DENTAL EDUCATION
Original Articles
HOW TO SET UP, CONDUCT AND REPORT A SCIENTIFIC STUDY
Jean-François Roulet 1a *
1
Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL-32610, USA a
Dr med dent., Dr hc, Prof hc, Professor, Director of Center for Dental Biomaterials
Received: March 27, 2017 Revised: April 24, 2017 Accepted: May 24, 2017 Published: May 29, 2017
Academic Editor: Adrian Podoleanu, Eng, PhD, Professor, FInstP, FOSA, FSPIE, Professor of Biomedical Optics, Head of the Applied Optics Group, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK
Cite this article: Cite this article: Roulet J-F. How to set up, conduct and report a scientific study. Stoma Edu J. 2017; 4( 2): 90-101.
ABSTRACT DOI: 10.25241 / stomaeduj. 2017.4( 2). art. 1
This continuing education paper gives some guidelines on how to write a scientific paper. A good paper begins with a high quality experiment! Therefore, based on an idea, authors should first inform themselves by reading the literature, refine their idea and convert it into a scientific question. This is all laid down in the first draft of the“ Introduction” of the future paper. The authors must seek for ways to answer the scientific question stated above, which is done by describing it in detail in the“ Material & Methods” section of the paper. This may require a pilot study. Once the experimental design, the parameters to be measured and the materials involved are known, it is good practice to consult a statistician in order to determine the statistical method to be used for analyzing the results. The execution phase is dominated by meticulously applying the methods described above and documenting everything in detail. Once results are obtained, they should be first displayed in a descriptive manner to determine the final quantitative analysis, which leads to tables and figures showing the significant differences. What is left at this point is to write a“ Discussion”, which should be well structured and then to compile the whole manuscript in the format required by the journal of choice to submit to. Finally some hints are given how to successfully deal with reviewers. Conclusion: Following the recommendations given, the probability to obtain acceptance of a paper may be quite good. Keywords: experimental design, scientific writing, publishing.
1. Introduction Performing a scientific study is basically the same as running a project. Therefore all rules regarding project management apply to scientific studies as well. Most projects, especially larger and more complex ones are run by teams. In teams the individual players which are unified to achieve the same common objective( successful completion of the given task) give up some of their individuality and at the same time bring in their competence. To guarantee the well functioning of the team, each member should comply to commonly defined rules. Most of these rules govern compliance and communication. For me the most basic rule is the following:“ I say what I think and I do what I say”. In scientific projects usually a multitude of players are involved, especially in a teaching institution. Researchers interact with other researchers, with students, lab technicians, statisticians, administrators, and industrial partners or grant administrators etc. Therefore, to be successful, open and straightforward communication is indispensable as well as the establishment of a framework in which the team is able to perform. An analysis of successful and failed projects reveals several general patterns 1( Fig 1). A plot of resources spent versus times revealed that most of the effort in successful projects is spent at the beginning of the process. 1 This means that the information is properly collected, the objectives are well defined, everything has been thought through as well as possible based on the actual knowledge and the task ahead is well defined. Then the“ machine” can be started and the project runs as perceived in the creative phase. During the execution phase usually the effort diminishes and the preplanned tasks can be accomplished without surprises. In product development I have learned that following a well thought and structured scaffold is a good strategy for success. On the other hand, projects that have failed show a pattern that is quite different. With a brilliant idea the project is just started with the anticipation that it will work. So the start is nice, because without too much effort the project is moving forward, usually with lots of enthusiasm. However, when the project is usually on
* Corresponding author: Dr med dent., Dr hc, Prof hc, Professor, Jean-François Roulet, Director of Center for Dental Biomaterials Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, 1395 Center Drive, Room D9-6, PO Box 100415, Gainesville FL-32610-0415, USA Tel / Fax: + 1 352 672 2599, e-mail: jroulet @ dental. ufl. edu
90 Stoma Edu J. 2017; 4( 2): 90-101 http:// www. stomaeduj. com