RESEARCH 2A
1.1 Writing the title and intro
2020- FIRST SEMESTER -2021
Formulating The Title Reporting guidelines recommended and some journals require that
After the research problem has been identified, take time to draft a information about the study design be a part of the title (particularly
working title for the study important for randomized trials and systematic review and meta-
Working on a title requires many revisions analyses).
Formulate one that will best describe what the paper is all about. Some journals require a short title, usually no more than 40
characters (including letters and spaces) on the title page or as a
Try to complete this sentence, “My study is about…”
separate entry in an electronic submission system.
Frame the answer to this question in such a way that a colleague will
Electronic submission system may restrict the number of characters
be able to easily understand/ grasp the meaning of the paper
in the title.
Avoid complex and erudite language
Sound research titles are written in a straightforward, uncomplicated How to write a good title for a research paper
language, easy to read and understand. Writing a good research title requires some serious thought.
Some Rules: The challenge with most authors is, with much comprehensive details
Be brief of the research paper, how to make their research paper title concise
Avoid wasting of words without sacrificing any relevant elements.
Eliminate unnecessary words such as “An Approach to…, A study Title of your research paper is a very important determinant of how
of…, An investigation of…, A comparative analysis of…” many people will read it.
Avoid talking of the place where the study will be done. For example, A good research paper title:
at Far Eastern University Medical Center. Condenses the paper’s content in a few words
May use a single or a double title Captures the readers’ attention
Consider a title no longer than 12 Words, eliminating most article Differentiates the paper from other papers of the same subject area
and prepositions.
3 Basic tips to keep in mind while writing a title:
From the APA (American Psychiatric Association) Manual: 1. KEEP IT SIMPLE, BRIEF AND ATTRACTIVE
A title should summarize the main idea of the manuscript simply and, o Title’s primary function is to provide a precise summary of the
if possible, with style. paper’s content
It should be a concise statement of the main topic and should identify o Keep it brief and clear
the variables or theoretical issues under investigation and the o Use active verbs instead of complex noun- based phrases, and
relationships between them. avoid unnecessary details.
An example of a good title is: “Effect of Transformed Letters on o Good title for a research paper is typically around 10 to 12
Reading Speed.” words long; a lengthy title may seem unfounded and take the
A title should be fully explanatory when standing alone. reader’s attention away from an important point.
Although its principal function is to inform readers about the study, Avoid: Drug XYZ has an effect of muscular contraction for an hour in
the title is also used as a statement of article content for abstracting snails of Achatina fulcia species
and reference purposes in databases such as APA’s PsycINFO. Better: Drug XYZ induces muscular contraction in Acantina fulcia snails
o You write the title in such a way it will be searched by searchers
A good title is easily shortened to the running head within the Does Vaccinating Children and Adolescents with Inactivated Influenza
published article. Virus Inhibit the Spread f Influenza in Unimmunized Residents of Rural
Titles are commonly indexed and compiled in numerous reference Communities?
works. Therefore, avoid words that serve no useful purpose; they The Title has too many unnecessary words.
increase length and can mislead indexers. Influenza Vacination of Children: A Randomized Trial
o For example, the words method and results do not normally The title doesn’t give enough information about what makes the
appear in a title, not should such terms as “A study of…” or manuscript interesting.
“An experimental Investigation of…”
Occasionally a term such as “A research synthesis” or “A meta- Effects of Child Influenza Vaccination on Infection Rates in Rural
Analysis” or “MRI study of” conveys important information for the Communities: A Randomized Trial
potential reader and is included in the title. This is an effective title. It is Short, Easy to understand, and
Avoid using abbreviations in a title; spelling out all terms helps conveys the important aspects of the research
ensure accurate, complete indexing of the article. 2. USE APPROPRIATE DESCRIPTIVE WORDS
The recommended length for the title is no longer than 12 words. o Put key words used in the manuscript and described the nature
The title should be typed in uppercase and lowercase letters, of the study
centered between the left and right margins, and positioned in the o Include terms people would use to search for your study
upper half of the page.
