Chapter 11: Reporting and Disseminating Research

11.1 Reasons for Reporting Research

• Ethical Responsibility: Researchers have a duty to share findings, contributing to societal progress.

• Advancement of Clinical Practice: Results can enhance practices in clinical settings.

• Academic Survival: Reporting is essential for promotion, tenure, and fulfilling graduation requirements (thesis/dissertation). tenure is academic freedom to research anything. they trust you to do ethically appropriate research. think of Ross

• Stimulating Further Research: Findings can lead to new questions and studies.

• Peer Approval: Sharing research builds credibility within professional networks.

• Personal Achievement: Completing research and sharing it fulfills a personal and intellectual goal.

• Quality Indicator: Reporting serves as a quality measure for institutions and programs.

• Myths and Facts- slide 4

• myth: clinicians are not researchers.

• Fact: clinicians should be researchers.

• myth: the important consideration is what is said rather than how it is said.

• fact: how it is said (professional writing style) is an important consideration.

• myth: an acceptable way to gain acceptance of a theory is to refute another theory.

• fact: an acceptable way to gain acceptance of a theory is to provide credible evidence.

• paper quality is more important than quantity (length)

• Irwin’s 3 Cs for writing: clear, cogent (relevant) & concise

• 3 parts of behavioral objective: measurable, observable and ?

• just because something is statistically significant, doesn’t mean it is clinically significant and vice versa

11.2 Misconceptions about Research Reporting

• Clinicians as Researchers: Clinicians are encouraged to engage in research, challenging the myth that they are not researchers.

• Creativity in Writing: Contrary to the belief that writing is routine, it actually requires significant creativity and time.

• Importance of Presentation: How research is presented (professional writing) is as vital as the content.

• Paper Quality vs. Quantity: Conciseness and quality are paramount over length and number of papers.

• Purpose of Research Papers: They analyze/synthesize past research, draw conclusions, and suggest future research paths.

• Scientific Writing vs. Advertising: Both can inform and persuade; the distinction is not as clear-cut as thought.

• Theory Acceptance: Acceptance should be based on credible evidence rather than refutation of other theories.

• Value of Results: Both negative and positive results provide valuable insights into research questions.

• Rules for Disseminating Research

• 1. Get the basics right

• 2. Use personal websites and updated social media

• 3. Encourage participation

• 4. Use open science to be transparent and accessible

• 5. Remix Traditional outputs

• 6. Go Live (youtube, ted talks)

• 7. Think Visual: be creative in how you display data

• 8. Respect diversity

• 9. Find the right tools

• 10. Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate!

11.3 Effective Time Management

• Strategies:

  • Plan work schedules to allocate sufficient time for each stage of research.

  • Prioritize tasks and set deadlines to avoid procrastination.

11.4 Process of Rewriting and Revisions

• Drafting Stages: The first draft should be seen as a starting point; revisions are crucial for clarity and quality.

• Seeking Feedback: Engage peers for critical review to identify areas for improvement.

11.5 Types of Research Reports

• Journal Articles: Target specific journals for publication, ensuring compliance with submission guidelines.

• Theses and Dissertations: In-depth work requiring extensive revisions and adherence to specific format guidelines.

• Textbooks: Collaboration with professional associations or publishing houses for comprehensive documentation of a field's knowledge.

• Professional Meetings: Presentations of findings at conferences; submitting proposals to share research.

11.6 Guidelines for Preparing Research Reports- slide 8-12

• Abstracts: Summarize the report objectives, design, setting, participants, interventions, outcomes, results, and conclusions.

• Tables and Figures: Present information succinctly, ensuring clarity and self-explanation. Follow publisher's guidelines for format and labeling.

11.7 Simple Rules for Disseminating Research

• Rule 1: Define clear objectives for dissemination.

• Rule 2: Maintain updated personal websites and social media.

• Rule 3: Engage consumers and organizations in the research process.

• Rule 4: Embrace open science practices to enhance transparency.

• Rule 5: Create concise summaries for wider audiences.

• Rule 6: Utilize engaging formats, like science slams and videos.

• Rule 7: Use visual data displays for better comprehension by non-specialists.

• Rule 8: Incorporate diverse perspectives in research dissemination.

• Rule 9: Use appropriate tools and platforms for sharing findings.

• Rule 10: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of dissemination efforts.

11.8 Evaluating Research Reports

• Key Considerations: Look for scientific relevance, methodological soundness, and the credibility of authors.

• Blind Review Process: Peers review submissions without knowledge of authorship to ensure objectivity.

• slide 15: feedback is meant to help you

• content and mechanics are equally important

• the first draft should never be the final draft

• slide 16: Types of Reports: Journal Articles, Theses and Dissertations, Textbooks

• slide 17: steps in publishing a paper: Select Journal, Review Manuscript Requirements, Submit Cover Letter and Manuscript, Peer Review, Editorial Decision

• the more prestigious journal, the lower the acceptance rate

11.9 Questions for Critically Analyzing Data: slides 22-24

Quantitative Data:

• Assess types of statistical analysis and their appropriateness.

• Evaluate any univariate tests and consider multivariate analyses.

• What types of statistical analysis were used?

• Is there statistical significance?

Qualitative Data:

• Check for corroboration and triangulation among findings.

• Avoid vague conclusions; ensure sufficient detail is provided to clarify results.

• Was there corroboration between the reported results and people’s perceptions?

• Did the researcher provide sufficient description?

11.10 Discussion Questions for Class

• What are the reasons for reporting research? page. 211-212

• How does time management faciliate research productivity? page 213

• Why do single-subject designs require less time? page 143

• How can procrastination be avoided or reduced? 216-217