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What’s Included: Research Paper Template

If you’re preparing to write an academic research paper, our free research paper template is the perfect starting point. In the template, we cover every section step by step, with clear, straightforward explanations and examples .

The template’s structure is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for formal academic research papers. The template structure reflects the overall research process, ensuring your paper will have a smooth, logical flow from chapter to chapter.

The research paper template covers the following core sections:

• The title page/cover page
• Abstract (sometimes also called the executive summary)
• Section 1: Introduction 
• Section 2: Literature review 
• Section 3: Methodology
• Section 4: Findings /results
• Section 5: Discussion
• Section 6: Conclusion
• Reference list

Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover within each section. We’ve also included links to free resources to help you understand how to write each section.

The cleanly formatted Google Doc can be downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), so you can use it as-is or convert it to LaTeX.

FAQs: Research Paper Template

What format is the template (doc, pdf, ppt, etc.).

The research paper template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What types of research papers can this template be used for?

The template follows the standard best-practice structure for formal academic research papers, so it is suitable for the vast majority of degrees, particularly those within the sciences.

Some universities may have some additional requirements, but these are typically minor, with the core structure remaining the same. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.

Is this template for an undergrad, Masters or PhD-level research paper?

This template can be used for a research paper at any level of study. It may be slight overkill for an undergraduate-level study, but it certainly won’t be missing anything.

How long should my research paper be?

This depends entirely on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. We include generic word count ranges for each section within the template, but these are purely indicative. 

What about the research proposal?

If you’re still working on your research proposal, we’ve got a template for that here .

We’ve also got loads of proposal-related guides and videos over on the Grad Coach blog .

How do I write a literature review?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack how to write a literature review from scratch. You can check out the literature review section of the blog here.

How do I create a research methodology?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack research methodology, both qualitative and quantitative. You can check out the methodology section of the blog here.

Can I share this research paper template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template. If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.

Can Grad Coach help me with my research paper?

Within the template, you’ll find plain-language explanations of each section, which should give you a fair amount of guidance. However, you’re also welcome to consider our private coaching services .

Reference management. Clean and simple.

How to start your research paper [step-by-step guide]

1. Choose your topic

2. find information on your topic, 3. create a thesis statement, 4. create a research paper outline, 5. organize your notes, 6. write your introduction, 7. write your first draft of the body, 9. write your conclusion, 10. revise again, edit, and proofread, frequently asked questions about starting your research paper, related articles.

Research papers can be short or in-depth, but no matter what type of research paper, they all follow pretty much the same pattern and have the same structure .

A research paper is a paper that makes an argument about a topic based on research and analysis.

There will be some basic differences, but if you can write one type of research paper, you can write another. Below is a step-by-step guide to starting and completing your research paper.

Choose a topic that interests you. Writing your research paper will be so much more pleasant with a topic that you actually want to know more about. Your interest will show in the way you write and effort you put into the paper. Consider these issues when coming up with a topic:

• make sure your topic is not too broad
• narrow it down if you're using terms that are too general

Academic search engines are a great source to find background information on your topic. Your institution's library will most likely provide access to plenty of online research databases. Take a look at our guide on how to efficiently search online databases for academic research to learn how to gather all the information needed on your topic.

Tip: If you’re struggling with finding research, consider meeting with an academic librarian to help you come up with more balanced keywords.

If you’re struggling to find a topic for your thesis, take a look at our guide on how to come up with a thesis topic .

The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of academic writing. It can be defined as a very brief statement of what the main point or central message of your paper is. Our thesis statement guide will help you write an excellent thesis statement.

In the next step, you need to create your research paper outline . The outline is the skeleton of your research paper. Simply start by writing down your thesis and the main ideas you wish to present. This will likely change as your research progresses; therefore, do not worry about being too specific in the early stages of writing your outline.

Then, fill out your outline with the following components:

• the main ideas that you want to cover in the paper
• the types of evidence that you will use to support your argument
• quotes from secondary sources that you may want to use

Organizing all the information you have gathered according to your outline will help you later on in the writing process. Analyze your notes, check for accuracy, verify the information, and make sure you understand all the information you have gathered in a way that you can communicate your findings effectively.

Start with the introduction. It will set the direction of your paper and help you a lot as you write. Waiting to write it at the end can leave you with a poorly written setup to an otherwise well-written paper.

The body of your paper argues, explains or describes your topic. Start with the first topic from your outline. Ideally, you have organized your notes in a way that you can work through your research paper outline and have all the notes ready.

After your first draft, take some time to check the paper for content errors. Rearrange ideas, make changes and check if the order of your paragraphs makes sense. At this point, it is helpful to re-read the research paper guidelines and make sure you have followed the format requirements. You can also use free grammar and proof reading checkers such as Grammarly .

Tip: Consider reading your paper from back to front when you undertake your initial revision. This will help you ensure that your argument and organization are sound.

Write your conclusion last and avoid including any new information that has not already been presented in the body of the paper. Your conclusion should wrap up your paper and show that your research question has been answered.

Allow a few days to pass after you finished writing the final draft of your research paper, and then start making your final corrections. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives some great advice here on how to revise, edit, and proofread your paper.

Tip: Take a break from your paper before you start your final revisions. Then, you’ll be able to approach your paper with fresh eyes.

As part of your final revision, be sure to check that you’ve cited everything correctly and that you have a full bibliography. Use a reference manager like Paperpile to organize your research and to create accurate citations.

The first step to start writing a research paper is to choose a topic. Make sure your topic is not too broad; narrow it down if you're using terms that are too general.

The format of your research paper will vary depending on the journal you submit to. Make sure to check first which citation style does the journal follow, in order to format your paper accordingly. Check Getting started with your research paper outline to have an idea of what a research paper looks like.

The last step of your research paper should be proofreading. Allow a few days to pass after you finished writing the final draft of your research paper, and then start making your final corrections. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gives some great advice here on how to revise, edit and proofread your paper.

There are plenty of software you can use to write a research paper. We recommend our own citation software, Paperpile , as well as grammar and proof reading checkers such as Grammarly .

How to Write a Research Paper

If you already have a headache trying to understand what research paper is all about, we have created an ultimate guide for you on how to write a research paper. You will find all the answers to your questions regarding structure, planning, doing investigation, finding the topic that appeals to you. Plus, you will find out the secret to an excellent paper. Are you at the edge of your seat? Let us start with the basics then.

• What is a Research Paper
• Reasons for Writing a Research Paper
• Report Papers and Thesis Papers
• How to Start a Research Paper
• How to Choose a Topic for a Research Paper
• How to Write a Proposal for a Research Paper
• How to Write a Research Plan
• How to Do Research
• How to Write an Outline for a Research Paper
• How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper
• How to Write a Research Paper Rough Draft
• How to Write an Introduction for a Research Paper
• How to Write a Body of a Research Paper
• How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper
• How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper
• How to Revise and Edit a Research Paper
• How to Write a Bibliography for a Research Paper
• What Makes a Good Research Paper

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What is a research paper.

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You probably know the saying ‘the devil is not as black as he is painted’. This particular saying is absolutely true when it comes to writing a research paper. Your feet are cold even with the thought of this assignment. You have heard terrifying stories from older students. You have never done this before, so certainly you are scared. What is a research paper? How should I start? What are all these requirements about?

Luckily, you have a friend in need. That is our writing service. First and foremost, let us clarify the definition. A research paper is a piece of academic writing that provides information about a particular topic that you’ve researched . In other words, you choose a topic: about historical events, the work of some artist, some social issues etc. Then you collect data on the given topic and analyze it. Finally, you put your analysis on paper. See, it is not as scary as it seems. If you are still having doubts, whether you can handle it yourself, we are here to help you. Our team of writers can help you choose the topic, or give you advice on how to plan your work, or how to start, or craft a paper for you. Just contact us 24/7 and see everything yourself.

5 Reasons for Writing a Research Paper

Why should I spend my time writing some academic paper? What is the use of it? Is not some practical knowledge more important? The list of questions is endless when it comes to a research paper. That is why we have outlined 5 main reasons why writing a research paper is a good thing.

• You will learn how to organize your time

If you want to write a research paper, you will have to learn how to manage your time. This type of assignment cannot be done overnight. It requires careful planning and you will need to learn how to do it. Later, you will be able to use these time-managing skills in your personal life, so why not developing them?

• You will discover your writing skills

You cannot know something before you try it. This rule relates to writing as well. You cannot claim that you cannot write until you try it yourself. It will be really difficult at the beginning, but then the words will come to your head themselves.

• You will improve your analytical skills

Writing a research paper is all about investigation and analysis. You will need to collect data, examine and classify it. These skills are needed in modern life more than anything else is.

• You will gain confidence

Once you do your own research, it gives you the feeling of confidence in yourself. The reason is simple human brain likes solving puzzles and your assignment is just another puzzle to be solved.

• You will learn how to persuade the reader

When you write your paper, you should always remember that you are writing it for someone to read. Moreover, you want this someone to believe in your ideas. For this reason, you will have to learn different convincing methods and techniques. You will learn how to make your writing persuasive. In turns, you will be able to use these methods in real life.

What is the Difference between Report and Thesis Papers?

A common question is ‘what is the difference between a report paper and a thesis paper?’ The difference lies in the aim of these two assignments. While the former aims at presenting the information, the latter aims at providing your opinion on the matter. In other words, in a report paper you have to summarize your findings. In a thesis paper, you choose some issue and defend your point of view by persuading the reader. It is that simple.

A thesis paper is a more common assignment than a report paper. This task will help a professor to evaluate your analytical skills and skills to present your ideas logically. These skills are more important than just the ability to collect and summarize data.

How to Write a Research Paper Step by Step

Research comes from the French word  rechercher , meaning “to seek out.” Writing a research paper requires you to seek out information about a subject, take a stand on it, and back it up with the opinions, ideas, and views of others. What results is a printed paper variously known as a term paper or library paper, usually between five and fifteen pages long—most instructors specify a minimum length—in which you present your views and findings on the chosen subject.

It is not a secret that the majority of students hate writing a research paper. The reason is simple it steals your time and energy. Not to mention, constant anxiety that you will not be able to meet the deadline or that you will forget about some academic requirement.

We will not lie to you; a research paper is a difficult assignment. You will have to spend a lot of time. You will need to read, to analyze, and to search for the material. You will probably be stuck sometimes. However, if you organize your work smart, you will gain something that is worth all the effort – knowledge, experience, and high grades.

The reason why many students fail writing a research paper is that nobody explained them how to start and how to plan their work. Luckily, you have found our writing service and we are ready to shed the light on this dark matter.

We have created a step by step guide for you on how to write a research paper. We will dwell upon the structure, the writing tips, the writing strategies as well as academic requirements. Read this whole article and you will see that you can handle writing this assignment and our team of writers is here to assist you.

How to Start a Research Paper?

It all starts with the assignment. Your professor gives you the task. It may be either some general issue or specific topic to write about. Your assignment is your first guide to success. If you understand what you need to do according to the assignment, you are on the road to high results. Do not be scared to clarify your task if you need to. There is nothing wrong in asking a question if you want to do something right. You can ask your professor or you can ask our writers who know a thing or two in academic writing.

It is essential to understand the assignment. A good beginning makes a good ending, so start smart.

Learn how to start a research paper .

Choosing a Topic for a Research Paper

We have already mentioned that it is not enough to do great research. You need to persuade the reader that you have made some great research. What convinces better that an eye-catching topic? That is why it is important to understand how to choose a topic for a research paper.

First, you need to delimit the general idea to a more specific one. Secondly, you need to find what makes this topic interesting for you and for the academia. Finally, you need to refine you topic. Remember, it is not something you will do in one day. You can be reshaping your topic throughout your whole writing process. Still, reshaping not changing it completely. That is why keep in your head one main idea: your topic should be precise and compelling .

Learn how to choose a topic for a research paper .

How to Write a Proposal for a Research Paper?

If you do not know what a proposal is, let us explain it to you. A proposal should answer three main questions:

• What is the main aim of your investigation?
• Why is your investigation important?
• How are you going to achieve the results?

In other words, proposal should show why your topic is interesting and how you are going to prove it. As to writing requirements, they may differ. That is why make sure you find out all the details at your department. You can ask your departmental administrator or find information online at department’s site. It is crucial to follow all the administrative requirements, as it will influence your grade.

Learn how to write a proposal for a research paper .

How to Write a Research Plan?

The next step is writing a plan. You have already decided on the main issues, you have chosen the bibliography, and you have clarified the methods. Here comes the planning. If you want to avoid writer’s block, you have to structure you work. Discuss your strategies and ideas with your instructor. Think thoroughly why you need to present some data and ideas first and others second. Remember that there are basic structure elements that your research paper should include:

• Thesis Statement
• Introduction
• Bibliography

You should keep in mind this skeleton when planning your work. This will keep your mind sharp and your ideas will flow logically.

