Checklist for Publishing a Scientific Paper

Abstract

A simple, handy checklist to self-assess your first scientific draft before you submit it to a peer-reviewed journal.

Full text

Checklist for Publishing a Scientific Paper
Making the Basics Right
Originality
1.1
Does the paper offer original contribution to the scientific community?1
Yes
No


1.2
Does the paper include any copyrighted material?2
Yes
No


1.3
Can the paper be subjected to self-plagiarism?3
Yes
No


1.4
Is the paper relevant to the scope of the targeted journal? 4
Yes
No


Literature Review
1.5
Does the paper define the existing knowledge gap?5
Yes
No


1.6
Is the research question in line with the literature gap?6
Yes
No


1.7
Is the research design appropriate to answer the research question?7
Yes
No


1.8
Are the citations targeted to a specific research community?8
Yes
No


1.9
Did it construct a cogent argument synthesizing all the information from
relevant papers?9
Yes
No


Building Blocks
Title
2.1
Is the title too long?10
Yes

No

2.2
Is the title simple, clear and to the point?11
Yes

No

2.3
Is the title attractive and powerful?12
Yes

No

2.4
Does the title accurately describe all the key concepts of the paper?13
Yes

No

Abstract
2.5
Is the Abstract concise, factual and to the point?14
Yes

No


2.6
Does the Abstract synthesize the main points of the paper?15
Yes

No

2.7
Are there brief statements on the purpose and scope of the research?16
Yes

No

2.8
Does the Abstract concisely summarize the principal results and major
conclusions?17
Yes

No

2.9
Is there any references in the Abstract?18
Yes

No

3.0
Is there any uncommon abbreviations and acronyms?19
Yes

No

Introduction
3.1
Does the Introduction provide a clear, complete and structured
description of the background?20
Yes

No

3.2
Is there a logical flow on the subject to be covered and its importance
and relevance?21
Yes

No

3.3
Are there citations from high quality, credible and relevant academic
sources?22
Yes

No

3.4
Does the Introduction give a clear description of the study’s rationale?23
Yes

No

3.5
Does the Introduction establish the significance of the current work?24
Yes

No

3.6
Is there any list of points or bullets?25
Yes

No

3.7
Are the scope and objectives clearly stated?26
Yes

No

Methodology
3.8
Does the Methodology section provide a full and clear description of the
chosen study design?27
Yes

No

3.9
Is there clear and well-structured description of data collection
methods?28
Yes

No

4.0
Does the Methodology section contain detail on all necessary elements?29
Yes

No

4.1
Is there a clear and structured outline of the proposed methods of data
processing and analysis?30
Yes

No

4.2
Are the measures used in this study valid and reliable?31
Yes

No

4.3
Is the work reproducible by an independent researcher?32
Yes

No

4.4
Are the figures and tables clearly visible and concise?33
Yes

No


Results
4.5
Are the results credible and supported by valid and intelligible
statistics?34
Yes

No

4.6
Are the presented data in line with the research question raised in the
Introduction?35
Yes

No

4.7
Are the presented data clearly and concisely stated?36
Yes

No

4.8
Does the Results section combine text, tables and figures to present data
and highlight major findings?37
Yes

No

4.9
Do the figures and the tables clearly contribute to the presented data?38
Yes

No

Discussion
5.0
Did the discussion clearly state principal findings?39
Yes

No

5.1
Does the discussion address the research question?40
Yes

No

5.2
Does it provide a comprehensive and well-supported criticism of the
impact and relevance of the study findings?41
Yes

No

5.3
Does it critically discuss and evaluate the study’s conclusions?42
Yes

No

5.4
Did the discussion describe the implications of the work for future
research?43
Yes

No

5.5
Does it clearly state the limitations of the study?44
Yes

No

5.6
Is there appropriate reference to the relevant literature?45
Yes

No

Conclusion
5.7
Does the Conclusion summarize the paper's main arguments and
conclusions?46
Yes

No

5.8
Does it give a final judgment on the significance of the study findings?47
Yes

No

5.9
Does it include future prospects?48
Yes

No


Before Submission: Final Considerations
Bibliography
6.0
Are the references correctly formatted using the style mentioned by the
journal?49
Yes

