Scientific Writing Alessandra Fermani Università degli Studi di Macerata afermani@unimc. it
A. P. A (in Dep. ) scopus (in Dep) (IF, citated-mencioned, referee blind, find researchers, dissemination, garantee, security) psychinfo (no in Dep) sage (in Dep. ) http: //www. scimagojr. com/journalrank. php TKS Prof. Pietrobon Duke University
Structure vs. content • • Structure = rhetoric (you want to exercise influence in your researchers target) Content = the specific topic we are talking about
Global Italian • Global Italian o o • o the opposite direction dialect series of iterations a ton of work less work for copyeditor What it is not o automated translation only
Active voice in simple structure • • Subject - verb - object Avoid passive, even in scientific writing. . . but there are exceptions No twisted sentences with subject-verb separation Principle readers have a limited amount of cognitive capacity to spend o if the underlying structure is what they already expected, then their attention and memory can focus on content o
Short sentences • • Rule of thumb: If you're beyond 1. 5 lines in a google doc you are probably going too far Easier to handle and harder to get out of control
Flow among sentences • • Connect sentences to create a flow Sense of narrative "Evidence strongly suggests that humans in all cultures come to cast their own identity in some sort of narrative form. We are inveterate storytellers. " Owen Flanagan (Duke) Your article is a «novel»
Stress position • • Leave the most important thing at the end of the sentences -- that's what readers tend to remember. Recency effect
What to do when there is no agreed upon standard? • • Determine your target journal Look for a similar article Determine its structure Prospect Theory
But standards are not necessary • Arguments if it makes sense it is good o I want to be free o It restricts my creativity o. . . o o people are different, this is not the best solution or system, but it is good…but works
Recapping • • • Introduction Discussion Structure saving memory and attention o social agreement o
Workflow 1. Intro, Methods, mock tables and figures 2. Data and analysis 3. Complete article START
Introducing a topic • A recipe - formula significance o fill a gap o find literature review in support of the gap o objective o
Methods and Results aim method: sample, procedure, questionnaire (scale; alpha) software and analysis (create, make PCA/EFA, correlation, regression, ANOVA , cluster, equation etc…) describe objective results
Discussion
Discussion structure • • • Novelty claim and summary – pretesa novità e sintesi Explanation about each result Limitations Future - research and implementation Educational and pratice implications Exercises