Learn how to write a research plan .

How to Do Research?

Your research will include three stages: collecting data, reading and analyzing it, and writing itself.

First, you need to collect all the material that you will need for you investigation: films, documents, surveys, interviews, and others. Secondly, you will have to read and analyze. This step is tricky, as you need to do this part smart. It is not enough just to read, as you cannot keep in mind all the information. It is essential that you make notes and write down your ideas while analyzing some data. When you get down to the stage number three, writing itself, you will already have the main ideas written on your notes. Plus, remember to jot down the reference details. You will then appreciate this trick when you will have to write the bibliography.

If you do your research this way, it will be much easier for you to write the paper. You will already have blocks of your ideas written down and you will just need to add some material and refine your paper.

Learn how to do research .

How to Write an Outline for a Research Paper?

To make your paper well organized you need to write an outline. Your outline will serve as your guiding star through the writing process. With a great outline you will not get sidetracked, because you will have a structured plan to follow. Both you and the reader will benefit from your outline. You present your ideas logically and you make your writing coherent according to your plan. As a result, this outline guides the reader through your paper and the reader enjoys the way you demonstrate your ideas.

Learn how to write an outline for a research paper . See research paper outline examples .

How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Research Paper?

Briefly, the thesis is the main argument of your research paper. It should be precise, convincing and logical. Your thesis statement should include your point of view supported by evidence or logic. Still, remember it should be precise. You should not beat around the bush, or provide all the possible evidence you have found. It is usually a single sentence that shows your argument. In on sentence you should make a claim, explain why it significant and convince the reader that your point of view is important.

Learn how to write a thesis statement for a research paper . See research paper thesis statement examples .

Should I Write a Rough Draft for a Research Paper?

Do you know any writer who put their ideas on paper, then never edited them and just published? Probably, no writer did so. Writing a research paper is no exception. It is impossible to cope with this assignment without writing a rough draft.

Your draft will help you understand what you need to polish to make your paper perfect. All the requirements, academic standards make it difficult to do everything flawlessly at the first attempt. Make sure you know all the formatting requirements: margins, words quantity, reference requirements, formatting styles etc.

Learn how to write a rough draft for a research paper .

How to Write an Introduction for a Research Paper?

Let us make it more vivid for you. We have narrowed down the tips on writing an introduction to the three main ones:

• Include your thesis in your introduction

Remember to include the thesis statement in your introduction. Usually, it goes at the end of the first paragraph.

• Present the main ideas of the body

You should tell the main topics you are going to discuss in the main body. For this reason, before writing this part of introduction, make sure you know what is your main body is going to be about. It should include your main ideas.

• Polish your thesis and introduction

When you finish the main body of your paper, come back to the thesis statement and introduction. Restate something if needed. Just make it perfect; because introduction is like the trailer to your paper, it should make the reader want to read the whole piece.

Learn how to write an introduction for a research paper . See research paper introduction examples .

How to Write a Body of a Research Paper?

A body is the main part of your research paper. In this part, you will include all the needed evidence; you will provide the examples and support your argument.

It is important to structure your paragraphs thoroughly. That is to say, topic sentence and the evidence supporting the topic. Stay focused and do not be sidetracked. You have your outline, so follow it.

Here are the main tips to keep in head when writing a body of a research paper:

• Let the ideas flow logically
• Include only relevant information
• Provide the evidence
• Structure the paragraphs
• Make the coherent transition from one paragraph to another

See? When it is all structured, it is not as scary as it seemed at the beginning. Still, if you have doubts, you can always ask our writers for help.

Learn how to write a body of a research paper . See research paper transition examples .

How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper?

Writing a good conclusion is important as writing any other part of the paper. Remember that conclusion is not a summary of what you have mentioned before. A good conclusion should include your last strong statement.

If you have written everything according to the plan, the reader already knows why your investigation is important. The reader has already seen the evidence. The only thing left is a strong concluding thought that will organize all your findings.

Never include any new information in conclusion. You need to conclude, not to start a new discussion.

Learn how to write a conclusion for a research paper .

How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper?

An abstract is a brief summary of your paper, usually 100-200 words. You should provide the main gist of your paper in this short summary. An abstract can be informative, descriptive or proposal. Depending on the type of abstract, you need to write, the requirements will differ.

To write an informative abstract you have to provide the summary of the whole paper. Informative summary. In other words, you need to tell about the main points of your work, the methods used, the results and the conclusion of your research.

To write a descriptive abstract you will not have to provide any summery. You should write a short teaser of your paper. That is to say, you need to write an overview of your paper. The aim of a descriptive abstract is to interest the reader.

Finally, to write a proposal abstract you will need to write the basic summary as for the informative abstract. However, the difference is the following: you aim at persuading someone to let you write on the topic. That is why, a proposal abstract should present your topic as the one worth investigating.

Learn how to write an abstract for a research paper .

Should I Revise and Edit a Research Paper?

Revising and editing your paper is essential if you want to get high grades. Let us help you revise your paper smart:

• Check your paper for spelling and grammar mistakes
• Sharpen the vocabulary
• Make sure there are no slang words in your paper
• Examine your paper in terms of structure
• Compare your topic, thesis statement to the whole piece
• Check your paper for plagiarism

If you need assistance with proofreading and editing your paper, you can turn to the professional editors at our service. They will help you polish your paper to perfection.

Learn how to revise and edit a research paper .

How to Write a Bibliography for a Research Paper?

First, let us make it clear that bibliography and works cited are two different things. Works cited are those that you cited in your paper. Bibliography should include all the materials you used to do your research. Still, remember that bibliography requirements differ depending on the formatting style of your paper. For this reason, make sure you ask you professor all the requirements you need to meet to avoid any misunderstanding.

Learn how to write a bibliography for a research paper .

The Key Secret to a Good Research Paper

Now when you know all the stages of writing a research paper, you are ready to find the key to a good research paper:

• Choose the topic that really interests you
• Make the topic interesting for you even if it is not at the beginning
• Follow the step by step guide and do not get sidetracked
• Be persistent and believe in yourself
• Really do research and write your paper from scratch
• Learn the convincing writing techniques and use them
• Follow the requirements of your assignment
• Ask for help if needed from real professionals

Feeling more confident about your paper now? We are sure you do. Still, if you need help, you can always rely on us 24/7.

We hope we have made writing a research paper much easier for you. We realize that it requires lots of time and energy. We believe when you say that you cannot handle it anymore. For this reason, we have been helping students like you for years. Our professional team of writers is ready to tackle any challenge.

All our authors are experienced writers crafting excellent academic papers. We help students meet the deadline and get the top grades they want. You can see everything yourself. All you need to do is to place your order online and we will contact you. Writing a research paper with us is truly easy, so why do not you check it yourself?

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Home » Research Paper – Structure, Examples and Writing Guide

Research Paper – Structure, Examples and Writing Guide

Table of Contents

Research Paper

Definition:

Research Paper is a written document that presents the author’s original research, analysis, and interpretation of a specific topic or issue.

It is typically based on Empirical Evidence, and may involve qualitative or quantitative research methods, or a combination of both. The purpose of a research paper is to contribute new knowledge or insights to a particular field of study, and to demonstrate the author’s understanding of the existing literature and theories related to the topic.

Structure of Research Paper

The structure of a research paper typically follows a standard format, consisting of several sections that convey specific information about the research study. The following is a detailed explanation of the structure of a research paper:

The title page contains the title of the paper, the name(s) of the author(s), and the affiliation(s) of the author(s). It also includes the date of submission and possibly, the name of the journal or conference where the paper is to be published.

The abstract is a brief summary of the research paper, typically ranging from 100 to 250 words. It should include the research question, the methods used, the key findings, and the implications of the results. The abstract should be written in a concise and clear manner to allow readers to quickly grasp the essence of the research.

Introduction

The introduction section of a research paper provides background information about the research problem, the research question, and the research objectives. It also outlines the significance of the research, the research gap that it aims to fill, and the approach taken to address the research question. Finally, the introduction section ends with a clear statement of the research hypothesis or research question.

Literature Review

The literature review section of a research paper provides an overview of the existing literature on the topic of study. It includes a critical analysis and synthesis of the literature, highlighting the key concepts, themes, and debates. The literature review should also demonstrate the research gap and how the current study seeks to address it.

The methods section of a research paper describes the research design, the sample selection, the data collection and analysis procedures, and the statistical methods used to analyze the data. This section should provide sufficient detail for other researchers to replicate the study.

The results section presents the findings of the research, using tables, graphs, and figures to illustrate the data. The findings should be presented in a clear and concise manner, with reference to the research question and hypothesis.

The discussion section of a research paper interprets the findings and discusses their implications for the research question, the literature review, and the field of study. It should also address the limitations of the study and suggest future research directions.

The conclusion section summarizes the main findings of the study, restates the research question and hypothesis, and provides a final reflection on the significance of the research.

The references section provides a list of all the sources cited in the paper, following a specific citation style such as APA, MLA or Chicago.

How to Write Research Paper

You can write Research Paper by the following guide:

• Choose a Topic: The first step is to select a topic that interests you and is relevant to your field of study. Brainstorm ideas and narrow down to a research question that is specific and researchable.
• Conduct a Literature Review: The literature review helps you identify the gap in the existing research and provides a basis for your research question. It also helps you to develop a theoretical framework and research hypothesis.
• Develop a Thesis Statement : The thesis statement is the main argument of your research paper. It should be clear, concise and specific to your research question.
• Plan your Research: Develop a research plan that outlines the methods, data sources, and data analysis procedures. This will help you to collect and analyze data effectively.
• Collect and Analyze Data: Collect data using various methods such as surveys, interviews, observations, or experiments. Analyze data using statistical tools or other qualitative methods.
• Organize your Paper : Organize your paper into sections such as Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Ensure that each section is coherent and follows a logical flow.
• Write your Paper : Start by writing the introduction, followed by the literature review, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. Ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and follows the required formatting and citation styles.
• Edit and Proofread your Paper: Review your paper for grammar and spelling errors, and ensure that it is well-structured and easy to read. Ask someone else to review your paper to get feedback and suggestions for improvement.
• Cite your Sources: Ensure that you properly cite all sources used in your research paper. This is essential for giving credit to the original authors and avoiding plagiarism.

Research Paper Example

Note : The below example research paper is for illustrative purposes only and is not an actual research paper. Actual research papers may have different structures, contents, and formats depending on the field of study, research question, data collection and analysis methods, and other factors. Students should always consult with their professors or supervisors for specific guidelines and expectations for their research papers.

Research Paper Example sample for Students:

Title: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health among Young Adults

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the impact of social media use on the mental health of young adults. A literature review was conducted to examine the existing research on the topic. A survey was then administered to 200 university students to collect data on their social media use, mental health status, and perceived impact of social media on their mental health. The results showed that social media use is positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. The study also found that social comparison, cyberbullying, and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) are significant predictors of mental health problems among young adults.

Introduction: Social media has become an integral part of modern life, particularly among young adults. While social media has many benefits, including increased communication and social connectivity, it has also been associated with negative outcomes, such as addiction, cyberbullying, and mental health problems. This study aims to investigate the impact of social media use on the mental health of young adults.

Literature Review: The literature review highlights the existing research on the impact of social media use on mental health. The review shows that social media use is associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health problems. The review also identifies the factors that contribute to the negative impact of social media, including social comparison, cyberbullying, and FOMO.

Methods : A survey was administered to 200 university students to collect data on their social media use, mental health status, and perceived impact of social media on their mental health. The survey included questions on social media use, mental health status (measured using the DASS-21), and perceived impact of social media on their mental health. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis.

Results : The results showed that social media use is positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. The study also found that social comparison, cyberbullying, and FOMO are significant predictors of mental health problems among young adults.

Discussion : The study’s findings suggest that social media use has a negative impact on the mental health of young adults. The study highlights the need for interventions that address the factors contributing to the negative impact of social media, such as social comparison, cyberbullying, and FOMO.

Conclusion : In conclusion, social media use has a significant impact on the mental health of young adults. The study’s findings underscore the need for interventions that promote healthy social media use and address the negative outcomes associated with social media use. Future research can explore the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing the negative impact of social media on mental health. Additionally, longitudinal studies can investigate the long-term effects of social media use on mental health.

Limitations : The study has some limitations, including the use of self-report measures and a cross-sectional design. The use of self-report measures may result in biased responses, and a cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causality.

Implications: The study’s findings have implications for mental health professionals, educators, and policymakers. Mental health professionals can use the findings to develop interventions that address the negative impact of social media use on mental health. Educators can incorporate social media literacy into their curriculum to promote healthy social media use among young adults. Policymakers can use the findings to develop policies that protect young adults from the negative outcomes associated with social media use.

