A CHINESE DOCTOR WHO submitted her paper for publication to us couldn’t
understand why her manuscript was taking a long time to be processed. Processing
included review and editorial advice to improve her paper. She insisted she did
her best and followed what was told her. After two reviews, it was becoming
clear there was no research method systematically carried out. She was finding
it hard, therefore, to return her manuscript to us for another review. If done after the study, this kind will find it hard to fix a research instrument and then prepare it to fit results. In fact, this practice should never be done.
For those who did their
work properly but are finding it hard to have their study published, here are
10 principles for increasing the likelihood of manuscript publication written
by James M. Provenzale.
Principle 1: Properly
Organize the Manuscript
Principle 2: Clearly
State the Study Question and Study Rationale
Principle 3: Explain
the Materials and Methods in a Systematic Manner
Principle 4:
Structure the Materials and Methods and Results Sections in a Similar Manner
Principle 5: Make the
Discussion Section Concise
Principle 6: Explain
If—and Why—Your Study Results Are Important
Principle 7: Avoid
Over-interpretation of the Results
Principle 8: Explain
the Limitations of the Study
Principle 9: Account
for Unexpected Results
Principle 10: Fully
Incorporate Reviewers’ Suggestions into a Revised Manuscript
