Six writing practices you should avoid when writing for a journal

Writing for a scholarly journal publication is entirely different from thesis-writing. While the aim of your thesis is to present everything you know and discover on a particular topic, the goal of a journal article is to present research findings in a shorter and more focused format that scientists and researchers can read despite their hectic schedules. Moreover, journal editors sift through several submissions every publication cycle and would not bother reading an article that lacks clarity and brevity.

In the recently concluded 11th National Medical Writing Workshop and 4th Writeshop for Young Researchers held January 30-31 at the Isabela State University – Cauayan Campus, journal-writing experts from the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors, together with proficient mentor-facilitators from different health fields, trained health investigators in developing/refining manuscripts that are worthy of a scholarly journal publication. Here are few practices researchers should avoid when writing a scientific journal article as pointed out in the writeshop*:

Mr. Diomerl Baldo, Bicol University, reviews the draft journal article of his groupmate during the small-group exercises at the
11th National Medical Writing Workshop and 4th Writeshop for Young Researchers held January 30-31
at the Isabela State University – Cauayan Campus

Writing only in the active voice

More often, research writing guidelines encourage writing sentences in the active voice rather than in the passive voice. Recently, journal editors encourage writing in both the active and passive voices depending on what section you are working on. Writing in the passive voice would enable you to focus more on the results of your study. e.g. (active) The researcher classified vapor as gas. (passive) Vapor was classified as gas.

Presenting data in both narrative and illustration forms

Avoid redundant data presentation when writing for journals. This can be achieved by carefully choosing which presentation form would best express your data. If data cannot be explained in three to four paragraphs, it is best to use illustrations. Graphs effectively present trends and relationships among variables.

Using statistical terms that have common meanings

Using the statistical words such as random, correlate, significant, and normal in non-technical parts of your journal article may confuse readers into what the meaning of your statements. Save statistical words for your materials and methods prose. All statistical terms should be defined if used in the Results section.

Presenting all the results of your research

Only include results that are relevant to your stated problem whether or not they support the hypothesis. This technique would also make a journal article more focused and specific.

Including only the references that agree with your research

Journal manuscripts can be venues for discussion and scholarly disputes. Try to argue and provide enough data on why you don’t agree with previously published results and contribute another perspective to existing research.

Using one writing style for all your journal submissions

Journals do not follow a single format. While most of scholarly journals go by the IMRAD (Introduction-Methodology-Results-Discussion) format, it is best to check the corresponding guidelines/instruction to authors of your prospective journal to know about their style requirements.

Journal articles should be short, sharp, and swift, says Dr. Jose Florencio Lapeña, President of the Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors during his talk. A clear and concise journal manuscript is your best bet to get published.

Dr. Jose Florencio Lapeña, Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors President,

lectures on how to prepare journal manuscripts for submission

at the 11^th National Medical Writing Workshop and

4^th Writeshop for young Researchers

*taken from the presentations of the 11th National Medical Writing Workshop and 4th Writeshop for young Researchers' resource persons: Dr. Jose Florencio Lapeña, Dr. Wilfred CG Peh, and Dr. Cecilia C. Maramba-Lazarte

3 Ph health research awards for researchers

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), as the national coordinating body for health research, recognizes health researchers and health research groups for their exemplary research efforts and contributions in enhancing our country’s health research capabilities.

The following are three awards created specifically for our health researchers:

1. Alberto Romualdez, Jr. Outstanding Health Research Award (AROHRA)

AROHRA encourages researchers to be sensitive to the scientific and technological requirements of the health delivery system as well as rewards those whose research has contributed significantly to addressing prevalent health issues.

Given by PCHRD, in collaboration with the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) partners, the award gives recognition to a research program or project that demonstrates the link between research and practice through the utilization of research findings in the health delivery system.

The call for nominations is ongoing, visit http://bit.ly/2fcA9T0!

2. Best Mentor in Health Research Award

The Council recognizes the vital role of the research mentor who selflessly shares knowledge and skills, instills values and attitudes, and inspires those involved in the research process.