References :

• Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive medicine reports, 15, 100918.
• Primack, B. A., Shensa, A., Escobar-Viera, C. G., Barrett, E. L., Sidani, J. E., Colditz, J. B., … & James, A. E. (2017). Use of multiple social media platforms and symptoms of depression and anxiety: A nationally-representative study among US young adults. Computers in Human Behavior, 69, 1-9.
• Van der Meer, T. G., & Verhoeven, J. W. (2017). Social media and its impact on academic performance of students. Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 16, 383-398.

Appendix : The survey used in this study is provided below.

Social Media and Mental Health Survey

• How often do you use social media per day?
• Less than 30 minutes
• 30 minutes to 1 hour
• 1 to 2 hours
• 2 to 4 hours
• More than 4 hours
• Which social media platforms do you use?
• Others (Please specify)
• How often do you experience the following on social media?
• Social comparison (comparing yourself to others)
• Cyberbullying
• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
• Have you ever experienced any of the following mental health problems in the past month?
• Do you think social media use has a positive or negative impact on your mental health?
• Very positive
• Somewhat positive
• Somewhat negative
• Very negative
• In your opinion, which factors contribute to the negative impact of social media on mental health?
• Social comparison
• In your opinion, what interventions could be effective in reducing the negative impact of social media on mental health?
• Education on healthy social media use
• Counseling for mental health problems caused by social media
• Social media detox programs
• Regulation of social media use

Thank you for your participation!

Applications of Research Paper

Research papers have several applications in various fields, including:

• Advancing knowledge: Research papers contribute to the advancement of knowledge by generating new insights, theories, and findings that can inform future research and practice. They help to answer important questions, clarify existing knowledge, and identify areas that require further investigation.
• Informing policy: Research papers can inform policy decisions by providing evidence-based recommendations for policymakers. They can help to identify gaps in current policies, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and inform the development of new policies and regulations.
• Improving practice: Research papers can improve practice by providing evidence-based guidance for professionals in various fields, including medicine, education, business, and psychology. They can inform the development of best practices, guidelines, and standards of care that can improve outcomes for individuals and organizations.
• Educating students : Research papers are often used as teaching tools in universities and colleges to educate students about research methods, data analysis, and academic writing. They help students to develop critical thinking skills, research skills, and communication skills that are essential for success in many careers.
• Fostering collaboration: Research papers can foster collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers by providing a platform for sharing knowledge and ideas. They can facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships that can lead to innovative solutions to complex problems.

When to Write Research Paper

Research papers are typically written when a person has completed a research project or when they have conducted a study and have obtained data or findings that they want to share with the academic or professional community. Research papers are usually written in academic settings, such as universities, but they can also be written in professional settings, such as research organizations, government agencies, or private companies.

Here are some common situations where a person might need to write a research paper:

• For academic purposes: Students in universities and colleges are often required to write research papers as part of their coursework, particularly in the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. Writing research papers helps students to develop research skills, critical thinking skills, and academic writing skills.
• For publication: Researchers often write research papers to publish their findings in academic journals or to present their work at academic conferences. Publishing research papers is an important way to disseminate research findings to the academic community and to establish oneself as an expert in a particular field.
• To inform policy or practice : Researchers may write research papers to inform policy decisions or to improve practice in various fields. Research findings can be used to inform the development of policies, guidelines, and best practices that can improve outcomes for individuals and organizations.
• To share new insights or ideas: Researchers may write research papers to share new insights or ideas with the academic or professional community. They may present new theories, propose new research methods, or challenge existing paradigms in their field.

Purpose of Research Paper

The purpose of a research paper is to present the results of a study or investigation in a clear, concise, and structured manner. Research papers are written to communicate new knowledge, ideas, or findings to a specific audience, such as researchers, scholars, practitioners, or policymakers. The primary purposes of a research paper are:

• To contribute to the body of knowledge : Research papers aim to add new knowledge or insights to a particular field or discipline. They do this by reporting the results of empirical studies, reviewing and synthesizing existing literature, proposing new theories, or providing new perspectives on a topic.
• To inform or persuade: Research papers are written to inform or persuade the reader about a particular issue, topic, or phenomenon. They present evidence and arguments to support their claims and seek to persuade the reader of the validity of their findings or recommendations.
• To advance the field: Research papers seek to advance the field or discipline by identifying gaps in knowledge, proposing new research questions or approaches, or challenging existing assumptions or paradigms. They aim to contribute to ongoing debates and discussions within a field and to stimulate further research and inquiry.
• To demonstrate research skills: Research papers demonstrate the author’s research skills, including their ability to design and conduct a study, collect and analyze data, and interpret and communicate findings. They also demonstrate the author’s ability to critically evaluate existing literature, synthesize information from multiple sources, and write in a clear and structured manner.

Characteristics of Research Paper

Research papers have several characteristics that distinguish them from other forms of academic or professional writing. Here are some common characteristics of research papers:

• Evidence-based: Research papers are based on empirical evidence, which is collected through rigorous research methods such as experiments, surveys, observations, or interviews. They rely on objective data and facts to support their claims and conclusions.
• Structured and organized: Research papers have a clear and logical structure, with sections such as introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. They are organized in a way that helps the reader to follow the argument and understand the findings.
• Formal and objective: Research papers are written in a formal and objective tone, with an emphasis on clarity, precision, and accuracy. They avoid subjective language or personal opinions and instead rely on objective data and analysis to support their arguments.
• Citations and references: Research papers include citations and references to acknowledge the sources of information and ideas used in the paper. They use a specific citation style, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, to ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Peer-reviewed: Research papers are often peer-reviewed, which means they are evaluated by other experts in the field before they are published. Peer-review ensures that the research is of high quality, meets ethical standards, and contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field.
• Objective and unbiased: Research papers strive to be objective and unbiased in their presentation of the findings. They avoid personal biases or preconceptions and instead rely on the data and analysis to draw conclusions.

Advantages of Research Paper

Research papers have many advantages, both for the individual researcher and for the broader academic and professional community. Here are some advantages of research papers:

• Contribution to knowledge: Research papers contribute to the body of knowledge in a particular field or discipline. They add new information, insights, and perspectives to existing literature and help advance the understanding of a particular phenomenon or issue.
• Opportunity for intellectual growth: Research papers provide an opportunity for intellectual growth for the researcher. They require critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, which can help develop the researcher’s skills and knowledge.
• Career advancement: Research papers can help advance the researcher’s career by demonstrating their expertise and contributions to the field. They can also lead to new research opportunities, collaborations, and funding.
• Academic recognition: Research papers can lead to academic recognition in the form of awards, grants, or invitations to speak at conferences or events. They can also contribute to the researcher’s reputation and standing in the field.
• Impact on policy and practice: Research papers can have a significant impact on policy and practice. They can inform policy decisions, guide practice, and lead to changes in laws, regulations, or procedures.
• Advancement of society: Research papers can contribute to the advancement of society by addressing important issues, identifying solutions to problems, and promoting social justice and equality.

Limitations of Research Paper

Research papers also have some limitations that should be considered when interpreting their findings or implications. Here are some common limitations of research papers:

• Limited generalizability: Research findings may not be generalizable to other populations, settings, or contexts. Studies often use specific samples or conditions that may not reflect the broader population or real-world situations.
• Potential for bias : Research papers may be biased due to factors such as sample selection, measurement errors, or researcher biases. It is important to evaluate the quality of the research design and methods used to ensure that the findings are valid and reliable.
• Ethical concerns: Research papers may raise ethical concerns, such as the use of vulnerable populations or invasive procedures. Researchers must adhere to ethical guidelines and obtain informed consent from participants to ensure that the research is conducted in a responsible and respectful manner.
• Limitations of methodology: Research papers may be limited by the methodology used to collect and analyze data. For example, certain research methods may not capture the complexity or nuance of a particular phenomenon, or may not be appropriate for certain research questions.
• Publication bias: Research papers may be subject to publication bias, where positive or significant findings are more likely to be published than negative or non-significant findings. This can skew the overall findings of a particular area of research.
• Time and resource constraints: Research papers may be limited by time and resource constraints, which can affect the quality and scope of the research. Researchers may not have access to certain data or resources, or may be unable to conduct long-term studies due to practical limitations.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Research Paper: What is it & How to Write it? (Template Included)

Every student is asked to write a research paper at least once in their lives. As a result, they often feel a bit of confusion or anxiety since writing a research paper is widely considered a tough task. For starters, it requires well, a ton of research! However, since writing a research paper is an indispensable part of academics, it should be embraced with open arms…

A research paper is a type of academic writing based on its author’s independent research on a distinct topic. It also includes a complete analysis of the research along with the author’s interpretation of the finding and further use cases.

Most people find writing research paper intimidating and for a good reason. Writing a comprehensive research paper requires analytical as well as research skills. Piecing together findings from different sources and forming meaningful interpretations can be a bit tough.

To make this process easier for you, we have decided to share a free research paper template with you. But before we dive straight into the template, let us first briefly discuss what a research paper is and what one needs to include in a research paper. Read on…

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is a study conducted by yourself or analyzed across published information and shared in a report. There is typically a hypothesis, tests, and a conclusion as to what the findings were. In other words, research papers are nothing, but an organized report by a student or an academic which involves researching a topic, taking a stand on said topic, and providing evidence for that position on the topic.

Why Research Papers are Important?

Research papers are an important way of sharing unique findings around a specific question. Writing research papers is considered widely as the primary device for passing knowledge along to those working in your or related fields.

It’s an important method of sharing your findings with instructors, classmates, and others in the industry. Unique important insights in research papers have the ability to change thoughts and actions.

‍ Read more:  How To Write A Case Study (With Template)

What You Should Include in Your Research Paper?

Before drafting your research paper, it’s important you understand the key elements of a research paper. A well-written research paper includes the following elements:

Add an abstract at the start of your research paper that provides a short summary of the most important elements of your paper.

Introduction

Add an introduction to tell your reader what they will be learning from this research paper.

Use various headings and subheadings to organize the sections of your paper.

Subheadings help make sub-points easy to understand for the reader.

Footnotes:  Write any additional notes.

References:  List the source of information on your research and data.

Appendix:  Any additional or supplementary information.

You can also go through the alternative way and  buy college essays  to check out how professionals structure their research papers. Now that you know the key elements to include in your research paper, it’s time to introduce you to an awesome tool that will make writing a research paper, a breeze!

Read more:  Scientific Paper: What is it & How to Write it? (Steps and Format)

Ditch Your Boring and Old Document Editor for Writing Research Papers

Research today is dynamic in nature. We no longer go to the library to study a distinct topic and take notes on a writing pad. Instead, we simply turn on our computers and go online, scan websites, watch videos, study analytics, and manage our research by searching different types of digital content.

In other words, in order to create an awesome research paper that gets the respect it deserves, you need the right tool. This is where Bit comes in.

Read more:  How to create a UX Research Plan Document?

Write Your Research Paper the Smart Way with Bit.ai

Bit.ai is a new-age documentation and knowledge management tool that allows researchers and teams to collaborate, share, track, and manage all knowledge and research in one place.

Bit documents, unlike your standard Word Docs, are interactive .  This means that students and academics can use Bit to create interactive, media-rich research papers easily!

Bit documents come alive and help you share research work beyond just plain boring text. You can add rich media like YouTube videos, Google Docs, One Drive, Excel Spreadsheets, SlideShares, etc. Basically, anything on the internet with a link (i.e. https://example.com) can be shared and Bit will automatically turn it into visual content.

Thus, Bit brings together everything you need to conduct and write a comprehensive research paper under one roof, cutting down your work in half! Bit has a super easy and fun interface, making onboarding new users easier than ever!

Add Excel spreadsheets, PDFs, Google Forms, Gantt charts, social media posts, YouTube videos- basically anything on the internet with a link, and Bit will automatically convert that into live content living inside your proposal!

Recommended power links and files you can add to your research paper:

• PDFs, PowerPoint in Google Drive/OneDrive
• Google Sheets, OneDrive Excel, Airtable
• YouTube, Vimeo
• Social Media posts
• Draw.io & Lucidcharts

Collaboration:  Multiple people can simultaneously collaborate on a Bit smart document in real-time. As research can take up a lot of time and effort, invite colleagues or fellow classmates to help you out and share the content they find in a common workplace.

It’s a wonderful way to conduct research by working simultaneously with your peers and superiors. Thanks to its smart editor, Bit makes the process of documentation and content creation quick and easy.

Content Library:  Bit has a content library that you can use to save the images, files, and digital content you want to your research so that you can access and reuse them easily. This brings all your content and information under a single roof and makes it easy for you to organize the data you need.

Workspaces:  Smart workspaces are created around projects, teams, departments, and clients to keep your research data and information organized. Workspaces make it easy to collaborate and ensure that the right team members have access to the right documents at the right time. They are fluid so your information can move through your organization’s workflows.