No

6.1
Are all the references cited in the text present in the reference list (and
vice versa)?50
Yes

No

Tables and Figures
6.2
Did the figures include relevant captions?51
Yes

No

6.3
Is there any missing legend?52
Yes

No

6.4
Did all the tables include titles, description, footnotes?53
Yes

No

Readability
6.5
Is the paper spell checked' and 'grammar checked'?54
Yes

No

6.6
Is the writing style concise, fluent and easy to read and follow?55
Yes

No

6.7
Is there any risk of accidental plagiarism from other sources?56
Yes

No

Author Names and Affiliations
6.8
Does the paper clearly indicate the given name(s) and family name(s) of
each author?57
Yes

No

6.9
Did the paper present the authors' affiliation addresses (where the actual
work was done)?58
Yes

No

Keywords
7.0
Are the keywords adequate?59
Yes

No

1
Research journals primarily prefer original contributions from the authors, which are not published
elsewhere before.
2
Permission should be obtained before using any copyrighted material from other sources.
3
Self-plagiarism should be avoided.
4
It is critical to consider your paper's relevancy with the scope of the targeted journal.
5
It is essential to properly define the real gap in the literature.
6
The research question should be in line with the literature gap.
7
The research design should appropriately answer the research question.
8
It's not a good practice to intentionally omit any key reference. This should be avoided!

9
The literature review should be able to synthesize all the information to construct a cogent
argument.
10
The title should be neither too short nor too long. It needs to be concise and informative.
11
It needs to be simple, clear and to the point.
12
Title should be attractive and powerful.
13
The title should accurately describe all the key concepts of the paper.
14
The abstract should be concise, factual and to the point.
15
The Abstract should synthesize the main points of the paper.
16
There should be brief statements on the purpose and scope of the research.
17
The abstract should state briefly the principal results and major conclusions.
18
References should be avoided in the Abstract.
19
Avoid uncommon abbreviations and acronyms.
20
There should be clear, complete and structured description on the subject background.
21
Introduction should include logical explanation of the key areas to be covered, and their importance
and relevance.
22
Introduction should demonstrate ability to identify and cite high quality, credible and relevant
academic sources.
23
The description should cover what is significant, highly relevant, and helpful to the research
question.
24
It should establish why the research is worth doing?
25
Avoid points or bullets.
26
The scope and objectives should be clearly stated.
27
There should be a full and clear description of the chosen study design.
28
If the study involves data collection, then there should be clear and well-structured description of
it.
29
All necessary elements should be covered.
30
There should be a clear and structured outline of the proposed methods of data processing and
analysis.
31
They need to be valid and reliable.
32
It needs to be reproducible.
33
They need to be clearly visible and concise.
34
The results should be credible and supported by valid and intelligible statistics.
35
The presented data should be in line with the research question.
36
They should be clear and concise.
37
The Results should combine the use of text, tables and figures to condense data and highlight
trends.
38
Tables and figures should contribute to the paper by enriching reader understanding while
minimizing text.
39
Principal findings should be clearly stated at the beginning.
40
The discussion should be based on it.
41
The discussion section should critically analyse compare and discuss the results found in the
investigation.
42
It should critically discuss and evaluate the study’s conclusions.
43
There should be implications for future research or policy making.
44
If any, it should be clearly stated.
45
Appropriate reference should be given to the relevant literature
46
Conclusion should very briefly revisit the most important findings of the study.
47
Conclusion should provide a final judgment on the importance and significance of the findings with
respect to implications and impact.
48
Future prospects should be provided.

49
The references should be correctly formatted using the style requirement of the targeted journal.
50
Make sure every reference cited in the text is also present in the reference list (and vice versa).
51
Check whether it is required by the target journal.
52
There should be no missing legend.
53
The tables should include titles and description, and if necessary, footnotes.
54
Manuscript should be 'spell checked' and 'grammar checked' before submission.
55
The writing style needs to be concise, fluent and easy to read and follow.
56
Plagiarism should be checked through Turnitin before submission. In total, similarity with other
sources should be less than 5%; individually, less than 1%.
57
Most journals require clearly written the given name(s) and family name(s) of each author and that
all names are accurately spelled.
58
Present the authors' affiliation addresses (where the actual work was done) below the names.
59
Avoid too many keywords.