Each year, the American Academy of Ophthalmology meets in a major U.S. city and attracts around 25,000 ophthalmologists from the United States and abroad. Among the courses frequently offered at the meeting is one, entitled "Key to Successful Publications in Peer Review Literature," taught by the editors of the three leading clinical journals in our field. The course tends to attract residents and young doctors at the start of their careers. I have enjoyed being involved in teaching this course for a number of years and have come to anticipate the questions that will be asked. These include the following four questions, all related to the first steps in research publishing:
1. Why should clinicians do research?
2. Is the scientific method optional for current medical reports?
3. What is "peer review" and why is it important?
4. How do I select a journal to publish in?
These questions apply to persons interested in participating in medical research, and I will discuss them briefly here.
1. Why should clinicians do research?
2. Is the scientific method optional for current medical reports?
3. What is "peer review" and why is it important?
4. How do I select a journal to publish in?
These questions apply to persons interested in participating in medical research, and I will discuss them briefly here.
Why should clinicians do research?
The American Heritage Dictionary (2nd College Ed.) offers the following definition of "research":
1. Scholarly or scientific investigation or inquiry
2. Close and careful study
To the medical editor, these are both essential to the advancement of medical knowledge. But the reasons for a clinician -- or anyone -- to do research are more far-reaching, as seen in the following examples from famous authorities on the subject. For Albert Einstein, a major reason for doing research was to satisfy his curiosity about the marvelous structure of reality. Hans Zinsser called research one of the few genuine adventures left in the world. The great renal physiologist Homer Smith believed research was necessary to avoid being engulfed by professional and administrative duties. Finally, my pragmatic mentor, F.H. Adler, emphasized that the skills learned in research developed the faculties most needed in clinical diagnosis.
Is the scientific method optional for current medical reports?
At present, one finds numerous medical reports published in industry-sponsored or funded "throwaways" or on Web sites with titles related to medical specialties and topics, but with questionable sponsorship or control. Many of these articles consist of unproven opinions or claims not supported by factual evidence. These Web sites and publications, even legitimate medical journals, often contain descriptive or observational papers in which no question is defined or hypothesis formed and tested. What moves medical science ahead, and is desired by medical editors, is hypothesis-driven research which follows the scientific method. Let's review what the scientific method is and why it is important. The steps in the scientific method are as follows:
• Define the question
• Gather information and observations
• Form a hypothesis
• Collect data (perform experiments)
• Analyze data
• Interpret data and draw conclusions
• Publish data
• Retest - usually by others
These steps are vital because they help to assure the validity, integrity, and reproducibility of the research published. The scientific method has its origins in the 13th century. And while scholars argue over whether the method grew out of the work of mathematicians or the English justice system, these techniques are as essential now as when Newton followed and emphasized them in his Principia and Optics. Adhering to the scientific method does not assure publishability, however. Journal editors prefer positive to negative results, and originality, importance, and interest are among other key factors.
What is "peer review" and why is it important?
Peer review is a process by which an author's manuscript is subjected to the scrutiny of experts in the same field to guide the editor in deciding whether the manuscript merits publication. Peer review offers some assurance that the manuscript meets accepted standards in the field, and avoids disseminating biased or irrelevant finds, unjustified claims, and poorly conceived interpretations. Peer review is generally accepted as essential to ensuring academic quality and is utilized by almost all important scientific journals. Publications that have not undergone peer review tend to be regarded with suspicion by scientists and physicians. On the other hand, the critics of peer review feel it is ineffective, slow, and an impediment to the publication of innovative or unorthodox findings and ideas. On balance, peer review's advantages outweigh its drawbacks.
How do I select a journal to publish in?
When selecting a journal, the following points should be considered:
• Is it new scientific information that requires a peer reviewed journal or is it an opinion and observation better suited for a "throw-away" journal? Can it stand up to peer review?
• What is the intended audience? Do you want it read by a broad group or is it more appropriate for a specialty journal?