The award is offered biennially to reward mentors in health research who built the capacities of researchers in the health sector and propelled significant advances in the PNHRS thrusts, as identified in the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA), the country’s template for health research and development efforts.

The call for nominations is ongoing, visit http://bit.ly/2fxKpJ5!

3. DOST-PCHRD-Gruppo Medica Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis in Herbal Medicine

PCHRD, in collaboration with Gruppo Medica Inc. (GMI), gives the award to provide motivation for students to view undergraduate thesis not merely as an academic exercise, but as an excellent opportunity to contribute to national interest.

The award recognizes relevant and innovative research works on herbal medicine that have potential practical and/or commercial applications.

For more information on PCHRD Health Research Awards, visit www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph.

PCHRD, to hold Medical Writing Workshop for young researchers in Region 2

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in partnership with DOST Cagayan Valley Region, will conduct the 11th National Medical Writing Workshop and 4th Writeshop for Young Researchers in Cauayan City, Isabela on 30-31January 2017.

This year’s workshop aims to enable selected health researchers on preparing scientific articles for peer-reviewed journals. All participants are required to submit their draft journal articles for pre-evaluation. Evaluated articles will be revised during the small-group workshop exercises under the guidance of the faculty and mentor-facilitators.

Workshop mentors are composed of medical research writing experts here and abroad as follows: Dr. Jose Florencio Fabella Lapeña, Jr., Publons UK’s Most Prolific Editor, Dr. Wilfred CG Peh, Secretary-General, Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editor (APAME), and Dr. Cecilia Maramba-Lazarte, Editor-in-Chief, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of the Philippines Journal.

Three months after, participants are expected to publish their improved journal manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to the dissemination of Filipino research information.

Conducted twice a year, this workshop is a product of PCHRD’s partnership with APAME and the Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors.

Call for Nominations: Best Mentor in Health Research Award

GUIDELINES

Purpose

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) recognizes the vital role of the research mentor who selflessly shares knowledge and skills, instills values and attitudes, and inspires those involved in the research process, thereby creating an enabling environment and contributing to capacity-building in research.

The Best Mentor Award is offered biennially to recognize and reward mentors in health research who have built the capacities of researchers in the health sector and, in the process, propelled significant advances in the Philippine National Health Research System’s (PNHRS) thrusts as identified in the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA).

Objective

The Best Mentor Award recognizes excellence in mentorship that instills passion among researchers, redounding to enhanced relevance and productivity in health research.

Eligibility

A. Who can nominate

The nominating party may be any of the following:

•head of the nominee’s institution or immediate supervisor
•colleague/s
•trainee/s
•student/advisee

Self-nomination is not allowed.

B. Who can be nominated

1. must be a Filipino citizen
2. at least a holder of master’s degree degree
3. actively involved in mentoring researchers/students or colleagues for at least 5 years
4. has a good track record as a researcher in terms of publication, product development or policy formulation
5.professionally involved in health research activities either as a research program/project leader, principal and co-principal investigator, mentor/adviser/trainer, or author/co-author
6. actively involved in health research activities such as conduct of research training and extension work, paper presentations, fund generation, research promotion and networking, research agenda setting, and capacity-building activities

Winners are ineligible for subsequent nominations.

How to nominate

Submit the recommendation form (either personally delivered, by courier, or thru email) for initial screening to the regional consortium secretariat. (Please refer to the attached paper for the list of addresses)

For completed DOST-PCHRD and ASTHRDP scholars, submit entries to DOST-PCHRD for screening and endorsement of the PCHRD Scholar’s Society (PSS).

For the qualified nominees

The requirements below should be submitted within the deadline

1. Five (5) hard copies of the following documents:

1.1. Accomplished curriculum vitae of the nominee using the prescribed format for Best Mentor Award

1.2. A narrative description (1,000-1,500 words) of the nominee’s mentoring activities, accompanied by supporting documents, e.g. photos and other relevant documentation.

