160316 Edanz Tokushimag AM

Trevor Lane, PhD Eri Kinoshita, PhD

Author Success Workshop:

Effectively Communicate Your Research

Tokushima University

16 March 2016

S

Be an effective communicator

Your goal is not only to be published, but also to be widely read and highly cited

Planning well and developing your writing skills

Logically communicating your ideas in your manuscript

Making the best first impression

Confidently navigating the peer review process

Section 1

Planning well for academic publishing

Skills needed on the path to publication success

Preparation

Journal Selection

Writing

Submission

Peer Review

Publication Success

• Training in reading papers, ethics, writing, presenting

• Expert Scientific Review

• Expert Scientific Review

• Journal Selection & submission strategy

• Training in ethics, writing, presenting

• Revising • Editing • Reformatting

• Training in ethics, writing

• Editing • Abstract

Development • Cover Letter

Development • Reviewer

Recommendation

• Training in navigating peer review

• Review Editing • Point-by-point

checking • Response

Letter Development

• Reformatting

• Press release, news writing

• Media & presentation training

• Training for early career researchers

• Training in writing grant proposals

• Grant proposal editing

Coverage and Staffing Plan Prepare well Writing a manuscript

S

My manuscript is a written record of my findings

My findings speak for themselves, even if the manuscript is written poorly

Good English means only grammar and spelling

Using complex words makes my writing more impressive

Your manuscript is to communicate your findings

You need a well-written manuscript to effectively communicate your findings

Keep things simple – Using complex words makes your writing more difficult to understand

Good English means clear, concise arguments; logical organization; and high readability

Coverage and Staffing Plan Prepare well

Increase impact

High quality research

Logical, engaging, useful message for

readers

Original and novel research

Well-designed, well-reported,

transparent study News value, importance, timeliness

What editors want

High scientific & technical quality, appropriate & clear methods,

sound research & publication ethics

High readability & interest; clear, real-

world relevance

Impact factor (past 2 years) = No. of citations / No. of articles


Where to start?

Your findings form the basis of your manuscript

First organize your findings

Logic, then English language

Figure 1

Figure 2

Table 1

Figure 3

Logical flow • Chronology • Most to least

important • General to

specific • Whole+parts

Is anything missing?

? Additional analyses?

Your illustrations guide your story

Coverage and Staffing Plan Prepare well Prepare an outline

I. Introduction A. General background B. Related studies C. Problems in the field D. Aims

II. Methods A. Subjects/Samples/Materials B. General methods C. Specific methods D. Statistical analyses

III. Results A. Key points about Figure 1 B. Key points about Table 1 C. Key points about Figure 2 D. Key points about Figure 3 E. Key points about Figure 4

IV. Discussion A. Major conclusion B. Key findings that support conclusion C. Relevance to published studies D. Limitations E. Unexpected results F. Implications G. Future directions

Write key ideas in bullet points, as IMRaD (=Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion)

No need for full sentences Draft title/abstract; draft article by

IMRaD section Get feedback & revise each section Revise content/logic before language Get help: presubmission peer review

& editing by a native English speaker

When using information from other articles:

Paraphrase with citations!


Choose your journal early!

Author guidelines • Manuscript structure • Word limits, References • Procedures, Copyright

Aims and scope • Topics • Readership • Be sure to emphasize

• Learn writing style • Check relevant references • Check originality, importance & usefulness!


Evaluating significance: Relevance

How relevant/important is your work?

Large or incremental advance? Does it solve a practical problem? Does it

have narrow or wide applications?

Phys/Engin/Chem

Large or incremental advance? Geographically restricted? Relevant to

business or government policy?

Environ-mental

International or regional journal?

Broad- or narrow- focused journal?

High or low impact journal?


