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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 1 | Page : 27-28 |
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Towards designing effective scientific research
Khaled Awidat Abdalla
Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya
| Date of Web Publication | 14-Jan-2014 |
Correspondence Address:
Khaled Awidat Abdalla
Faculty of Dentistry, Sebha University, Sebha
Libya
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
How to cite this article:
Abdalla KA. Towards designing effective scientific research. Dent Med Res 2013;1:27-8 |
Dear Editor,
The scientific community is growing at a rapid pace, in it, the researchers sow the seeds and the entire humanity reaps the harvest. We in dentistry and medical research are surely in pace with the rest. Scientific writing is the simple and at times most feasible platform for presenting the ideas and views and genuine hard work of a researcher. Unfortunately there exists a variety of bias against the acceptance and publication of the hard work and at times wonderful ideas of researchers. Bias against developing low-income countries, particular country/region of origin, language, gender of the author, and negative results unfortunately exists. [1],[2],[3],[4],[5] In recent times, the bias is curtailed by various mechanisms and checks designed by the journals, the editorial boards etc., The launch of a number of new journals has also contributed by giving a better choice for the new researchers immediately and has opened up new horizons of knowledge dissemination.
The naive researchers should always start their work by studying the relevant published work with patience and presence of mind. This will help them define and refine their research question. The old and true statement works wonders, "Question is the key to knowledge". Defining the right and the proper question is the first step in the right direction. Check if an answer already exists to your research question. Check for relevant work, of recent occurrence. Think in what way your work will be different. Will it make a difference?
Then proceed with methodology. Methodology is the backbone of your study. Any failure in methodology will hamper the work completely and will at times make it unsalvageable. Imagine the distance traveled in your morning walk; can it be measured with domestic measuring jar? Of course not. Remember the job of the study design-methodology is to calibrate, analyze the hypothesis, and answer your question. It needs meticulous working. Look for ethical issues that may arise from your work. Get appropriate permissions and ethical clearance from the responsible authorities before you begin with your work.
The result is what you found with your work. It is the fruit of your labor. Use simple words to tell them. When writing them for publications keep them simple. Use tables or graphs when needed. Descriptive tables and good graphs will get your message to others clear and loud. Never fear from telling the true results. Be honest and never manipulate.
If possible, join an expert team to begin with it will prove a treasure trove for a beginner. [6] The dental and medical researchers from developing nations and nations with poor scientific performance should know that the world awaits their share of work to be completed. [7] Financial constraints surely do not allow one from doing complex research works. Nevertheless, it can never be a deterrent to start with simple things.
This letter is an attempt to draw the attention of fresh dental and medical students and researchers toward designing a successful research. I hope that it will be of help and interest for many readers.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Thornton A, Lee P. Publication bias in meta-analysis: Its causes and consequences. J Clin Epidemiol 2000;53:207-16. 
[PUBMED] |
| 2. | Olson CM, Rennie D, Cook D, Dickersin K, Flanagin A, Hogan JW, et al. Publication bias in editorial decision making. JAMA 2002;287:2825-8.
[PUBMED] |
| 3. | Mahid SS, Qadan M, Hornung CA, Galandiuk S. Assessment of publication bias for the surgeon scientist. Br J Surg 2008;95:943-9.
[PUBMED] |
| 4. | Yousefi-Nooraie R, Shakiba B, Mortaz-Hejri S. Country development and manuscript selection bias: A review of published studies. BMC Med Res Methodol 2006;6:37.
[PUBMED] |
| 5. | Møller AP, Jennions MD. Testing and adjusting for publication bias. Trends Ecol Evol 2001;16:580-6.
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| 6. | Peeran SW, Ahmed AM, Mugrabi MH, Peeran SA. Simple steps to avoid plagiarism and improve scientific writing. Libyan J Med 2013;8:21825.
[PUBMED] |
| 7. | Bredan A, Benamer HTs, Bakoush O. Visibility of Arab countries in the world biomedical literature. Libyan J Med 2011;6.doi: 10.3402/ ljm.v6i0.6325
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