gurus No Yes No No
Nurses on the Move: A Quantitative
Report on How Meditation Can
Improve Nurse Performance
Yes Yes Yes Yes
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
11

12. Study Title
• Formulating the Right Title (13 types of title)
• Titles that
– announce the topic in general
– particularise a specific theme
– indicate the controlling question
– state the findings of a study
– indicate that an answer to the question will be revealed
– announce the direction of the author’s argument
– emphasise the methodology used in the research
– suggest guidelines and/or comparisons
– bid for attention by startling openings
– attract by alliteration
– attract by using literary or biblical allusions
– attract by using puns
– mystify By
James Hartley
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
12

13. Study Title
• Types of Titles
– declarative
– informative
– interrogative
• Checklist for finalizing title for a research
article
– Check Instruction to authors provided by the
Journal
– Does the title indicate the main theme of the
research paper?
– Is it clear?
– Is it too long or is it too short?
– Is it too unwieldy?
– Does it contain relevant “key words”?
– If using many technical words...
– If using abbreviations...
– If using abbreviations...
– If using numbers in the title..
– If using a clear statement
– Need to make it more interesting, attractive
and catchy?
Bavdekar. J Assoc Physicians India. 2016 Feb;64(2):53-56.12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
13

14. Study Title
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
14

15. Study Title
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
15

16. Abstract
• The abstract should work like a marketing tool.
• A summary of the content of the journal
manuscript.
• A time-saving shortcut for busy researchers.
• It should help the reader decide “whether there is
something in the body of the paper worth reading”
by providing a quick and accurate summary of the
entire paper.
• Koopman P. How to Write an Abstract. [Accessed: 5 Dec. 2019] Available from:
http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/essays/abstract.html.
• Fathalla M and Fathalla M. A Practical Guide for Health Researchers. [Accessed: 5 Dec. 2019] Available
from: http://www.emro.who.int/dsaf/dsa237.pdf.
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
16

17. Abstract
• Type of abstract(s):
– Descriptive
– Informative (Structured abstracts)
– Critical
– Graphical abstracts
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
17

18. Abstract
• Type of abstract(s):
– Descriptive
• Short – usually less than 100 words
• Includes:
– purpose of the work (objectives)
– method used
– scope of the work
• Doesn’t include:
– results, conclusions and recommendations
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
18

19. Abstract
• Type of abstract(s):
– Informative
– Fairly short – from 200 words to a page or more.
– Includes:
• purpose of the work (objectives)
• method used
• scope of the work
• Results
• conclusions and recommendations
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
19

20. Abstract
• Type of abstract(s):
– Critical
• Similar to a review and shorter
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
20

21. Abstract
• Type of abstract(s):
– Graphical abstracts
• A graphical abstract is a single, concise, pictorial and
visual summary of the main findings of the article.
Etrych T, Kovář L, Strohalm J, Chytil P, Říhová B, Ulbrich K. Biodegradable star HPMA polymer–drug
conjugates: Biodegradability, distribution and anti-tumor efficacy. Journal of controlled release.
2011 Sep 25;154(3):241-8.
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
21

22. Abstract
• How to prepare abstract:
– Complete your research paper
– Read your research paper completely
– Identify keywords
– Structuring an Abstract (Background, Method, Results
and conclusion)
– Checking Style and Flow
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
22

23. Abstract
• Do’s
– Concise
– Structured
– Connected
• Don’t’s
– Don’t repeat the title of
the paper as it is already
in the title
– The title and abstract
should function as a self-
contained unit
– Don’t include references
to literature
– Define abbreviations?
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
23

24. Key Words
• Are a tool to help indexers and search engines find
relevant papers.
• This will increase the number of people reading
your manuscript, and likely lead to more citations.
• Keywords must be chosen carefully.
• They should:
– Represent the content of your manuscript
– Be specific to your field or sub-field
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
24

25. Key Words
12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
25

26. 12/06/2019
National Faculty Development Programme,
MGMCRI
26