Factors to consider when choosing a journal

Aims & scope, Readership

Publication speed/frequency

Online/Print, Open access

Indexing, Rank, Impact factor

Acceptance rate/criteria

Article type / evidence level

“Luxury” / Traditional / Megajournal

Online first, Supplemental materials, Cost, Copyright

Cascading review, Fast track


Submissions

Plagiarism

Data manipulation

Authorship

Submit to only one journal at a time; do not republish the same paper; no salami

Paraphrase and cite all sources

Do not fabricate or falsify data Do not manipulate parts of images

Study design or data acquisition/analysis; Writing/revising; Approval; Accountability

Publication ethics

Conflicts of interest

Disclose funding and any financial/personal relationships that could bias the work

Safety Ethics approval; animal & environmental

safety; humans: signed consent, data privacy

Committee on Publication Ethics, COPE


Filter/sort by: • Field of study • Impact factor • Indexed in SCI • Open access • Publishing frequency

Journal’s aims & scope, impact factor,

publication frequency, open access/

subscription/hybrid

• Author guidelines • Journal website

Similar abstracts

Journal Selector www.edanzediting.co.jp/journal_selector

Insert your proposed abstract/title or keywords into text box


THINK Trusted and appropriate?

SUBMIT Only if OK

thinkchecksubmit.org

CHECK Do you know the journal?

Trustworthy journals

Section 2

Developing your writing skills

Coverage and Staffing Plan Writing skills

Nature’s guide to authors:

Nature is an international journal covering all the sciences. Contributions should therefore be written clearly and simply so that they are accessible to readers in other disciplines and to readers for whom English is not their first language.

www.nature.com/nature/authors/gta/index.html#a4

“I should use complex words to make my writing more impressive.”

Modern scientific writing


Keep it simple!

Use short sentences 15–20 words; one idea per sentence

Prefer simpler/shorter words

Use active voice Simpler, more direct, and easier to read

Most writing style guides and journals prefer it… “Nature journals prefer authors to write in the active voice”

www.nature.com/authors/author_resources/how_write.html

Modern scientific writing

Coverage and Staffing Plan Writing skills Keep it simple 1

Prefer Enough Clear Determine Begin Attempt, Try Size Keep After Enough End Use

Avoid Adequate Apparent Ascertain Commence Endeavor Magnitude* Retain Subsequent to Sufficient Terminate* Utilization *OK in certain fields (magnitude of earthquakes, to terminate gene expression)

Coverage and Staffing Plan Writing skills Keep it simple 2

Delete extra words!

“A number of studies have shown that the charged group...”

“...as described in our previous study.”

“...at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.”

“As a matter of fact, such a low-temperature reaction…”

“That is another reason why, we believe…”

“It is well known that most of the intense diffraction peaks...” “It is well known that Most of the intense diffraction peaks...”

“As a matter of fact, such a This low-temperature reaction…”

“A number of studies have shown that The charged group...”

“That is thus another reason why Therefore, we believe…”

“...as described previously in our previous study.”

“...at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.”


Avoid At a concentration of 2 g/L At a temperature of 37C In order to In the first place Four in number Green color Subsequent to Prior to Future plans; past history Extremely unique At the present time

Prefer At 2 g/L At 37C To First Four Green After Before Plans; history Unique Now

Keep it simple 3


1. You deserve the funding, but the study design is not perfect.

Which sentence suggests that you

will get funding?

2. The study design is not perfect, but you deserve the funding.

Improving readability 1


The study design is not perfect, but you deserve the

funding. The grant will be awarded in two stages.

Stress position

Topic position

Readers focus at the end of the sentence for what is important. Information in this stress position can also introduce

the topic of the next sentence (useful for explanations and processes).



The local government has been striving to introduce Information

and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. In medical

education, technology was introduced through the ICT-Connect-TED

project. The program aimed at improving the quality of lecturers

through the use of ICT. ICT-Connect-TED recently provided

computers and a networking infrastructure to all medical colleges.

idea idea idea idea

Topic link

sentence

Adapted from: Kafyulilo et al. Educ Inf Technol. 5 May 2015; DOI 10.1007/s10639-015-9398-0



Almost all participants indicated a high level of satisfaction with the content, sequence and relevance of the ICT professional development program they attended. Only a few lecturers reported that the duration of the professional development program was too short. However, the majority of the lecturers reported that they developed an understanding of what TPACK is, and the way technology can enhance teaching and learning of difficult medical concepts through the collaborative design of technology-enhanced clinic sessions in teams. “I developed an understanding of how TPACK can be applied in the design and teaching of a technology-enhanced lesson” said one of the pre-service lecturers. A lecturer from College C said if it was not the professional development he attended, he would not know how to use technology in teaching.

