Writing original research articles as a method of scientific knowledge discovery: a practical guide

Ana M. Contreras-Navarro, Associate Editor, Scientific Writing Editor, Journal of the Mexican Federation of Radiology and Imaging (JMeXFRI), Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico;

The knowledge and skills required to write and publish scientific articles are neither innate nor spontaneous. This In-Depth Review provides the theoretical and conceptual foundation and practical skills needed to write and publish original research articles (ORAs), based on the textbook “Guia de Redaccion de Articulos Originales en Ciencias de la Salud.” Like radiological image interpretation, scientific writing requires practice and training. The first step is to read the journal’s Instructions for Authors. Drafting an ORA begins with the Results section, presented with Tables, Figures, and Text. The mnemonic “DECIR” (Describe, Emphasize, Complete, Interpret, and Resume) is used for writing the Text of the Results section. Once you identify the main result from the data, define the Key Message as the interpretation of that main result that provides new knowledge, adds to existing but insufficient knowledge, or offers a new interpretation of what is known. The Key Message determines the content of all sections. Write the Introduction based on what is known and unknown about the Key Message. The Materials and Methods section should provide enough information not only to understand the results but also to allow other researchers to replicate the study. Organizing the paragraphs helps you write the Discussion in a minimum of five and a maximum of seven paragraphs. Compare the study results with those of other authors using the mnemonic KNOWS: Knowledge prevalent, New findings, Other published research studies, Wise reasoning, and Scientific posture. The Abstract presents the most important ideas from the ORA sections directly related to the Key Message. The Title should provide specific and engaging information related to the Key Message, in the fewest words (mnemonic PreCIse). Cited references must highlight the importance of the ORA and support its publication. In JMeXFRI, only artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted editing is acceptable. This guide is intended for submitting ORAs to the Journal of the Mexican Federation of Radiology and Imaging (JMeXFRI) (www.jmexfri.com), but it may also be useful for all health science disciplines.

Keywords: Original research articles. Scientific writing. Practical guide. Scientific writing workshop. Radiology. Knowledge discovery.