• How original and important is it? Is it better suited for a "top-tier" journal or a less competitive publication?
• How urgent is its publication and in what media do you want it presented? Most print journals offer an "express" option and have an online counterpart. Online-only journals may, however, provide quicker publication.
• What impact do you want it to have on your career and advancement? Publication in a prestigious and high impact-factor journal is always well-regarded by appointment and promotion committees.
This summarizes the initial steps and considerations in becoming a published author. They are necessary in order to know the satisfaction that comes with contributing new knowledge, thoughts, and ideas to literature.
The American Heritage Dictionary (2nd College Ed.) offers the following definition of "research":
1. Scholarly or scientific investigation or inquiry
2. Close and careful study
To the medical editor, these are both essential to the advancement of medical knowledge. But the reasons for a clinician -- or anyone -- to do research are more far-reaching, as seen in the following examples from famous authorities on the subject. For Albert Einstein, a major reason for doing research was to satisfy his curiosity about the marvelous structure of reality. Hans Zinsser called research one of the few genuine adventures left in the world. The great renal physiologist Homer Smith believed research was necessary to avoid being engulfed by professional and administrative duties. Finally, my pragmatic mentor, F.H. Adler, emphasized that the skills learned in research developed the faculties most needed in clinical diagnosis.
Is the scientific method optional for current medical reports?
At present, one finds numerous medical reports published in industry-sponsored or funded "throwaways" or on Web sites with titles related to medical specialties and topics, but with questionable sponsorship or control. Many of these articles consist of unproven opinions or claims not supported by factual evidence. These Web sites and publications, even legitimate medical journals, often contain descriptive or observational papers in which no question is defined or hypothesis formed and tested. What moves medical science ahead, and is desired by medical editors, is hypothesis-driven research which follows the scientific method. Let's review what the scientific method is and why it is important. The steps in the scientific method are as follows:
• Define the question
• Gather information and observations
• Form a hypothesis
• Collect data (perform experiments)
• Analyze data
• Interpret data and draw conclusions
• Publish data
• Retest - usually by others
These steps are vital because they help to assure the validity, integrity, and reproducibility of the research published. The scientific method has its origins in the 13th century. And while scholars argue over whether the method grew out of the work of mathematicians or the English justice system, these techniques are as essential now as when Newton followed and emphasized them in his Principia and Optics. Adhering to the scientific method does not assure publishability, however. Journal editors prefer positive to negative results, and originality, importance, and interest are among other key factors.
What is "peer review" and why is it important?
Peer review is a process by which an author's manuscript is subjected to the scrutiny of experts in the same field to guide the editor in deciding whether the manuscript merits publication. Peer review offers some assurance that the manuscript meets accepted standards in the field, and avoids disseminating biased or irrelevant finds, unjustified claims, and poorly conceived interpretations. Peer review is generally accepted as essential to ensuring academic quality and is utilized by almost all important scientific journals. Publications that have not undergone peer review tend to be regarded with suspicion by scientists and physicians. On the other hand, the critics of peer review feel it is ineffective, slow, and an impediment to the publication of innovative or unorthodox findings and ideas. On balance, peer review's advantages outweigh its drawbacks.
How do I select a journal to publish in?
When selecting a journal, the following points should be considered:
• Is it new scientific information that requires a peer reviewed journal or is it an opinion and observation better suited for a "throw-away" journal? Can it stand up to peer review?
• What is the intended audience? Do you want it read by a broad group or is it more appropriate for a specialty journal?
• How original and important is it? Is it better suited for a "top-tier" journal or a less competitive publication?
• How urgent is its publication and in what media do you want it presented? Most print journals offer an "express" option and have an online counterpart. Online-only journals may, however, provide quicker publication.
• What impact do you want it to have on your career and advancement? Publication in a prestigious and high impact-factor journal is always well-regarded by appointment and promotion committees.
This summarizes the initial steps and considerations in becoming a published author. They are necessary in order to know the satisfaction that comes with contributing new knowledge, thoughts, and ideas to literature.