The pre-service lecturers had the opportunity to further develop learning about technology integration in teaching after the professional development program had finished. They were invited to use their TPACK knowledge in workshops organized by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training…

Topic sentence

Stress sentence Topic sentence

Supporting sentences




Lecturers were positive about the effectiveness of technology in teaching. They reported the effectiveness of technology on students’ learning, and on simplifying their teaching process. Most of the lecturers reported to be comfortable and satisfied with the outcomes of the technology-integrated lessons they had developed and taught during the professional development program. One of the lecturers from College A said,…

idea idea idea idea

Topic link


Information in the topic position can introduce the topic of the next sentence

(useful for definitions, descriptions, and narratives).



Findings in this study are presented in four sections. The first section presents the continuation of technology use in teaching. The second section presents the factors affecting the continuation of use of technology in teaching among lecturers who participated in the study. The third section presents the college management view on the impact of the professional development program and the institutional challenges on using technology in teaching. Finally, the enabling and hindering factors affecting the continuation of technology are summarized.

idea idea idea idea

Topic link


Information in the stress position can introduce the topic of the next few sentences

(useful for lists and describing whole/parts).


Coverage and Staffing Plan Writing skills Improving readability 4

Logical connectors

Sequential

Causal

Adversative Although, Even though, Whereas, However, In contrast, Despite (+noun or verb -ing),…

Because (of), To (+verb), Owing to, So that, Therefore, Thus, Hence, Consequently,…

Until, After, Before, While, Since, When, Then, Next, First/Second/Third, Finally,…

Conditional If, Even if, Unless, Whether (or not), Except, Provided that, Until, Without, Otherwise,…


Estimate Estimation

Decide Decision

Assess Assessment

We made a/an… We conducted a/an… Extra verb

We decided… Clear, short, and direct

Avoid mistakes 1

Don’t hide verbs inside nouns!


Readers expect…

Verbs to closely follow their subjects Heavy ends (not starts) of clauses

Subject

The device leakage current of transistors fabricated on SiO2 with different self-assembled monolayers decreased by two orders of magnitude after annealing.

The transistors were fabricated on SiO2 with different self-assembled monolayers. The device leakage current decreased by two orders of magnitude after annealing.

Verb

Avoid mistakes 2


Compared with is for saying how things are different

The performance of our algorithm was high compared

to the previous algorithm.

The performance of our algorithm was high compared with that of the previous algorithm.

The performance of our algorithm was higher than that of the previous one.

Avoid mistakes 3

Activity 1

Please see Activity 1 in your workbook

Section 3


Manuscripts with impact The ‘write’ order

How does your study contribute to your field?

What did you find?

What did you do?

Why did you do the study?

Title/Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Manuscripts with impact

Title/Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Title/Abstract

Methods

Results

Discussion

Introduction

Abstract /Title

write

The ‘write’ order

Manuscripts with impact Introduction

Why is your study needed?

Current state of the field

Background information

Aim

Problem in the field

Previous studies

Current study

General

Specific Importance/Hypothesis

Worldwide relevance? Broad/specialized?

Up-to-date, International Not too many self-cites

Specific aim/approach/contents Check journal if Results can be previewed,

and if extra sections are needed

Manuscripts with impact Problem/knowledge gap

However, …an alternative approach… …a challenge …a need for clarification… …a problem/weakness with… …has not been dealt with… …remains unstudied …requires clarification …is not sufficiently (+ adjective) …is ineffective/inaccurate/inadequate/inconclusive/incorrect ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Few studies have… There is an urgent need to… There is growing concern that… Little evidence is available on… It is necessary to… Little work has been done on…

Key phrases


For lithium manganese spinel electrodes, obtaining substituted spinels of a general formula Li[LiqMn2-q]O4 and decreasing the size of particles by pyrolysis lead to better cycling ability….However, particles exhibit fast aggregation upon thermal treatment with citric acid pyrolysis in air.


Your aims must directly address the problem

Study sample

Variables Outcome

Lithium manganese spinel electrodes

Excess lithium ions Particle size

Pyrolysis conditions

Improved physical and electrochemical

properties Modified from: Potapenko et al. Mater Renew Sustain Energy. 2015; 4: 40.

Writing the Introduction


Your aims must directly address the problem

We describe the properties of Li[Li0.033Mn1.967]O4 after pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere. Its particle size is smaller, the degree of aggregation is lower, and high-rate properties are better that for its analogue pyrolyzed in air.

