Publication bias and reproducibility are two of the key challenges facing the future of science. While certain initiatives have been implemented—for example, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) requires clinical trials to be pre-registered in a public registry database from the start—we shouldn’t rely on such incentives to drive change. It is only […]
Writing a paper: 3 key aspects to focus on
Focus on the “take-home” message What is the core message of your paper? What is the most important thing you want readers to remember after reading your paper? Can you describe the core message of your paper to a colleague in one minute? Can you condense the paper into 3 to 5 highlights? Can you […]
Funder data sharing policies
As well as journals, funders (NIH, STFC, NERC, Wellcome Trust, et al.) are also starting to implement mandatory data sharing policies [1], with applicants being asked to disclose their data management plans (with obvious implications if they have no such plan [or a weak plan] in place). In 2013, it was announced that all US […]
Publisher data sharing policies
Many journals (PLOS One, Nature, The Royal Society, et al.) now have mandatory data sharing policies. This means that researchers must make their datasets publicly available, whereby readers can “reach the conclusions drawn in the manuscript” and “replicate the reported study findings in their entirety.” [1]. Datasets can be made publicly available in three ways: In the […]
Verb tenses in scientific manuscripts
A key aspect of producing a well-written scientific manuscript worthy of publication is the use of appropriate verb tenses in the different sections of the manuscript. Here, we discuss when/where/how to use the different verb tenses. Examples of the verb tenses used in two well-written published papers can be found here and here. Title: Titles are […]