Avoid: Effects of drug A on schizophrenia patients: study of multicenter
From ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors):
mixed group
The title provides a distilled description of the complete article and Better: Psychosocial effects of drug A on schizophrenia patients: a
should include information that, along with the Abstract will make
multicenter randomized controlled trial
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electronic retrieval of the article sensitive and specific.
SOURCES: DR.REandelar’s Lecture
1.1 Writing the title and introduction
3. AVOID ABBREVIATIONS AND JARGON DEFICIENCIES/ INCONSISTENCIES IN THE PREVIOUS STUDIES
o Known abbreviation such as AIDS, NATO, and so on can be May exist because topics have not been explored in a particular
used in the title. group, sample or population; thus literature may need to be
o Other lesser-known or specific abbreviations and jargons replicated to see if the same finding hold, given a new sample for
unfamiliar to the readers should be left out. people or new site for the study.
Avoid: MMP expression profiles cannot distinguish between normal Voice of the underrepresented groups has not been heard in
and early osteoarthritic synovial fluid published literature.
Better: Matrix metalloproteinase protein expression profiles cannot Flaws in the previous methodology, like research design, sampling
distinguish between normal and early osteoarthritic synovial fluid methodology, absence of a control in clinical trial, inappropriate
statistical tests, etc.
Writing the introduction Sample size may be small.
Mention too how the present study will remedy or address the
Introduction- Why did you make the study? deficiencies.
Methods- Who, What, When, Where and How SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
IMRAD Format did you make the study Practical application of the study
Results- What did you find? Impact of the study
Discussion- What do the findings mean? Improvement in the practice of profession
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
PURPOSE OF THE INTRODUCTION State the aim/ direction of the study
Familiarize and orient readers by:
State here too your hypothesis and objectives
o Providing context of your work,
o Stating your focus, Three paragraph rule
o Giving justification for your work FIRST PARAGRAPH- The Problem
1. Provides context of your work Describe the problem to be investigated
o Introduce a specific topic Summarize relevant research to provide context and concepts
o Provide a background about what has already been done, Show rationale of your study
supported by a limited number of relevant references SECOND PARAGRAPH- Gap in Literature
o Inform about the purpose of your work, what it will address, Review relevant research to provide rationale
and how it relates to previous work/s. Show gap or inconsistency in the literature
o Define gap in knowledge by reviewing inconsistencies/ Limitations of the previous studies
deficiencies in literature
THIRD PARAGRAPH- Your Hypothesis/es
2. State your focus
o By way of stating your research hypothesis or research Provide justification and rationale for your study
question Describe your ideas, hypothesis/es, aim/s or objective/s
3. Give justification for your work Include here the significance of the study
o What is the rationale for your current study?
o Why your research is important? Pitfalls in the introduction
o Why research will answer your question? Overlong and unnecessary background in introduction section
The way the context, focus and justification of your work in the introduction Exaggerating (or understating) the importance of your work.
is written will set the direction you will take in the discussion Extensive listing of references and review.
Too many objectives and are not clearly stated.
Parts of the Introduction Inclusion of results and conclusion in the introductions section
The research problem Use of Improper tenses (Introduction is largely PRESENT TENSE)
Studies that have addressed the problem
Deficiencies/ Inconsistencies in the previous studies
The significance of the study
The purpose/ aim of the study
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Write the background of the problem
Magnitude of the problem
Implication of the problem
STUDIES THAT HAVE ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM
Review the studies that have examined the problem
In the review of literature found in the introduction, large groups of
studies are summarized instead of individual studies; in contrast to
the ROL section, individual studies are discussed.
The purpose of reviewing studies in the introduction is to justify the
importance of the study and create distinction between past studies
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and the current study
SOURCES: DR.Reandelar’s Lecture