Study aims

Modified from: Potapenko et al. Mater Renew Sustain Energy. 2015; 4: 40.


For lithium manganese spinel electrodes, obtaining substituted spinels of a general formula Li[LiqMn2-q]O4 and decreasing the size of particles by pyrolysis lead to better cycling ability….However, particles exhibit fast aggregation upon thermal treatment with citric acid pyrolysis in air.

Writing the Introduction


What did you do?

Methods

What was done

• Variables measured • Processes, treatments, measurements • General to specific

• Conversions/calculations • Assumptions for models/equations • Consult a statistician

What was studied

• Tests, controls • Number of samples/sets of tests • Materials/equipment (+ maker)

Data analysis

Manuscripts with impact Methods

Established techniques

• Cite previously published studies • Briefly state modifications • Use flow chart/table if needed

• Explain purposes; justify choices • Give enough detail for reproducibility • Use Supplementary Information

Organization • Arrange in (titled) subsections • Keep parallel to the display items • Use topic sentences to start sections

New techniques

Caution notices for dangerous substances/processes …No incidents occurred; researchers have to be qualified and trained, and use

suitable protocols, precautions, and facilities

Manuscripts with impact Results

• Synthesis, characteristics • Group, subgroups • Algorithm, test, improvement

• Each (titled) subsection corresponds to one figure and method

• Describe factually what you found, not what it means

• Use Supplementary Information

• Data accessibility

Logical presentation

Subsections

Factual description

What did you find?


Combined Results–Discussion

Results Interpretation

Figure 1


Figure 2


Figure 3


Figure 4

Initial observation


Characterization

Application


Combined Methods– Results–Discussion

Method & Results Interpretation

Figure 1


Figure 2


Figure 3


Figure 4

Initial observation


Characterization

Application


Describe relationships among your results

Treatment A reduced soil lead levels by 32.7% and increased soil pH by 12.3%. Treatment B reduced soil lead levels by 22.3% and increased soil pH by 15.6%. Treatment C reduced soil lead levels by 38.1% and increased soil pH by 6.9%.


Describe relationships among your results

Treatment C reduced soil lead levels (38.1%) more effectively than treatments A (32.7%) and B (22.3%). However, treatment B increased soil pH levels (15.6%) more effectively than treatments A (12.3%) and C (6.9%).

Manuscripts with impact Discussion

Summary of findings

Relevance

Conclusion

Similarities/differences Unexpected/negative results Limitations (validity, reliability)

Implications

Previous studies

Current study

Future studies

Specific

General

How do you advance your field?


Check your interpretations

0

10

20

30

40

50

1 2 3 4 5

Over 5 days of reverse bias

reliability testing the current of

the devices increased from 32 ±

10 μA to 43 ± 17 μA (Figure 2).

This rise in current may be

explained by…

Do you agree with this interpretation?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1 2 3 4 5Time (days)

Cu

rren

t (μ

A)

Is this real?


How safe is mist netting? evaluating the risk of injury and mortality to birds

Our analysis points to some important associations, but is also limited….While on one hand, our narrow geographical focus controls for household socio-economic and geographical factors that may differ across regions of India, a larger-n study exploring similar research questions that would be generalizable to larger geographical regions may yield a higher impact on future household air pollution reduction interventions. Despite these limitations, our analysis yields important lessons for the next generation of cookstove programs.

Identify limitations

Discussing limitations

Address limitations

End positively: give the bad news first

“Social, Economic, and Resource Predictors of Variability in Household Air Pollution from Cookstove Emissions”

Modified from: Yadama et al. PLOS ONE October 3, 2012, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046381.


How safe is mist netting? evaluating the risk of injury and mortality to birds

Our analysis points to some important associations, but is also limited….While on one hand, our narrow geographical focus controls for household socio-economic and geographical factors that may differ across regions of India, a larger-n study exploring similar research questions that would be generalizable to larger geographical regions may yield a higher impact on future household air pollution reduction interventions. Despite these limitations, our analysis yields important lessons for the next generation of cookstove programs.

Identify limitations

Discussing limitations

Modified from: Yadama et al. PLOS ONE October 3, 2012, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046381.

Address limitations

“Social, Economic, and Resource Predictors of Variability in Household Air Pollution from Cookstove Emissions”

End positively: Good news last & in long, main clause!

Manuscripts with impact Discussion – End

Why is your study important?

