SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

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SCIENTIFIC PAPERS
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PURPOSE OF A SCIENTIFIC PAPER

• To persuade others to accept or reject
  hypotheses.
• To establish an archival record.
• To share new findings.

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FORMAT

• Title
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Literature cited

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TITLE

• Less than 10 words.
• Reflect the factual content of the paper.
• Uses key words that researchers in the field will
  recognize.
• Consider search engines if you were looking for
  this article, what key words would you use?

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ABSTRACT

• Purpose allows the reader to quickly judge
  whether the article will serve his or her needs.
• Concise (100 200 words).
• Provided at the beginning.
• Summarizes the purpose of the report, the data
  presented, and the authors major conclusions.

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INTRODUCTION

• Defines the subject of the report.
• Must outline the scientific objectives for the
  research performed.
• Must give reader sufficient background to
  understand the rest of report.
• Limit the background to whatever is pertinent to
  the experiment.

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A good introduction will answer

• Why was this study performed?
• From observations of nature or literature
• What knowledge already exists about the subject?
• Must review literature showing historical
  development of an idea, confirmations, conflicts,
  gaps in existing knowledge.
• What is the specific purpose of the study?
• Specific hypotheses and experimental design
  should be described.

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Methods Materials

• Includes materials and methods used.
• Provides reader with enough detail to understand
  the experiment without overwhelming him or her.
• Cites sources describing the methods that are
  used.
• Describes the specific equipment used.

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A good MM will answer

• What materials were used?
• How were they used?
• Where and when was the work done?
• How can the procedure be repeated in its
  entirety? (critical for the verification
  process)

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RESULTS

• Summarizes the data from experiments without
  discussing implications.
• Includes data organized in figures, graphs,
  photographs, etc.
• Focuses on general trends and differences in
  data, not trivial details.
• Often written before the rest of report.

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Use of Figures Tables

• Should have descriptive titles with legends for
  any symbols, abbreviations, etc
• Numbered separately and referred to in text by
  number Figure 1 or (fig. 1)
• Should be self-explanatory reader SHOULD NOT
  have to refer to text.

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DISCUSSION

• NOT just a restatement of results.
• Emphasizes interpretation of data, relating to
  existing theory and knowledge.
• Explains the logic that allows the acceptance or
  rejection of hypothesis.
• Lists improvements needed for procedure.
• Lists future areas of research, or necessary
  extensions of study.
• Speculation is okay if identified as such.

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LITERATURE CITED

• Lists all articles or books cited in the paper.
• Alphabetical by the last names of authors.
• Format varies from journal to journal.

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GENERAL COMMENTS

• Use paragraphs to separate ideas.
• Avoid using first person (I or we). Use the
  impersonal third person.
• Avoid slang and contractions.
• Strive to be concise, but detailed.
• Use a consistent tense throughout each paragraph.
• Insure connections between pronouns and
  antecedents.

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Your Report

• Maximum group size 3 students.
• One paper will be turned in from each group.
• A draft will be due at some point.
• Your final report must include all seven sections
  detailed above.
• Connect your study to some area of physics.