Search:  Bit documents also support smart search, which allows anyone to search and find any files, documents, etc. quickly and easily across all of their workspaces. With the ability to effectively label content, users can search their digital assets using keywords, titles, descriptions, or tags. They can even search for files based on their source. (i.e., YouTube).

Manage Permissions:  Bit allows users to manage permissions and information access that suits your organizational needs. It supports features like document tracking, password protection, file access restrictions, etc that help keep your important information safe.

Bit provides a common workplace for researchers to collaborate with peers, share their research and knowledge, brainstorm ideas, store digital assets, and innovate together. The best part is that this knowledge is safely secured in your workspaces and can be shared (or kept private) with anyone in your organization!

Here are some of the main benefits of using Bit:

• Collaborate in real-time
• Interlink research papers and other documents
• Create fully responsive documents
• Create research papers only visible to yourself or your classmates
• Track engagement on shared research papers with classmates, colleagues, instructors, etc.
• Embed your research paper onto any website or blog.

Read More:  How Bit.ai Can Help You Manage Your Academic Research?

• Research Paper Template

To make the process of creating your research paper easier, we have created a ready-made research paper template for you! Check it out below: 

How to use Research Paper Template with Bit

The process of creating a research paper on Bit is insanely easy! Just follow these four simple steps to create a research paper quickly:

Step 1: Create a Bit Account

Go the home page of  Bit.ai  and click on Get Started for Free or Sign Up to get started. Enter your  email address  to sign up. Once in, you can create your personal profile.

Step 2: Create a Workspace

Workspaces are where the work gets done. Click on the  ‘Create Workspace’  button on the right. A popup will show up prompting you to add a name for your new workspace.  

You can create a workspace around a team, department, large project, client, partner, etc. Inside each workspace, you can create an unlimited amount of Bit documents and access your content library (storage area for all of your digital assets – web links, files, cloud files, rich embeds, etc.).

Step 3: Add Team Members

Bit allows your team members to collaborate in real-time and get work done. Collaboration starts at the workspace level.

You create private workspaces by default. However, you can invite others to join you inside of a workspace and collaborate together with the knowledge, projects, documents, and content inside of the workspace.

Step 4: Create Your Desired Document

Once you are in the workspace, click on the ‘ Create New’  button. Select  ‘From Template’  in the dropdown. A pop up will display allowing you to select a template from the gallery.

In the search box on the top left corner, you can search for the “research paper template”. Once your desired template pops up, click on it and click on the  “Use Template ” button on the bottom right corner.

That’s it! Your research paper document is ready for use!

Our team at  bit.ai  has created a few awesome templates to make your research process more efficient. Make sure to check them out before you go, y our team might need them!

• Case Study Template
• Competitor Research Template
• Brainstorming Template
• SWOT Analysis Template
• White Paper Template

🎥Watch this video to learn more👇

Over to you!

Writing a research paper can be overwhelming. Bit makes this long and tiring task easy to manage by allowing users to store all of their research data in one place. With the ability to collaborate with peers and friends, you can quickly take feedback from trusted sources and get work done quickly.

Moreover, using a research paper template can significantly reduce the time and effort required to create such documents. If you need any help with the research paper template or want to know how Bit can help you, let us know by tweeting us @bit_docs. Cheers!

Further reads: 

• How to Write an Insane White Paper that Gets High Engagement
• Collaborative Research: Definition, Benefits & Tips!
• Thesis Statement: Definition, Importance, Steps & Tips!
• Top 11 Tools for Researchers in 2022
• How to Write a Research Proposal?
• How to Create an Agile Product Roadmap?
• How To Create Product Launch Marketing Documentation

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About Bit.ai

Bit.ai is the essential next-gen workplace and document collaboration platform. that helps teams share knowledge by connecting any type of digital content. With this intuitive, cloud-based solution, anyone can work visually and collaborate in real-time while creating internal notes, team projects, knowledge bases, client-facing content, and more.

The smartest online Google Docs and Word alternative, Bit.ai is used in over 100 countries by professionals everywhere, from IT teams creating internal documentation and knowledge bases, to sales and marketing teams sharing client materials and client portals.

👉👉Click Here to Check out Bit.ai.

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Get science-backed answers as you write with Paperpal's Research feature

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Showcase your research with high-quality academic writing

The academic writing revolution is here; with the emergence of new research paper writing tools, content creation has never been easier. Whether your objective is tenure, a research grant, a book deal, or just an improved reputation in your department, a string of high-profile journal articles are the building blocks you need to fast-track your academic career. As a researcher, what better way of communicating your research than by showcasing it in a well-written article that is published in a top journal? However, the process of journal submission and multiple research paper grammar checks to ensure the language is of the highest quality isn’t without its challenges. A global Editage study in 2018 found that nearly half of the authors surveyed faced challenges in preparing a manuscript for journal submission and found peer review to be a daunting process. Paperpal, with its AI-powered tools for researchers, is the key to making this process a simpler, faster one for authors everywhere.

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There’s more to academic writing than simply knowing what to write. But delivering a strong, well-written manuscript is not easy and even ground-breaking research papers risk desk rejection because they are hard to follow or because of avoidable errors like poor grammar, spelling, and punctuation. By the time you finish the first draft, you would have already invested a significant amount of time and effort in communicating your findings accurately. This is then followed by multiple rounds of editing and research paper grammar checks to refine your work for submission, which can delay the publication of possibly time-sensitive results. Although academic writing isn’t easy, scientific writing tools for researchers powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming the experience. Paperpal for Word for instance provides real-time suggestions to improve your grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity and structure, empowering you to enhance and speed up the writing process from the first draft itself.

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It’s not just academic writing, but high-quality English language editing plays a key role in improving your writing style and ensuring clarity. Finding an online tool that acts as a basic spelling, grammar, and sentence corrector is straightforward, but finding thesis writing and scientific editing tools that are tailored for researchers and academic writing is not so easy. There is a need for precise scientific editing, which includes accurate research paper grammar checks, using the right language, understanding and applying the necessary academic writing conventions, and getting the style and structure right. This is where Paperpal can help. In a 2022 University of Cambridge study of seven English editing tools for researchers, Paperpal stood out as the preferred English editing and scientific writing tool for researchers. It suggested a high number of accepted edits, providing alternative words and phrases that were in line with those made by human editors to enhance the language and readability of text. Paperpal was also the simpler tool for researchers to use for editing and research paper grammar checks.

Streamlines journal submissions with comprehensive checks

Imagine if after all the work you put in preparing your manuscript for submission, you’re rejected because it fails the basic technical checks. Being rejected for avoidable snags like a missing conflict of interest statement or ethics statement is not only disappointing, it further delays research publication. Most journals have a core set of submission requirements that need to be followed in order for a manuscript to be considered. But with so many things to check and do, researchers often stumble at this stage. This is where Paperpal for Manuscript, which checks your research paper across key language and technical parameters, is the perfect tool for researchers to check their submission readiness. Upload your ready manuscript and for just $29 you can download a Word file with all the suggestions included in mark-ups or comments. Accept or reject suggestions with a few clicks, and recheck your work unlimited times to create the best version of your manuscript. Premium editing has never been simpler.

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Paperpal for Word is a thesis writing and scientific editing tool for researchers who want to polish their academic writing as they work. The plugin is easy to install and use, making it a great tool for researchers to consistently deliver high-quality academic writing. If you don’t want to commit to the Word add-in, you can explore Paperpal for Web, a robust research paper writing tool that has an in-built grammar checker for scientific writing. All you need to do is write, paste or even upload your academic text into your web browser to get instant suggestions on how to fix your language and grammar. Once you’re ready to submit, take this up a notch with Paperpal for Manuscript. With instant checks for disclosures, figures and/or tables, word counts, references, language, structure, and much more, this secure and trusted academic research tool should be part of every researcher’s pre-submission kit.

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English has long been established as the language of academic publications. And even then, different journals prefer a specific variation, such as British or American English. While this can trip up even native English-speaking researchers, it makes the task of creating a compelling high-quality manuscript for publication even more challenging for those with English as a second language. Paperpal’s AI-powered research paper grammar check and scientific writing tools were built with a vision to democratize scholarly publishing by ensuring your academic writing meets the highest publication standards. Where you are in the world doesn’t matter. We’re part of an academic writing revolution that empowers anyone, anywhere to polish their academic writing skills with access to our precise research paper writing tools for researchers. Paperpal differentiates between British and American English and offers appropriate suggestions in terms of spellings, vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. Moreover, our AI is trained on millions of corrections made by professional editors across 1,300 subject areas, which means you get tailored suggestions to enhance your research writing and boost your chance of publication success.

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Research Tips and Infromation

The Ultimate Guide to Preparing a Perfect Camera-Ready Copy (CRC)

Introduction

What is camera ready copy, formatting the manuscript, checking for errors and inconsistencies, incorporating reviewer feedback, including references and acknowledgements, adhering to any specific publisher or conference guidelines, emphasize the importance of accuracy, clarity, and professionalism, can i reduce or increase the number of pages in the camera-ready copy(crc), can i add or remove a concept in the, camera-ready copy, whether camera-ready copy (crc) is again sent for peer review, is there a difference between camera ready copy and the manuscript, can i include a new co-author in the camera-ready copy (crc), what should i do if i discover an error in my camera-ready copy (crc) after it has been submitted, can i outsource my camera-ready copy to journal itself, can i change figures and tables while submitting camera-ready copy(crc).

Submitting a research paper for publication can be an exciting yet daunting process for academic researchers. One critical aspect of this process is preparing a camera-ready copy (CRC), which is the final version of the manuscript that is ready for publication.

CRCs are expected to adhere to specific formatting and content guidelines and must be free of errors or issues that could detract from the quality of the research. The importance of getting the CRC right cannot be overstated, as even minor mistakes can cause a paper to be rejected or negatively impact its reception by readers.

In this blog post, we will explore what a camera-ready copy is, how to prepare one, and some common questions that researchers may have about the CRC process. We will also discuss the differences between a manuscript and a CRC, and how authors can optimize their papers for publication by following best practices for formatting and content.

By the end of this post, readers will have a better understanding of what it takes to prepare a successful CRC and increase their chances of getting their research published in a top-tier journal or conference.

Camera-ready copy (CRC) refers to the final version of a document or manuscript that is ready to be printed or published. It has been edited, formatted, and reviewed for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with the publisher’s guidelines.

The term “camera ready” originally referred to the use of photographic film to create printing plates, but today it typically means a digital file that can be directly used for printing or online publication.

If you are not comfortable with writing a research manuscript, you can refer to my blog post on Writing an Effective Research Paper with 11 Major Sections .

How to Prepare a Camera-Ready Copy

Preparing a camera-ready copy involves several steps, including formatting the manuscript, checking for errors and inconsistencies, incorporating reviewer feedback, including all necessary elements, and adhering to specific guidelines.

By following best practices and taking care to ensure accuracy and professionalism, authors can increase their chances of having their work accepted and published or printed.

This involves ensuring that the manuscript is formatted according to the guidelines of the publisher or conference organizer. For example, the guidelines may specify font type and size, margin size, spacing, and other formatting elements. Some publishers or organizers may provide a template or style file to help authors ensure that their manuscript meets the required formatting.

This step involves reviewing the manuscript carefully to identify any errors, inconsistencies, or inaccuracies. This can include checking spelling, grammar, punctuation, and factual accuracy. Software tools such as spell checkers, grammar checkers, and plagiarism checkers can be useful in identifying and correcting errors.

I have written a blog post on How Grammarly Can Help You Write Research Articles with Confidence . Please refer this article to understand the benefits of Grammarly tool in handling proofreading and plagiarism check.

If the manuscript has been reviewed by others, such as peer reviewers or editors, it is important to carefully consider and incorporate their feedback. This may involve making revisions to the manuscript, adding or deleting sections, or addressing specific concerns or questions that were raised. I have written a blog post on Expert Tips for Responding to Reviewers’ Comments on Your Research Paper . Please visit the post for getting in dept knowledge of handling reviewer’s comments.

The manuscript should include all necessary elements, such as a title page, abstract, introduction, references, and acknowledgements. These elements may be required by the publisher or conference organizer and should be included in the correct order and format.

It is important to carefully review the guidelines of the publisher or conference organizer to ensure that all requirements are met. For example, some publishers may require that figures and tables be provided in separate files, while others may require that they be included within the manuscript.

Some tips for checking for errors and inconsistencies include reading the manuscript out loud, taking a break between writing and editing, and using multiple software tools to catch errors. Some best practices for incorporating reviewer feedback may include responding to each comment or suggestion, seeking clarification if needed, and being open to constructive criticism.