May be a separate section

May be a “Future work” section

In conclusion, polymeric nanoparticles could be used as a generic carrier of hydrophobic drugs for efficient delivery. Compared with drug administration alone, these nanoparticles mediated a higher and more rapid uptake of the encapsulated drug by nanoparticle-cell contact-mediated transfer. A contact-mediated mechanism of delivery into the cytosol could enable effective delivery of anticancer drugs directly to the intracellular molecular targets. Further understanding of this contact-based transfer mechanism will be important to exploit this novel delivery system for the administration of hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs to improve cancer therapy.

Conclusion

Key result

Implications

Importance & Future

directions

Modified from: Snipstad et al. Cancer Nanotech. 2014; 5: 8.

Manuscripts with impact Story line and consistency

General background

Aims

Methodology

Results and illustrations

Summary of key results

Conclusion & implications

Relevance of findings


Current state of the field Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Solution

Situation/Problem

Evaluation/Comment

Activity 2


Section 4


Customer Service Marketing your work Title and abstract

First impression of paper: clear/concise/convincing

Importance of your results

Validity of your conclusions

Relevance of your aims

It sells your work: Readers judge your style & credibility

Often first/only part that is read by

readers & reviewers

Your title & abstract summarize your study

Customer Service Marketing your work Your title

Important points

Only the main idea Accurate, simple Population/model Include keywords Fewer than 20 words Hanging title:

method/study type

Avoid

Unneeded words (“A study of”) Complex or sensational words Complex word order Abbreviations “New” or “novel”

Customer Service Marketing your work Your title

Interrogative Quantifying electron transfer

reactions in biological systems: what interactions play the major role?

Indicative/ Descriptive*

Highly efficient light management for perovskite solar cells

* + Method (subtitle)

Distribution of cations in FeSbO4: A computer modeling study

Assertive/ Declarative*

Coral mucus fuels the sponge loop in warm- and cold-water coral reef

ecosystems / Insect stereopsis demonstrated using a 3D insect

cinema

Question form

Key finding

Key topic/aim

Customer Service Marketing your work Keywords

Search Engine Optimization

Identify 7–8 keywords (try to use standard terms*)

Use 2 in your title, 5–6 in the keyword list

Use 3 keywords 3–4 times in your abstract

Use keywords in headings when appropriate

Be consistent throughout your paper; include synonyms

Cite your previous publications when relevant

*Or standard terms from PsycINFO, BIOSIS, ChemWeb, ERIC Thesaurus, INSPEC, GeoRef, MeSH etc

Customer Service Marketing your work Structured abstract

Context Background, problem, aim

Results Outcomes, effects,

properties, statistics

Conclusion Relevance, implications Learning points, future

Methods Subjects/materials/animals Treatments, measurements

No references, unusual abbreviations, figures/tables

Customer Service Marketing your work Unstructured abstract

Three-dimensional hierarchical ternary nanostructures for high-performance Li-ion battery anodes

Silicon is considered one of the most promising anode materials for high-performance Li-ion batteries due to its 4200 mAh/g theoretical specific capacity, relative abundance, low cost, and environmental benignity. However, silicon experiences a dramatic volume change (∼300%) during full charge/discharge cycling, leading to severe capacity decay and poor cycling stability. Here, we report a three-dimensional (3D) ternary silicon nanoparticles/conducting polymer/carbon nanotubes hybrid anode material for Li-ion batteries. The hierarchical conductive hydrogel framework with carbon nanotubes as the electronic fortifier offers a continuous electron transport network and high porosity to accommodate the volume expansion of Si particles. By 3D wrapping of silicon nanoparticles/single-wall carbon nanotubes with conducting polymer nanostructures, a greatly improved cycling performance is achieved with reversible discharge capacity over 1600 mAh/g and 86% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at the current rate of 3.3 A/g. Our findings represent a new direction for using advanced nanostructured materials to fabricate robust, high-performance lithium-ion batteries with improved capacity decay and cycling stability.

Reprinted with permission from: Liu B, et al. Nano Lett. 2013, 13, 3414‒3419.

Customer Service Marketing your work Unstructured abstract

Silicon is considered one of the most promising anode materials for high-performance Li-ion batteries due to its 4200 mAh/g theoretical specific capacity, relative abundance, low cost, and environmental benignity. However, silicon experiences a dramatic volume change (∼300%) during full charge/discharge cycling, leading to severe capacity decay and poor cycling stability.

