Strengthening Research Engagements in Dentistry

For those of you struggling to write a manuscript for scientific publications, let’s be clear about the structure of manuscript writing. Most journals require that we follow what is called the IMRaD format. Here’s what it means: I – Introduction M – Methodology (or Materials & Methods) R – Results           and D – Discussion   Beyond this, however, there is an accepted norm in the way manuscripts are written for scientific publication, especially within the STEMM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) and its related disciplines.   Scientific publications are expected to push the boundaries of the known and extend our knowledge into the unknown. With this in mind, any good piece of scientific writing is expected to cover the PAST and PRESENT while establishing sneak glimpses of how the expected FUTURE may look like within reason.   Tying this to the 6W’s (WHAT, WHY, ...

1. WHY? (The purpose) Why are you conducting this research? Why focus on this particular problem, when there, maybe, are a million others out there? 2. WHAT? (The problem) What exactly is the problem or issue here? What do you hope to gain from addressing this particular problem? 3. WHERE? (The environment) Where do you see this research leading to in light of everything that's around you? Your location and context do matter. What works in the US/UK need not work just as well in India/Malaysia. Where in the broad spectrum of things happening within your field do you see your research helping things get better? 4. WHEN? (The timeframe) When do you propose to do this research and when do you expect it to bear fruit or give you actionable results? When would be an ideal time to get into this research and why? Why propose to address this issue now, when there are many other issues that also need to be addressed? 5. WHO? (The proponents and targets) 5. A. Who should be involved in this ...

Before you begin... By general estimates, it is no secret that more than 50% - 90% of all scientific research projects fail to reach their primary goal or do not yield publishable results. While these percentages may vary from field to field, the fact is that failure rates are still high, making scientific research unpredictable and untenable for many looking to get into their respective fields. It is also true, however, that there are many ways to battle the odds and turn things in your favour. While not everything is in your hands, there is no denying that there are some simple steps you can take to ensure you go in fully prepared and with your eyes wide open. Before beginning any research project, it is crucial that you take the time to address the 6 Ws: Why, What, Where, When, Who and How. (Hey! There is a W in How as well. Don't come for my head just because it's not at the beginning. 😋) (End of part 1) Details to follow in the next post...

In scientific article/manuscript writing, the introduction plays a crucial role. It is strategically placed to do more than just introduce your manuscript. It is expected to fulfil the following: 1.     To allow the reader to understand your thought process. 2.     To assert the need to know more about your selected theme/subject. 3.     To provide a brief overview of the current level of evidence available in literature regarding your subject/theme. 4.     To provide justifications for your selection of subtopics or themes. 5.     To lead the reader to understand your choice of research theme and subthemes. 6.     The novelty, if any, in your choice of research theme, subthemes or approach towards their assessment/analysis. 7.     To convince your readers of all the above mentioned.   Example: You observe that A, B, C and D are somehow interlinked and propos...

Writing can be a joyful experience when done right. It helps to get rid of the toxic buildup of facts, figures and observations that clog the flow of thought in our minds, freeing up space for new thoughts and insights into subjects that matter most to us. With little to no formal training, any form of writing can easily become the least favored chore for many people. The trick is to find a good system that works for you. Here are some of my tips to get you started: 1. Free-Writing. Get into the habit of free writing. Good or bad, just start writing whatever comes to mind. Create a space on your laptop or notebook to write 100-200 words about something, every day. Make that time! 2. Review free-writing notes . Every once in a while, when you get more than 15minutes of free time, look back at your free-writing notes and review them with fresh eyes. 3. Identify themes . In each note, try to identify a central theme or themes that pop out or call to you. Whatever grabs your interest....

We often read through articles in journals that state how many participants/subjects were studied or observed during the course of their respective research period. While this is an acceptable practice, it can be quite catastrophic to ignore the fact that these studies actually deal with people and not unfeeling, sterilised numbers. The purpose of reducing each person/individual participant in the research to abstract numbers by way of analysing their responses/behaviours is to remove all distractors and remain hyper focussed on the task of the research objective set in the study/project. This translates to Quantitative studies enjoying a more robust place in the research hierarchy. But let me ask you this: How good of a research tactic is it to reduce your entire being...your past, present, future expectations, mannerisms, flaws, merits...everything that makes you unique into a single abstract number? Does doing so with a hundred such people actually make for better research? It is im...