I have written an article on Importance of Proofreading in Research Paper Writing . This will help you in preparing error free camera ready copy.

Stress the importance of clear writing, correct spelling and grammar, and accurate citations and references. Encourage authors to take the time to review and edit their manuscript carefully, and to seek feedback from others to ensure that the document is of the highest quality possible.

It is generally not recommended to significantly increase or decrease the number of pages in a camera-ready copy (CRC) compared to the original manuscript that was submitted for review. This is because the reviewers and editors have already assessed and approved the content and length of the original manuscript, and significant changes to the length could impact the quality and readability of the final published version.

However, there are some cases where it may be necessary to slightly adjust the length of the camera-ready copy(CRC), for example:

• If the publisher or conference organizer has specific guidelines or page limits that must be adhered to, and the original manuscript exceeded or fell short of these limits.
• If there were specific changes made during the editing or review process that impacted the length of the manuscript, such as the addition or removal of entire sections or paragraphs.

In these cases, it is important to carefully review the content and make necessary adjustments to ensure that the overall quality and readability of the manuscript is not compromised.

For example, let’s say a research paper was originally submitted at 10 pages and was accepted with minor revisions, which included the addition of a few paragraphs of text. The revised manuscript ended up being 12 pages, which is over the page limit for the conference proceedings.

In this case, the author may need to carefully review the manuscript to see if there are any sections that can be shortened or if there is unnecessary or redundant information that can be removed. By doing so, the author may be able to reduce the length of the CRC to 10-11 pages while still maintaining the quality and coherence of the paper.

Similarly, let’s say another research paper was originally submitted at 8 pages and was accepted with major revisions, which included the addition of a new section and an expansion of the conclusion. The revised manuscript ended up being 10 pages, which is under the page limit for the conference proceedings.

In this case, the author may need to carefully review the manuscript to see if there are any other areas where more information can be added, without compromising the quality of the paper. By doing so, the author may be able to expand the length of the CRC to 9-10 pages, which could improve the overall depth and impact of the paper.

In general, it is not recommended to add or remove major concepts in the camera-ready copy (CRC) of a research paper compared to the original manuscript that was submitted for review.

This is because the CRC should reflect the final, polished version of the paper that has been approved for publication, and any significant changes to the content or focus of the paper could impact its overall quality and coherence.

For example, let’s say a researcher submits a manuscript on the topic of “The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity” for review. During the review process, the reviewers suggest that the researcher add a new section on the impact of climate change on wetlands.

While it may be tempting to include this new section in the CRC, it is important to consider whether this new section fits into the overall flow and focus of the paper. If the new section significantly changes the scope or focus of the paper, it may be better to save this material for a future publication, rather than include it in the CRC.

However, there may be cases where minor adjustments or clarifications are needed in the CRC to improve the clarity or accuracy of the paper. For example:

• If a reviewer or editor has provided feedback that suggests a section of the paper needs to be rephrased or reorganized for better flow or clarity, it may be appropriate to make these adjustments in the CRC. For example, if a reviewer suggests that a particular paragraph is confusing or unclear, the author may want to revise that paragraph in the CRC to make it more clear and more concise.
• If there are small errors or typos in the original manuscript that were missed during the review process, it is important to correct them in the CRC to ensure the final published version is accurate. For example, if a reviewer points out a misspelling or grammatical error, the author should make sure to correct that error in the CRC before submitting it for publication.
• If there are minor points or details that were inadvertently left out of the original manuscript, it may be appropriate to add them to the CRC. For example, if a reviewer suggests that the author add a citation for a particular study or data source that was not included in the original manuscript, the author may want to add that citation to the CRC to ensure the paper is as accurate and complete as possible.

In any case, it is important to carefully review the original manuscript and the feedback from the reviewers and editors to determine if any changes to the content or concepts are necessary. It is also a good idea to seek feedback from colleagues or mentors to ensure that any changes made to the CRC do not compromise the overall quality or coherence of the paper.

In general, the camera-ready copy (CRC) of a research paper is not typically sent for peer review again. This is because the CRC represents the final version of the paper that has been accepted for publication after any necessary revisions have been made based on feedback from the peer review process.

Instead, the CRC is typically reviewed by the editorial staff of the journal or conference proceedings in which the paper will be published. This review is primarily focused on ensuring that the CRC meets the formatting and style requirements of the publication, as well as verifying that any necessary permissions and disclosures have been included in the paper.

However, it is worth noting that some publications may have specific requirements or procedures for the review of the CRC. For example, some journals may require authors to submit a copy of the final, revised manuscript for a final review by the reviewers or editor before publication. Additionally, some conferences or workshops may require authors to present their papers in person for a final round of review by attendees or moderators.

In any case, it is important for authors to carefully review the guidelines and requirements of the publication or conference in which they are submitting their paper, to ensure that they are following the correct procedures and submitting the correct version of their paper. If in doubt, authors should feel free to contact the editorial staff or program committee for clarification or guidance on the submission process.

There is a difference between the camera-ready copy (CRC) and the manuscript of a research paper. The manuscript is the initial version of the paper that is submitted for peer review, while the CRC is the final version of the paper that has been accepted for publication, after any necessary revisions have been made based on feedback from the peer review process.

The manuscript typically contains the full text of the paper, including any figures, tables, and references, but may not be formatted according to the guidelines of the target journal or conference. Manuscripts are generally submitted as Word or PDF documents, with separate files for figures and tables.

Once the manuscript has been accepted for publication, the authors are typically asked to prepare a CRC that meets the formatting and style requirements of the target publication. This may involve reformatting the text, figures, and tables to fit the journal or conference’s specific style, as well as addressing any minor issues identified by the reviewers or editor.

The CRC should be a final version of the paper that is free from any major errors or issues, and is ready to be published. It is typically submitted as a PDF file that includes all elements of the paper, including the text, figures, tables, and references, in their final form.

For example, if a researcher submits a manuscript to a journal and receives feedback from peer reviewers that suggests some changes to the formatting or text, they would make those revisions and submit a CRC that reflects those changes. The CRC should be a polished and error-free version of the paper that is ready for publication.

Here is a table that summarizes the differences between the manuscript and the camera-ready copy (CRC) of a research paper, along with examples:

Adding a new co-author to a camera-ready copy (CRC) of a research paper after it has been accepted for publication can be a complex issue. In most cases, it is not recommended to add a new co-author to a CRC, as the process of peer review and revisions has already been completed, and any substantial changes to the content or authorship of the paper may need to be reviewed again.

If a new co-author needs to be added to the paper, it is important to discuss this with the journal or conference editor as soon as possible to determine the best course of action. The editor may require that the new co-author’s contribution to the paper be substantial enough to warrant inclusion, or they may recommend that the paper be resubmitted with a new title and abstract to reflect the changes in authorship.

In general, it is best to ensure that all authors are included in the submission process from the outset and that any changes to authorship are discussed and agreed upon by all authors before the paper is accepted for publication. This can help to avoid any issues that may arise from making changes to the authorship of a paper after it has already been accepted.

If you discover an error in your camera-ready copy (CRC) of a research paper after it has been submitted, it is important to act quickly to rectify the situation. Here are some steps you can take:

• Contact the journal or conference editor: If you notice an error in your CRC, contact the editor as soon as possible to let them know about the issue. Explain the error and ask if it is possible to make corrections to the CRC before publication.
• Provide corrected material: If the editor agrees to accept the corrections, provide them with the corrected material as soon as possible. This may involve making changes to the manuscript, figures, or tables.
• F ollow the publisher’s guidelines: Ensure that any corrections you make to the CRC are consistent with the publisher’s guidelines for formatting, style, and content.
• Proofread the CRC again: Before submitting the corrected CRC, proofread it carefully to ensure that there are no further errors or mistakes.
• Communicate with co-authors: If you have co-authors, keep them informed about any changes to the CRC and ensure that they are in agreement with the changes.
• Be aware of any deadlines: If the publisher has a deadline for submitting the CRC, make sure that you meet this deadline.

It is important to remember that errors in a CRC can cause delays in publication, so it is important to take steps to avoid them. Carefully proofreading and reviewing the CRC before submission can help to prevent errors from occurring in the first place.

In some cases, a journal or conference may offer CRC preparation services to authors for an additional fee. However, this is not always the case, and authors are usually responsible for preparing and submitting their own CRCs.

It is important to note that if a journal or conference does offer CRC preparation services, there may be limitations to what they can do. For example, they may only be able to make minor changes to formatting or address issues related to typesetting. They may not be able to make substantive changes to the content of the paper.

If a journal or conference does offer CRC preparation services, it is important to carefully review their policies and procedures, as well as any fees associated with the service. You should also be aware of any deadlines for submitting the CRC, as well as the publisher’s requirements for formatting and content.

In general, it is recommended that authors prepare their own CRCs to ensure that they meet the publisher’s requirements and that the content is accurately represented. However, if you are not confident in your ability to prepare a CRC, outsourcing the task to a professional editor or the publisher may be a good option.

It is generally not recommended to make major changes to figures and tables in a camera-ready copy (CRC) after a paper has been accepted for publication, as this can cause formatting issues and delays in the publication process. However, if changes to the figures and tables are necessary, it is important to follow the publisher’s guidelines for making these changes.

If you need to make changes to figures or tables in your CRC, here are some general guidelines to follow:

• Notify the editor: Before making any changes to figures or tables, it is important to notify the editor and obtain their approval. The editor can advise you on whether the changes are permissible and how to make them.
• Make changes carefully: If the editor approves the changes, make them carefully and accurately, taking care to ensure that the formatting and layout of the figure or table remain consistent with the rest of the CRC.
• Check for errors: Once you have made the changes, carefully check the figures and tables to ensure that there are no errors or mistakes. This may involve checking for typographical errors, ensuring that the data is correct, and ensuring that the formatting is consistent.
• Update the caption and citation: If you make changes to a figure or table, be sure to update the caption and citation to reflect the changes.

It is important to note that making major changes to figures and tables in a CRC can be time-consuming and may require significant effort on the part of the author. As such, it is important to carefully consider whether changes are necessary and to seek guidance from the editor if necessary.

A camera-ready copy (CRC) is an essential element of the publishing process for academic researchers, and its importance should not be overlooked. By following the guidelines provided by the journal or conference organizers, authors can ensure that their CRC is formatted correctly and contains all necessary components for publication.

Through careful attention to detail and a thorough review process, authors can increase their chances of acceptance and maximize the impact of their research. Moreover, understanding the differences between a manuscript and a CRC can help authors prepare more effectively for submission, ensuring that their work meets the highest standards of quality and presentation.

By following the tips and best practices discussed in this article, authors can feel confident in their ability to prepare a successful CRC and advance their research agenda.

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Consumption of ready-made meals and increased risk of obesity: findings from the Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg (ORISCAV-LUX) study

Ala'a alkerwi.

1 Centre de Recherche Public Santé, Centre d'Etudes en Santé, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, 1A rue Thomas Edison, L-1445, Strassen, Luxembourg

Georgina E. Crichton

2 Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

James R. Hébert

3 Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

4 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

The consumption of ready-made meals, such as pre-packaged dishes, available at grocery stores and fast-food restaurants, is a habit related to our modern fast-paced lives. No study has examined the association of daily ready-made meal consumption with diet quality or health-related outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the association between self-reported ready-made meal consumption and diet quality, as measured by compliance with dietary recommendations and with a set of adiposity measures, in a nationally representative sample of 1352 subjects, aged 18–69 years, participating in the nationwide population-based ORISCAV-LUX (Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg) survey. The daily consumption of ready-made meals was calculated as follows: frequency of consumption × portion size × number of portions consumed. The sum of the daily consumption values of the eleven pre-packaged dishes included in the FFQ represented the total daily consumption of ready-made meals (g/d) for each participant. About 97 % of the participants reported daily consumption of ready-made meals. The intake was highly prevalent in men living alone and varied according to education level. Ready-made meal consumption provided >7 % of total daily energy. The fractions (%) of macro- and micronutrients derived from daily consumption of ready-made meals varied from 10 % for total cholesterol to 0·65 % for total fibre. Increased consumption of ready-made meals was found to be independently associated with abdominal obesity. On controlling for age, sex, socio-economic status and lifestyle factors, daily consumption of ready-made meals was found to be associated with higher energy intake and with poor compliance with national nutritional recommendations, and hence it could plausibly increase the risk of central obesity and fat deposition.

Obesity has become a worldwide public health epidemic, associated with numerous health problems including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke ( 1 ) . The substantial costs associated with the prevention and treatment of these conditions are taking a heavy toll on healthcare systems around the world, including Luxembourg, where 21 % of the population is obese ( 2 ) . Current research reveals that several environmental factors could be fuelling the obesity epidemic; diet quality is coming to the fore as a major modifiable factor.