Context

Here, we report a three-dimensional ternary silicon nanoparticles/conducting polymer/carbon nanotubes hybrid anode material for Li-ion batteries. Methods

The hierarchical conductive hydrogel framework with carbon nanotubes as the electronic fortifier offers a continuous electron transport network and high porosity to accommodate the volume expansion of Si particles. By 3D wrapping of silicon nanoparticles/single-wall carbon nanotubes with conducting polymer nanostructures, a greatly improved cycling performance is achieved with reversible discharge capacity over 1600 mAh/g and 86% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at the current rate of 3.3 A/g.

Results

Our findings represent a new direction for using advanced nanostructured materials to fabricate robust, high-performance lithium-ion batteries with improved capacity decay and cycling stability.

Conclusions

Reprinted with permission from: Liu B, et al. Nano Lett. 2013, 13, 3414‒3419.

Customer Service Marketing your work

A model has been developed to predict growth kinetics of the intermetallic phases (IMCs) formed in a reactive diffusion couple between two metals for the case where multiple IMC phases are observed. The model explicitly accounts for the effect of grain boundary diffusion through the IMC layer, and can thus be used to explore the effect of IMC grain size on the thickening of the reaction layer. The model has been applied to the industrially important case of aluminum to magnesium alloy diffusion couples in which several different IMC phases are possible. It is demonstrated that there is a transition from grain boundary-dominated diffusion to lattice-dominated diffusion at a critical grain size, which is different for each IMC phase.

Modified from: Wang et al. Metall Mater Trans A. 2015; 46: 4106–4114.

Physical science abstracts (short)

What you did

What you found


Check author guidelines

Check recently published articles

Consider your audience

For interdisciplinary audiences, include background and conclusion

Identify journal editor preference

What the journal requires

Physical science abstracts

When should you include background and conclusions?

Customer Service Marketing your work Cover letter to the editor

Dear Dr Robens-Garcia

Please find enclosed our manuscript entitled “Prediction of the largest peak nonlinear seismic response of asymmetric

structures under bi-directional excitation,” which we would like to submit for publication as an Original Article in the

Journal of Seismology Today.

Assessing the seismic performance of asymmetric structures is challenging because of their elevation irregularities. Various methods have been proposed that combine non-linear static (pushover) analysis of a multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) mathematical model with the response spectrum analysis of an equivalent single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model. Although these methods aim to estimate the peak response of asymmetric structures to seismic motion, they have been shown to be limited in their accuracy. In this study, we improve an earlier nonlinear analysis method by determining the properties of two independent SDOF models based on the results of a pushover analysis of an asymmetric structure. The largest peak response is then estimated by combining the analysis of the two modal responses. In contrast to previous methods, ours takes into account changes in the principal direction of the first modal response. This allows our model to more reliably estimate the response of asymmetric structures to ground motion acting at an arbitrary angle of incidence. The novel computational method presented here can more accurately evaluate the seismic performance of asymmetric structures. Accurately evaluating seismic performance is crucial given the high rate of building development worldwide. Therefore, because this model will have implications in building engineering, mining and exploration, and seismic hazards, we believe this study will be of considerable interest to the readers of the Journal of Seismology Today.

Why study needs to be done

What was done and what was

found

Interest to journal’s readers

Editor’s name Manuscript title

Article type


The novel computational method presented here can more accurately evaluate the seismic performance of asymmetric structures. Accurately evaluating seismic performance is crucial given the high rate of building development worldwide. Therefore, because this model will have implications in building engineering, mining and exploration, and seismic hazards, we believe this study will be of considerable interest to the readers of the Journal of Seismology Today.

Why your study is interesting to the journal’s readership (para 4)

Target your journal – keywords from the Aims and Scope

Conclusion/importance

Relevance


Other important information:

Recommended reviewers Author’s contact information

We would like to recommend the following reviewers to evaluate our manuscript: 1. Reviewer 1 and contact information 2. Reviewer 2 and contact information 3. Reviewer 3 and contact information 4. Reviewer 4 and contact information Please address all correspondence to:

Reviewers

Contact information

Can also exclude reviewers


We confirm that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal. All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with submission to the Journal of Seismology Today. This study was funded by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Last paragraph:

Declarations related to publication ethics Source of funding Conflicts of interest

Ethics

Funding

Conflicts of interest


Recommending reviewers

Where to find them?