1.3. Description of other achievements attained related to health research for the last 5 years, including supporting documents e.g. photocopy of certificates of recognition/awards/honors received by the nominee, which are relevant to the nominee’s eligibility criteria in Section IV.B

2. Cite names of 5 mentees, their achievements in research, and a narrative description of the nominee’s contribution to the success of each mentored research.

Schedule of Selection and Awarding

The award is given every two years.

Announcement of Winners and Prizes

• All qualified nominees will receive certificates of recognition.
• Each Cluster Winner from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and National Capital Region will receive a cash prize of P100,000.00 and a plaque of recognition.
• The National Winner will receive an additional cash prize of P200,000.00 and trophy during the PNHRS Week Celebration.

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION
Consortium: January 13, 2017
DOST-PCHRD: January 20, 2017

To download the complete guidelines and the Recommendation Form, click HERE.

Call for Nominations: Alberto G. Romualdez, Jr. Outstanding Health Research Award (AROHRA)

GUIDELINES

PURPOSE

The Alberto G. Romualdez, Jr. Outstanding Health Research Award (AROHRA) encourages researchers to be sensitive to the scientific and technological requirements of the health delivery system and rewards those whose research have contributed significantly to addressing prevalent health issues.

The Award gives recognition to a research program or project that has demonstrated the link between research and practice through the utilization of research findings in the health delivery system. Given by the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH), the award has two (2) categories: Biomedical Research and Health Services Research.

NOMINATION PROCEDURES

1. What can be nominated

Any health research program or project may be considered for the Award. Work to be nominated may fall under any of two categories: Biomedical Research or Health Services Research.

For Biomedical Research, the program or project must be engaged in generating and/or adapting appropriate health technologies that address specific health problems and emphasize the development of diagnostic tools and techniques, biological (e.g. drugs, vaccines, functional foods, etc.), biomedical devices, and ICT-based healthcare technologies.

For Health Services Research, the program or project must be involved in the organization, administration, operation, utilization and other aspects of health services delivery systems that address the country’s social, political, cultural, and economic conditions.

2. Who can nominate

Any institution; members of the consortium; scientific, technological and professional societies or associations; research institutes; universities and colleges; and individuals may nominate. Self-nomination is not allowed.

3. Who can be nominated and what can be a nominated entry

The award is open to a completed research program or project done by Filipino researcher/s. The nominated entry must be done mainly in the Philippines.

For purposes of this Award, a research program refers to a group of interrelated or complementing research projects that require an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach to meet established goal/s within a specific time frame, while a research project refers to the basic unit in the investigation of specific research problems with predetermined objective/s to be accomplished within a specific time frame.

4. How to nominate

Nominations should be made using the prescribed nomination form. Entries from both consortium member institutions and non-consortium member institutions must be submitted to and endorsed by the Chair of the consortium. Each nomination should include ALL of the following:

a. Write-up on the impact of the project on health delivery,a contextualization of the problem that the project/program seeks to address and a description of the program/project, highlighting how the results were utilized, as well as the benefits derived from their utilization.
b. One copy of each of the technical reports and/or publicationsof the completed projects leading to technology transfer and/or translation to a policy formulation or program intervention.
c. Statement from the technology user(s) and program or project end-userdescribing the contribution of the technology and project or program in improving health delivery.

• After the preliminary screening, the judges may ask for additional supporting documents from the nominees.

5. Schedule of Selection and Awarding

The Award is given every three (3) years.

6. Where to send nominations

a. Nominations should be submitted to the regional consortium secretariat not later the deadline. (Please refer to the attached paper for list of addresses)

b. Endorsed entries by the consortium chair should be submitted to DOST-PCHRD.

INCENTIVES

The Award consists of a cash prize of P 500,000 and a trophy for winners of each category.

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION
Consortium: February 24, 2017
DOST-PCHRD: March 3, 2017

To download the complete guidelines and the Nomination Form, click HERE.