In our modern fast-paced lives, less time is dedicated to the preparation of meals. Consequently, the consumption of ready-made meals, such as ready-to-heat pre-packaged dishes available at grocery stores and fast-food restaurant items, has increased ( 3 ) . These foods represent a quick and easy alternative to home-prepared meals, as they are sold in a partly or completely cooked form and are ready to eat within minutes. Before reaching the consumer, ready-made meals already undergo some form of processing to ensure food safety or hygiene or to enhance palatability, texture or flavour. Processing may involve the addition of other foods or ingredients, such as preservatives, as well as heating, cooling or pressure-cooking. The distinction from raw or unprocessed foods or meals prepared at home is that the consumer cannot control the nutritional quality of the basic ingredients or the amount of added sugars or fats used in these dishes.

This shift in dietary habits towards increasing consumption of ready-made meals is concomitant with the rise in the prevalence of obesity ( 1 , 3 ) . The consumption of fast foods or meals outside the home has consistently been linked to the consumption of more energy and saturated fat and fewer fruits and vegetables ( 4 – 6 ) . For several years, researchers have focused on rising fast-food consumption as a key contributor of weight gain among adults ( 7 – 9 ) and childhood obesity ( 10 ) . A positive association between eating out of home and weight gain has been confirmed by two systematic reviews ( 5 , 9 ) .

Moreover, high consumption of pre-prepared or pre-packaged dishes (hereafter referred to as ready-made meals) could be problematic. These ready-made meals can be consumed at fast-food restaurants or purchased and then eaten at home. Poti & Popkin ( 11 ) reported that food sources including both fast foods and store-prepared foods significantly affect the daily energy intake of American children and hence their body weight. These findings are consistent with our hypothesis that the emergent patterns of eating ready-made meals, whether at home or at fast-food eateries, have an impact on body weight control and, consequently, present a new challenge threatening the nutritional quality of the consumer's diet. So far, it is unknown whether high consumption of ready-made meals, as measured in g/d, is independently associated with weight status among adults or the quality of their diet. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between self-reported ready-made meal consumption and diet quality, as measured by compliance with dietary recommendations and with a set of adiposity measures, in a nationally representative sample of adult residents of Luxembourg.

Study population

The Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg (ORISCAV-LUX) is a cross-sectional, population-based survey of cardiovascular risk factors in the adult population of Luxembourg ( 2 ) . A systematic random sample of 1432 subjects selected from the national health insurance registry, according to age, sex and district, participated in the survey. The distribution of selected subjects in each stratum was proportional to their distribution in the source population. The participants visited the nearest study centre after telephone appointment. During the interview, the trained research staff provided the participants with information on the study objectives, gave detailed instructions on how to complete the FFQ, helped them complete questionnaires related to dietary information, and then checked the correctness of the answered questionnaires. Further information regarding demographic, socio-economic and lifestyle factors was collected as well as direct blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were taken. More details of the ORISCAV-LUX study design, data collection methods, sample selection and representativeness have been reported previously ( 2 , 12 ) . For the present study, a set of 1352 subjects was available after eliminating those with missing data on dietary habits or adiposity.

Assessment of dietary intake

Dietary intake was assessed over the previous 3 months, using a semi-quantitative FFQ, which was validated against nutritional biomarkers ( 13 ) , and a 3 d dietary record ( 14 ) . The FFQ comprised 134 items, categorised into nine major food groups: grains; fruits; vegetables; meat–poultry–fish–eggs; dairy products; fats; beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic); ready-made meals; miscellaneous items (online supplementary Table S1). The participants reported the frequency of consumption of each food or beverage from six levels, ranging from ‘rarely or never’ (i.e. less than once per month) to ‘two or more times per day’. Nutrient intakes were calculated by multiplying the consumption frequency of each food by the nutrient content of the specified portions. Nutrient intake values were obtained from the French SUpplémentation en VItamines et Minéraux Anti-oXydants (SU.VI.MAX) Food Composition Database ( 15 ) .

Assessment of ready-made meal consumption

The FFQ was designed to include ‘ready-made meals’ as an individual food group. The term ‘ready-made meals’ refers to dishes prepared away from home and pre-packaged in a disposable serving tray, which needs only heating before serving. The research nurse clearly explained to the participants that this food group indicates the mixed pre-prepared dishes, processed by food manufacturers or by caterers, such as burger outlets. These foods were ready-to-heat meals typically purchased from food-service establishments, grocery stores or supermarkets (in the form of frozen, partially or completely cooked pre-packaged meals). A total of eleven individual dishes were included within this food category, including typical ‘fast foods’ as well as a number of prepared dishes representing different cuisine specialties. The eleven included foods were hamburgers, pizza, paella, stuffed pasta (ravioli, lasagne), quiche/savoury tart, prepared dishes with cod (bacalhõ/Portuguese specialty), cabbage with sausages (sauerkraut/German specialty), smoked pork with beans (local Luxembourg specialty), spring rolls (Indonesian specialty), cheese crepes and Reisling pâté (kind of pasta/local Luxembourg specialty), spring rolls (Indonesian specialty) and cheese crepes.

The daily consumption value for every item (prepared dish) was calculated as follows: frequency of consumption (times/d) × portion size (g) × number of portions consumed. The sum of the daily consumption values of the eleven items represented the total daily consumption of ready-made meals (g/d) for each participant.

Measurement of anthropometric and obesity parameters

All clinical procedures were performed in accordance with the ORISCAV-LUX standardised operating protocol. Body weight was measured using a digital column scale (Seca ® 701; Seca), recorded to the nearest 0·1 kg, with the participants in barefoot and wearing light clothing. Standing body height was recorded to the nearest 0·2 cm with a portable wall stadiometer (Seca). Waist circumference (WC, cm) was measured at the level midway between the twelfth rib and the uppermost lateral border of the iliac crest during normal expiration. WC was measured to the nearest 0·2 cm in standing position, using a flexible, non-distensible tape without exertion of pressure on the tissues.

BMI was calculated as weight in kg divided by height in m 2 . Global obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2( 16 ) , while abdominal obesity was defined as WC ≥ 102 cm for men and WC ≥ 88 cm for women ( 17 ) . Body surface area (BSA) was calculated according to the Mosteller formula ( 18 ) :

The BSA was considered ‘normal’ if the mean value was ≤ 1·91 m 2 for men and ≤ 1·71 m 2 for women ( 19 ) .

Assessment of covariates

Information on socio-economic (education level, income and marital status) and lifestyle (smoking status and physical activity) factors was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Education level, based on the highest diploma obtained, was classified into three categories: highest ‘tertiary level’, equivalent to university or higher qualification; ‘secondary level’, equivalent to classical or technical qualification; ‘primary level’, corresponding to non-academic qualification, but at least first 9 years of mandatory schooling. Income was classified into ‘living above’ or ‘below’ the poverty threshold. Marital status was categorised as ‘live alone’ or ‘live with partner’. Physical activity during the last 7 d before the interview was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, which categorised the population into three groups: ‘physically inactive’; ‘moderately active’; ‘active’ ( 20 ) . The participants were classified as ‘smokers’ or ‘non-smokers’ based on their smoking status. Further details regarding the collection of information on these variables have been published elsewhere ( 21 ) .

The total daily intakes of the eight other food groups in the FFQ, i.e. grains (g/d), fruits (g/d), vegetables (g/d), added fats (g/d), meat–poultry–fish–eggs (g/d), dairy products (servings/d), alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (g/d), and miscellaneous items (g/d), as well as total energy intake (Kcal/d), were calculated (online supplementary Table S1).

Ethical aspects

The present study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki, and all procedures involving human subjects were approved by the National Research Ethics Committee and the National Commission for Private Data Protection. Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants.

Statistical analyses

The characteristics of participants by daily consumption of ready-made meals (in two categories: above and below the median) were compared using the χ 2 test. ANOVA was used to assess differences in the mean and standard deviation for a set of dietary continuous variables according to daily consumption of ready-made meals. The χ 2 and binary logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine the association between consumption of ready-made meals and meeting the national dietary recommendations.

Several multivariable logistic regression models were fit to investigate the association of ready-made meal consumption with obesity, as measured by three indicators (BMI, WC and BSA). Model 1 was adjusted for age, sex and socio-economic factors (education level, income and marital status). Model 2 was further adjusted to include lifestyle factors (physical activity and smoking status). Model 3 also included additional dietary factors that could confound associations or serve as mechanisms linking ready-made meal consumption to weight gain, including daily intakes of grains, fruits and vegetables, meat–poultry–fish–eggs, dairy products, added fats, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and miscellaneous items and total energy intake. This series of models allows for exploring the individual and combined impacts of these potential mediators (socio-economic status, physical activity and dietary factors) on the association between obesity and ready-made meal consumption.

A fourth model was fit for BSA, with additional controlling for height. The robustness of the results of the present study was established by performing two sensitivity analyses: one conducted after excluding the outliers (eight cases, constituting 0·6 % of the sample who were consuming >400 g/d of ready-made meals) and the other conducted to test sex and age interactions with ready-made meal consumption.

Results were considered significant at a two-tailed type 1 (i.e. α) error rate of 5 % ( P < 0·05). All statistical analyses were performed using PASW ® for Windows ® version 18.0 software (formerly SPSS Statistics, Inc.)

Characteristics of the participants according to daily consumption of ready-made meals

As the intake was skewed, the median value (70 g/d) was more accurate and meaningful than the mean (92 g/d). Low consumers had intakes < 70 g/d. High consumers had intakes ≥ 70 g/d, up to a maximum of 572 g/d.

Compared with low consumers, high consumers were more likely to be males (60 %) and living alone (32·5 %). The daily consumption of ready-made meals varied considerably according to education level ( P = 0·024), but not according to smoking status or physical activity ( Table 1 ).

Characteristics of the study participants according to daily consumption of ready-made meals, ORISCAV-LUX (Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg) survey, 2007–8 (Number of participants and percentages; mean values with their standard errors, n 1352)

Ready-made meal consumption and other dietary variables

Compared with low consumers, high consumers had significantly higher mean intakes of total energy, grains, meat–poultry–fish–eggs, alcoholic drinks and miscellaneous items. Lower intakes of fruits and vegetables were also observed among high consumers, although this association was not statistically significant. For each 1 g/d of ready-made meal consumption, there was an increase of 23·0 kJ/d (5·5 kcal/d) in energy intake, after controlling for age, sex, socio-economic status and lifestyle factors ( Table 2 ).

Description and multivariable regression estimates of dietary variables with regard to daily consumption of ready-made meals, ORISCAV-LUX (Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg) survey, 2007–8 (Mean values with their standard errors)

Across the entire sample, >7 % of total daily energy intake was derived from ready-made meals. The fractions (%) of macronutrients derived from daily consumption of ready-made meals ranged from 0·65 % for total fibre to 10 % for total cholesterol ( Table 3 ).

Fractions of macronutrients derived from daily consumption of ready-made meals *

Ready-made meal consumption and dietary recommendations

Generally, the compliance with national nutrient-based recommendations was remarkably lower in participants who consumed >70 g/d of ready-made meals (high consumers) than in those with lower intakes. Higher consumers of ready-made meals had significantly less chance of being compliers of recommendations, with regard to most of the nutrients (including carbohydrates, total fat and SFA). With respect to food-based recommendations, high consumers of ready-made meals were significantly less likely to achieve the fruit and vegetable intake goals compared with the low consumers (55·4 v. 60·8 %, respectively; P = 0·03). A similar finding was recorded for the goal of eating meat–poultry–fish–eggs 1–2 times/d (46·8 v. 55·2 %; P = 0·001). These findings remained significant after controlling for age, sex, socio-economic status and lifestyle factors, except for fruit and vegetable intake, where the association became non-significant ( Table 4 ).

Association between meeting nutrient-based and food-based recommendations and daily consumption of ready-made meals, ORISCAV-LUX (Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg) survey, 2007–8 (Number of participants and percentages; multivariable-adjusted odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals)

%E, percentage of total daily energy intake.

Multivariable modelling of global and abdominal obesity

Controlling for demographic, socio-economic, and lifestyle factors and dietary variables, three successive models were fit to assess the association of ready-made meal consumption with obesity ( Table 5 ). Higher daily consumption of ready-made meals was significantly associated with abdominal obesity, as measured by WC, after full adjustment for all potential confounding factors, including age, sex, and socio-economic, behavioural and dietary factors. However, no significant independent association was detected between ready-made meal consumption and global obesity, as measured by BMI. Although higher BSA was associated with high consumption of ready-made meals, this association became statistically non-significant after further controlling for height.

Association of abdominal obesity, global obesity and body surface area with daily consumption of ready-made meals based on data from 1352 subjects from the ORISCAV-LUX (Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg) survey (Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals) *

Sensitivity analyses

Exclusion of the outliers (eight cases, constituting 0·6 % of the sample who were consuming >400 g/d of ready-made meals) did not alter the findings. There were no sex and age interactions with ready-made meal consumption.