From your reading/references, networking at conferences

How senior? Aim for mid-level researchers

Who to avoid? Collaborators (past 5 years),

researchers from your university

International list: 1 or 2 from Asia, 1 or 2 from Europe, and 1 or 2 from North America

Choose reviewers who have published in your target journal

Section 5


Peer review

The submission process

Accepted—publication!

Editor Author

Peer review

Reject

Results novel? Topic relevant? Clear English? Properly formatted?

Revision • New experiments • Improve readability • Add information • Revise figures

Peer review Peer review

Blinded/ masked?

Other models

• Single-blind: Reviewers’ names not revealed to authors

• Double-/Triple-blind: Anonymous • Open: All names revealed • Transparent: Reviews published with paper • Fast Track: Expedited if public emergency

• Portable/Transferable/Cascading: Manuscript & reviews passed along

• Collaborative: Reviewers (& authors) engage with other

• Post-publication: Online public review • Pre-submission: Reviews passed to editor

Peer review What reviewers are looking for

The science

The manuscript

Relevant hypothesis Good study design & appropriate

methodology Good data analysis Valid conclusions

Logical flow of information Manuscript structure and formatting Appropriate references High readability

Peer review is a positive process!

Innovation & Importance, Information, Interest, Influence =

IMPACT

Coverage and Staffing Plan Peer review Decision letter

“Slush pile” desk review: Rejection (not novel, no focus or rationale, wrong scope or format) / Resubmit after editing

Peer review: Accept / Accept with minor revisions / Revise & resubmit / “Reject” • Hard rejection

o Flaw in design or methods, ethics o Major misinterpretation, lack of evidence

• Soft rejection o Incomplete reporting or overgeneralization o Additional analyses needed o Presentation problem

Interpret the decision letter carefully (& after a break)

Peer review Decision letter

Ideas are not logically organized; Poor presentation Purpose and relevance are unclear Cited studies are not up-to-date Topics in the Results/Discussion are not in the Introduction Methods are unclear (variables, missing data); Ethics Wrong (statistical) tests; statistical vs real-world significance Unclear statistics: Power, Need exact P values, 95% CI,

Association ≠ Causation Not discussed: Negative results, limitations, implications Discussion has repeated results or new results Conclusions too general, confident, precise; not supported

Common reviewer complaints

Coverage and Staffing Plan Peer review Reviewer response letter

Respond to every reviewer comment

Easy for editor & reviewers to

see changes

• Revise and keep to the deadline; be polite • Restate reviewer’s comment • Refer to line and page numbers

Use a different color font

Highlight the text

Strikethrough font for deletions

Peer review Reviewer response letter

Reviewer Comment: In your analysis of the data you have chosen to use a somewhat obscure fitting function (regression). In my opinion, a simple Gaussian function would have sufficed. Moreover, the results would be more instructive and easier to compare to previous results.

Response: We agree with the Reviewer’s assessment of the analysis. Our tailored function, in its current form, makes it difficult to tell that this measurement constitutes a significant improvement over previously reported values. We describe our new analysis using a Gaussian fitting function in our revised Results section (Page 6, Lines 12–18).

Agreement

Revisions Location

Why agree

Peer review

Reviewer Comment: In your analysis of the data you have chosen to use a somewhat obscure fitting function (regression). In my opinion, a simple Gaussian function would have sufficed. Moreover, the results would be more instructive and easier to compare with previous results.

Response: It’s very clear that you’re not familiar with the current analytical methods in the field. I recommend that you identify a more suitable reviewer for my manuscript!!!

Reviewer response letter

Peer review

Reviewer Comment: In your analysis of the data you have chosen to use a somewhat obscure fitting function (regression). In my opinion, a simple Gaussian function would have sufficed. Moreover, the results would be more instructive and easier to compare with previous results.

Response: Although a simple Gaussian fit would facilitate comparison with the results of other studies, our tailored function allows for the analysis of the data in terms of the “Pack model” [Pack et al., 2015]. Hence, we have explained the use of this function and the Pack model in our revised Discussion section (Page 12, Lines 2–6).

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Trevor Lane: [email protected] Eri Kinoshita: [email protected]