Scientific Communication & Reporting Flashcards

What is 'salami slicing' in scientific publishing?

Answer: Dividing one study's data into multiple small publications to inflate output

Salami slicing is an unethical practice of publishing the same dataset across multiple papers to artificially increase publication count.

Which element distinguishes a primary research article from a review article?

Answer: Primary articles report original experimental data

Primary research articles present original data collected by the authors, whereas review articles synthesize existing literature.

A figure legend in a research paper should:

Answer: Allow the figure to be understood without reading the full text

Figure legends must be self-contained, providing enough detail to interpret the figure independently.

When is it appropriate to use passive voice in scientific writing?

Answer: When describing methods to emphasize actions over actors

Passive voice is conventional in the Methods section to keep focus on procedures rather than who performed them.

What does 'CONSORT' refer to in clinical research reporting?

Answer: Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guideline

CONSORT is a reporting guideline that provides a checklist and flowchart to improve transparency of randomized controlled trials.

Which practice best protects against selective reporting bias in publications?

Answer: Pre-registering the study protocol before data collection

Pre-registration publicly records hypotheses and methods in advance, making it harder to selectively report only favorable outcomes.

In a research poster presentation, which element is most critical for capturing audience attention quickly?

Answer: A clear, informative title and key visual findings

Posters must communicate key findings at a glance, so a compelling title and strong visuals are most effective.