Over recent years, there have been major alterations in dietary habits, with growing transition from home-made to eaten-out foods and pre-prepared meals (including ‘heat-and-eat’ foods, fast foods or takeaways) ( 22 ) . This shift has been concomitant with the current obesity epidemic, raising the possibility that these two trends are causally related. Although fast foods ( 7 , 23 , 24 ) and takeaways ( 22 , 25 , 26 ) have been particularly and consistently targeted as major contributors of weight gain and metabolic disorders, the associations between consumption of ready-to-eat pre-packaged dishes and diet quality and anthropometric measures have not been considered previously. A recent American study ( 23 ) , focused on children and young adolescents, has found that fast-food consumption is simply a by-product of a much bigger problem, related to the unhealthful Western dietary pattern and poor overall dietary habits that originate in children's homes. Furthermore, foods prepared away from home, including fast foods and store-prepared foods eaten away from home, are fuelling the increase in total energy intake ( 11 ) . These conclusions are largely consistent with our findings. A positive association between ready-made meal consumption and central obesity, a major indicator of body fat deposition, was recorded in the ORISCAV-LUX survey. The observed difference appeared to be largely independent of other potentially confounding lifestyle and dietary factors, including the intakes of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, fruits and vegetables, added fats, grains, meats and dairy products.

BSA can provide useful information about deposits of fat in a patient's body and may provide a more accurate picture than BMI ( 27 ) . This measure is popular among medical practitioners for its ease of use and accurate results in clinical settings ( 27 ) . As it is less affected by abnormal adipose mass, BSA is a better indicator of metabolic mass ( 28 ) . Unlike BMI, which is intended to provide an estimate of relative weight independent of height, BSA is, by its very definition, height dependent. Therefore, it is important to note that after controlling for height, the association of high BSA with ready-made meal consumption became statistically non-significant. Clearly, height explains a significant portion of the variance in BSA. One possible explanation is that taller people are more likely to eat ready-made meals.

The accumulation of fat around the waist increases the risk of premature mortality from cancer or heart disease ( 29 ) . The distribution of body fat, particularly abdominal fat, is an important risk factor for obesity-related diseases. The expensive radiological imaging techniques required for precise measurement of abdominal fat content often lead the researcher to use WC as a surrogate marker of abdominal fat mass ( 30 ) . WC is correlated with abdominal fat mass (subcutaneous and intra-abdominal) ( 31 ) and is associated with cardiometabolic disease risk ( 32 ) .

The consumption of ready-made meals is a specific dietary behaviour that can affect nutrient intakes and thereby diet quality. Approximately 97 % of the survey participants reported daily consumption of ready-made meals, indicating that these prepared foods have become an important part of people's diets. The consumption of ready-made meals can be linked to adverse health outcomes, particularly to metabolic obesity, through plausible mechanisms ( 33 , 34 ) . One component of pre-packaged dishes that might lead to weight gain is the use of unhealthy nutrients such as hydrogenated oils, SFA, salt, refined starchy foods and food additives to preserve flavour or enhance the taste and appearance. It is assumed that consumers of foods prepared away from home may be less knowledgeable about the energy content of foods. In addition, preparing and cooking meals at home may ensure greater control over the nutritional content and the overall quality of the food eaten.

In agreement with the results of previous studies focusing on fast foods ( 23 , 24 , 35 ) , in the present study, ready-made meal consumption was found to contribute to excess energy intake and poor nutritional quality of the diet, in terms of excessive amounts of fat and low levels of dietary fibre. Our findings are generally in accordance with those of other cross-sectional and prospective studies on the association between fast-food consumption and body weight ( 36 – 38 ) .

Most of the previous studies have used measures that reflect the consumption of ‘fast foods’ or ‘takeaway foods’, focusing mainly on the place of eating/purchasing ( 36 ) , geographical availability of takeaway foods ( 22 ) , and frequenting fast-food restaurants ( 6 ) . The present study is original in filling a gap related to ready-made meal consumption, thus enhancing the field of diet–obesity research by addressing new issues. Namely, we considered pre-cooked, ready-to-eat foods based on their contents, irrespective of whether consumed at home or away from home, as numerous other studies have suggested that the location where foods are obtained may not be as important as the nutritional quality of the food consumed ( 23 ) . Our definition encompassed several local and international specialties, thus providing the participants more opportunities to select accurate answers. We are not aware of any population-based study reporting an association between diet quality, obesity measures and ready-made meals, as referred to by this definition.

The present study has additional strengths. The analyses were based on a nationwide population-based dataset, collected according to standard subject selection and data collection protocols. The anthropometric parameters (outcome variables) were directly measured by trained research nurses. Detailed measurements of dietary habits were available for the analyses, leading to the possibility of extending the multivariable models to include dietary covariates and hence controlling for important additional confounders ( 23 ) of the associations under investigation.

The limitations of the present study are mainly related to its cross-sectional nature, which precludes drawing conclusions about causal relationships, and the reliance on self-reported data for dietary and other lifestyle factors. As the present study focused on ‘ready-made meals’, as a predefined category in the FFQ, non-inclusion of ‘ready-to-eat’ foods, such as chicken nuggets, fish and chips, French fries, soups, entrée salads, and the many varieties of frozen dinners, would be a limitation.

From a public health standpoint, the food industry should provide healthy choices of low-energy ready-made meals, thus giving consumers more opportunities to make better choices. In parallel, efforts should be made to increase public awareness of how to read and understand food labels and to encourage restaurants to provide systematic nutritional information lists with their menus.

In conclusion, the consumption of ready-made meals is independently associated with increased abdominal obesity in adults, an indicator of central fat deposition, and the ready-made meal consumers are less likely to achieve the nutritional recommendations. In view of the high rates of both ready-made meal consumption and obesity, further follow-up data and intervention-based trials are required to fight against obesity and associated metabolic risk.

Supplementary material

To view supplementary material for this article, please visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114514003468

Acknowledgements

A. A. was supported by a research grant from the National Fund of Research (Fond National de Recherche; project DIQUA-LUX, 5870404). J. R. H. was supported by an Established Investigator Award in Cancer Prevention and Control from the Cancer Training Branch of the National Cancer Institute (K05 CA136975). These funders had no role in the design and analysis of the study or in the writing of this article.

The authors’ contributions are as follows: A. A. was involved in the conception and design of the ORISCAV-LUX survey, coordinated the field data collection process, conceived the present study, performed the statistical analyses and drafted the manuscript; G. E. C. contributed to the critical revision of the manuscript; J. R. H. provided expertise and oversight on the intellectual content. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

None of the authors has any conflicts of interest to declare.

Abbreviations: BSA, body surface area; ORISCAV-LUX, Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg; WC, waist circumference

More From Forbes

5 tips to enhance your research paper’s visibility and altmetric score.

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I previously wrote about the importance of attracting public attention to scientific research . In today’s world, where billions of people are attached to their digital devices watching the very addictive but often useless TikTok content or receiving instant gratification by engaging in meaningless debates about celebrities, scientists need to find creative ways to have their research noticed. Popularizing scientific research helps inspire the younger generations to go into science and provide the general public with a sense of optimism enabling the government to channel more resources into science. People do need inspiration. But very often, even very important scientific breakthroughs requiring many years, hard work, skill, funding, and genuine serendipity go largely unnoticed by the general public.

One of the best ways to measure expert and public attention is the cumulative Altmetric Attention Score , originally developed by Digital Science and adopted by many prestigious publishers, including Nature Publishing Group. Every Nature paper and the papers published by pretty much every credible publisher are tracked by Digital Science by the Document Object Identification (DOI) or the Unique Resource Locator (URL) . While Altmetric has many limitations, for example, it does not track LinkedIn posts and may not adequately cover the impact of top-tier media coverage, at the moment it is the blueprint for tracking attention.

Altmetric Score in The Age of Generative AI

Media attention is likely to be very important in the age of generative AI. Many modern generative systems, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Mistral, and Gemini, as well as hundreds of Large Language Models (LLMs) in China, use the data from the same sources referenced in Altmetric to learn. The more times generative systems see the same concept presented in different contexts, the better they learn. So if you want to contribute to the training of AI systems that may thank you for it in the future - Altmetric is the way to go.

So what can a research group do to ensure they are communicating their findings effectively and increasing the visibility of their research to ensure it gets reflected in the Altmetric Attention Score?

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Altmetric openly discloses the weights of the various sources and the scoring algorithm is relatively straightforward. It is easy to learn, and there are multiple online resources providing advice on how to share your research in ways that will be captured by Altmetric. Cambridge University Press published a guideline to Altmetric for the authors on how to popularize their research with Altmetric in mind. Wolters Kluwer put out a guide and the editor of Toxicology and Pathology wrote a comprehensive overview of Altmetric and how to use it. Surprisingly, this overview got an Altmetric Attention Score of only 4 at the time of the writing, but was cited 137 times according to Google Scholar .

Altmetric monitors social networks, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Reddit; all major top-tier mainstream media, mainstream science blogs, policy documents, patents, Wikipedia articles, peer review websites, F1000, Syllabi, X (formerly Twitter), tracked Facebook pages, Reddit, one of the Stack Exchange sites, and Youtube. Unfortunately, several powerful platforms, including LinkedIn, are not currently tracked.

The popularity of the paper depends on many factors. Firstly, it has to be novel, trendy, and newsworthy. You are unlikely to get high Altmetric Score with a boring topic. Secondly, papers coming out of popular labs in top-tier academic institutions and in top journals are likely to attract more attention. Often, the communications officers in these academic institutions work closely with the media to amplify notable research. Celebrity companies, for example, Google DeepMind, consistently get higher coverage.

Screenshot of the Altmetric Attention Score "Flower" showing several tracked sources

Here are the five tips for increasing the visibility of your work and ensuring that reach is tracked and reflected by Altmetric:

1. Understand How Altmetric System Works

Congratulations, if you read this article and looked at what sources are tracked by Altmetric. Most likely, you got the basics and will be able to get a “balanced flower” by making a press release, tweeting the DOI of the paper on X, posting a video overview of your paper on Youtube, announcing on Reddit (I still need to learn how to do this).

To understand how Altmetric works, I emailed a few questions to Miguel Garcia, Director of Product and Data Analytics Hub at Digital Science and my first question was wether the Altmetric algorithm is open source. “The Altmetric Attention Score's calculation is not open source but we try to provide as much information as possible around how we calculate it here, and are currently considering what steps we might take to make our algorithms more transparent.” He also provided a link to how the Altmetric Attention Score is calculated.

Many professionals use LinkedIn as the primary social media resource and I was wondering why Altmetric stopped tracking it. Bad news - technical reasons prevent tracking DOIs on LinkedIn. Good news - they are actively seeking ways to appropriately track mentions on LinkedIn and we may see some news toward the end of the year.

My other big question was how does Altmetric count tweets and retweets on X. What if there are many posts from the same account? Miguel’s response was: “Re-tweets count less than original tweets. In addition to that, modifiers are applied to the type of account that is tweeting in order to reduce the weight of the tweet in situations where we find signals of bias or promiscuity (for example a journal publisher only tweeting their own articles). Besides that, we have conditions around the maximum number of retweets in order to limit the maximum impact they would have.”

So tweeting the article many times will not help you. But if other scientists tweet you paper with a DOI - these tweets will get counted. So tweet others as you would like to be tweeted.

2. Make a Press Release and Distribute to Science-focused Media

If your paper is significant, for example, you elucidated novel disease biology, discovered a new drug, developed a new fancy algorithm, designed a new material, or developed a new application for a quantum computer, it is worthwhile investing some time and resources in writing a press release. If you are working for an academic institution, most likely they have a communications office that will help you. If you do not have this luxury, you will need to learn how to write a press release. Plenty of free online guides cover the basics of press release writing. And press releases are one area where ChatGPT and other generative tools do surprisingly well. Upload your paper and ask it to write a press release, check for errors or exaggerations, edit, and you are ready to go. Just make sure to include the DOI and the URL of your paper. A proper business press release on BusinessWire or PRNewswire may cost several thousand dollars. In my opinion, these resources are dramatically overcharging while providing little service. I don't remember a case where a journalist picked up our news based on a commercial press release. But these releases are often reposted by other online press release distributors and the boost to Altmetric may be considerable. The default news release distribution service for research news is EurekAlert. This resource may sometimes result in journalistic coverage as many reporters are using it for science news. There are many free resources you can use if you do not have any budget.

Once the press release is issued, share it with the media. Share the resulting news coverage via your social networks and contacts. Many journalists track the popularity of their news articles and giving them several thousand extra views from professional audience and increasing their social following increases the chances that they will cover the next important research paper.

3. Make a Blog Post

Writing a blog post can be longer and more comprehensive than the press release. Make sure to add fancy diagrams and graphical explainers. You can share the blog post with the journalists at the same time as the press release. Your blog may serve as a source of inspiration for third party news coverage. Make sure to reference the DOI and URL of your paper.

If your paper is in one of the Nature journals, consider writing a “Behind the Paper" blog post on Nature Bioengineering Community. Surprisingly, these blogs are rarely picked up by Altmetric but may serve as a source of inspiration for the journalists and social media influencers. Plus, it is a resource by the Nature Publishing Group.

4. Tweet and Ask Your Team Members to Tweet

Each post on X gives you a quarter of an Altmetric point. If your paper goes viral on X, your Altmetric score can be considerable. Plus, once journalists notice that it went viral, they will be more likely to cover the story, further increasing the score.

Try to choose the time of the post, the hashtags, and the images wisely. Since Elon Musk took over X and opened the algorithm it became very transparent and easy to optimize for. Here are the top 10 tips for boosting attention for a post on X. Make sure to include the DOI or the URL of the paper for Altmetric to find the post.

5. Experiment, Learn, Repeat

My highest Altmetric Attention Score core to date was around 1,500 for a paper in Nature Biotechnology published in 2019, where we used a novel method for designing small molecules called Generative Tensorial Reinforcement Learning (GENTRL) to generate new molecules with druglike properties that got synthesized and tested all the way into mice. In 2024, we went further and showed that an AI-generated molecule for an AI-discovered target was tested all the way up to Phase II human trials, but the paper published in Nature Biotechnology, let’s call it the TNIK paper , has achieved a score ofjust over 600 to date. So what has changed and what can we learn from these two papers?

The popularity of the paper depends on many factors. Ones which capture the public imagination or have widespread appeal are of course, much more likely to gain traction online. When we published the GENTRL paper in 2019, Generative AI was in its infancy, and there are pretty much no other companies that I heard of at the intersection of generative AI and drug discovery. We also published multiple articles in this field in the years leading to that paper and many key opinion leaders (KOLs) followed us. That following included a small army of generative AI skeptics who not only contributed to multiple rejections in peer-reviewed journals but also openly criticized this approach in social networks. This criticism also helped boost the Altmetric Score and bring more attention to the study. So first learning from this exercise - negative publicity helps overall publicity. As long as you are certain that your research results are honest - leave room for criticism and even help expose your paper’s weaknesses. Critics are your greatest Altmetric boosters. Since readers and, by extension journalists, react to negative news and drama stronger than to positive news, critical reviews will boost your Altmetric as long as the DOI or URL of the paper is properly referenced.

Secondly, papers coming out of popular labs in top-tier academic institutions and in top journals are likely to attract more attention. Often, the communications officers in these academic institutions work closely with the media to amplify notable research. Celebrity companies, for example, Google DeepMind, always get a higher level of coverage. For example, the AlphaFold paper published in July 2021 in Nature got an Altmetric Attention Score of over 3,500 . Even though I have not seen any drugs out of AlphaFold reaching preclinical candidate status, I predict the popularity of this tool will result in the first Nobel Prize in this area. Therefore, in order to become famous and popularize your research more effectively, it is a good idea to build up the public profile of yourself and your work. For example, Kardashians are famous for being famous .

Be careful with Wikipedia. I made a mistake explaining the importance of Wikipedia to students when lecturing on the future of generative AI, and one or two of them got banned for expanding the articles with paper references. Wikipedia requires that these are added by independent editors rather than the authors of papers themselves, but if some editors do not like it, they will not go deep or investigate - they will assume wrongdoing. So it is better to avoid even talking about Wikipedia. References there should happen naturally and often some of the more popular papers get picked up and referenced by veteran editors.

Experimenting with Altmetric will also help you explore new strategies for popularizing scientific research and develop new strategies for inspiring people to learn or even get into the new exciting field. UNESCO estimates that there was just over 8 million full-time equivalent (FTE) researchers in 2018 globally. Only a fraction of these are in biotechnology - less than 0.01% of the global population. If you motivate a million students to go into biotechnology by popularizing your research, you double this number.

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• 16 April 2024

Structure peer review to make it more robust

• Mario Malički 0

Mario Malički is associate director of the Stanford Program on Research Rigor and Reproducibility (SPORR) and co-editor-in-chief of the Research Integrity and Peer Review journal.

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In February, I received two peer-review reports for a manuscript I’d submitted to a journal. One report contained 3 comments, the other 11. Apart from one point, all the feedback was different. It focused on expanding the discussion and some methodological details — there were no remarks about the study’s objectives, analyses or limitations.

My co-authors and I duly replied, working under two assumptions that are common in scholarly publishing: first, that anything the reviewers didn’t comment on they had found acceptable for publication; second, that they had the expertise to assess all aspects of our manuscript. But, as history has shown, those assumptions are not always accurate (see Lancet 396 , 1056; 2020 ). And through the cracks, inaccurate, sloppy and falsified research can slip.

As co-editor-in-chief of the journal Research Integrity and Peer Review (an open-access journal published by BMC, which is part of Springer Nature), I’m invested in ensuring that the scholarly peer-review system is as trustworthy as possible. And I think that to be robust, peer review needs to be more structured. By that, I mean that journals should provide reviewers with a transparent set of questions to answer that focus on methodological, analytical and interpretative aspects of a paper.

For example, editors might ask peer reviewers to consider whether the methods are described in sufficient detail to allow another researcher to reproduce the work, whether extra statistical analyses are needed, and whether the authors’ interpretation of the results is supported by the data and the study methods. Should a reviewer find anything unsatisfactory, they should provide constructive criticism to the authors. And if reviewers lack the expertise to assess any part of the manuscript, they should be asked to declare this.

Anonymizing peer review makes the process more just

Other aspects of a study, such as novelty, potential impact, language and formatting, should be handled by editors, journal staff or even machines, reducing the workload for reviewers.

The list of questions reviewers will be asked should be published on the journal’s website, allowing authors to prepare their manuscripts with this process in mind. And, as others have argued before, review reports should be published in full. This would allow readers to judge for themselves how a paper was assessed, and would enable researchers to study peer-review practices.

To see how this works in practice, since 2022 I’ve been working with the publisher Elsevier on a pilot study of structured peer review in 23 of its journals, covering the health, life, physical and social sciences. The preliminary results indicate that, when guided by the same questions, reviewers made the same initial recommendation about whether to accept, revise or reject a paper 41% of the time, compared with 31% before these journals implemented structured peer review. Moreover, reviewers’ comments were in agreement about specific parts of a manuscript up to 72% of the time ( M. Malički and B. Mehmani Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/mrdv; 2024 ). In my opinion, reaching such agreement is important for science, which proceeds mainly through consensus.

Stop the peer-review treadmill. I want to get off

I invite editors and publishers to follow in our footsteps and experiment with structured peer reviews. Anyone can trial our template questions (see go.nature.com/4ab2ppc ), or tailor them to suit specific fields or study types. For instance, mathematics journals might also ask whether referees agree with the logic or completeness of a proof. Some journals might ask reviewers if they have checked the raw data or the study code. Publications that employ editors who are less embedded in the research they handle than are academics might need to include questions about a paper’s novelty or impact.

Scientists can also use these questions, either as a checklist when writing papers or when they are reviewing for journals that don’t apply structured peer review.

Some journals — including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , the PLOS family of journals, F1000 journals and some Springer Nature journals — already have their own sets of structured questions for peer reviewers. But, in general, these journals do not disclose the questions they ask, and do not make their questions consistent. This means that core peer-review checks are still not standardized, and reviewers are tasked with different questions when working for different journals.

Some might argue that, because different journals have different thresholds for publication, they should adhere to different standards of quality control. I disagree. Not every study is groundbreaking, but scientists should view quality control of the scientific literature in the same way as quality control in other sectors: as a way to ensure that a product is safe for use by the public. People should be able to see what types of check were done, and when, before an aeroplane was approved as safe for flying. We should apply the same rigour to scientific research.

Ultimately, I hope for a future in which all journals use the same core set of questions for specific study types and make all of their review reports public. I fear that a lack of standard practice in this area is delaying the progress of science.

Nature 628 , 476 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01101-9

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Competing Interests

M.M. is co-editor-in-chief of the Research Integrity and Peer Review journal that publishes signed peer review reports alongside published articles. He is also the chair of the European Association of Science Editors Peer Review Committee.

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CSCI 5980/8980 

Machine learning for healthcare: concepts and applications.

Meeting Time: 11:15 AM‑12:30 PM TTh  Instructor: Yogatheesan Varatharajah Course Description: Machine Learning is transforming healthcare. This course will introduce students to a range of healthcare problems that can be tackled using machine learning, different health data modalities, relevant machine learning paradigms, and the unique challenges presented by healthcare applications. Applications we will cover include risk stratification, disease progression modeling, precision medicine, diagnosis, prognosis, subtype discovery, and improving clinical workflows. We will also cover research topics such as explainability, causality, trust, robustness, and fairness.

Registration Prerequisites: CSCI 5521 or equivalent. Complete the following Google form to request a permission number from the instructor ( https://forms.gle/z8X9pVZfCWMpQQ6o6  ).

Visualization with AI

Meeting Time: 04:00 PM‑05:15 PM TTh  Instructor: Qianwen Wang Course Description: This course aims to investigate how visualization techniques and AI technologies work together to enhance understanding, insights, or outcomes.

This is a seminar style course consisting of lectures, paper presentation, and interactive discussion of the selected papers. Students will also work on a group project where they propose a research idea, survey related studies, and present initial results.

This course will cover the application of visualization to better understand AI models and data, and the use of AI to improve visualization processes. Readings for the course cover papers from the top venues of AI, Visualization, and HCI, topics including AI explainability, reliability, and Human-AI collaboration.    This course is designed for PhD students, Masters students, and advanced undergraduates who want to dig into research.

Registration Prerequisites: Complete the following Google form to request a permission number from the instructor ( https://forms.gle/YTF5EZFUbQRJhHBYA  ). Although the class is primarily intended for PhD students, motivated juniors/seniors and MS students who are interested in this topic are welcome to apply, ensuring they detail their qualifications for the course.

Visualizations for Intelligent AR Systems

Meeting Time: 04:00 PM‑05:15 PM MW  Instructor: Zhu-Tian Chen Course Description: This course aims to explore the role of Data Visualization as a pivotal interface for enhancing human-data and human-AI interactions within Augmented Reality (AR) systems, thereby transforming a broad spectrum of activities in both professional and daily contexts. Structured as a seminar, the course consists of two main components: the theoretical and conceptual foundations delivered through lectures, paper readings, and discussions; and the hands-on experience gained through small assignments and group projects. This class is designed to be highly interactive, and AR devices will be provided to facilitate hands-on learning.    Participants will have the opportunity to experience AR systems, develop cutting-edge AR interfaces, explore AI integration, and apply human-centric design principles. The course is designed to advance students' technical skills in AR and AI, as well as their understanding of how these technologies can be leveraged to enrich human experiences across various domains. Students will be encouraged to create innovative projects with the potential for submission to research conferences.

Registration Prerequisites: Complete the following Google form to request a permission number from the instructor ( https://forms.gle/Y81FGaJivoqMQYtq5 ). Students are expected to have a solid foundation in either data visualization, computer graphics, computer vision, or HCI. Having expertise in all would be perfect! However, a robust interest and eagerness to delve into these subjects can be equally valuable, even though it means you need to learn some basic concepts independently.

Sustainable Computing: A Systems View

Meeting Time: 09:45 AM‑11:00 AM  Instructor: Abhishek Chandra Course Description: In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the pervasiveness, scale, and distribution of computing infrastructure: ranging from cloud, HPC systems, and data centers to edge computing and pervasive computing in the form of micro-data centers, mobile phones, sensors, and IoT devices embedded in the environment around us. The growing amount of computing, storage, and networking demand leads to increased energy usage, carbon emissions, and natural resource consumption. To reduce their environmental impact, there is a growing need to make computing systems sustainable. In this course, we will examine sustainable computing from a systems perspective. We will examine a number of questions:   • How can we design and build sustainable computing systems?   • How can we manage resources efficiently?   • What system software and algorithms can reduce computational needs?    Topics of interest would include:   • Sustainable system design and architectures   • Sustainability-aware systems software and management   • Sustainability in large-scale distributed computing (clouds, data centers, HPC)   • Sustainability in dispersed computing (edge, mobile computing, sensors/IoT)

Registration Prerequisites: This course is targeted towards students with a strong interest in computer systems (Operating Systems, Distributed Systems, Networking, Databases, etc.). Background in Operating Systems (Equivalent of CSCI 5103) and basic understanding of Computer Networking (Equivalent of CSCI 4211) is required.

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