Practice Test Geeks(STP) Scientist Training Programme Practice Test
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Scientific Writing Flashcards

7 cards from real STP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Scientific Writing flashcards as text

  1. Which of the following best describes 'salami slicing' in scientific publishing?

    Answer: Dividing one adequate dataset into multiple minimal publications

    Salami slicing is the unethical practice of splitting one coherent study into multiple smaller publications to artificially inflate an author's publication record.

  2. In a figure legend, what information is essential?

    Answer: A standalone description that allows the figure to be understood without reading the text

    Figure legends must be self-contained so readers can interpret the figure independently without referring back to the main text.

  3. What is the correct way to handle a 'ghost author' situation according to scientific ethics?

    Answer: Always include all contributors as named authors

    ICMJE authorship criteria require all individuals who made substantial intellectual contributions to be listed as authors; excluding them is ghost authorship, which is unethical.

  4. When should you use a table versus a figure in a scientific paper?

    Answer: Tables for exact numeric values; figures for trends and patterns

    Tables efficiently present precise numerical data, while figures (graphs, charts) are better for showing trends, patterns, and relationships.

  5. What does 'peer review' primarily assess in a scientific manuscript?

    Answer: Validity, significance, and originality of the research

    Peer review evaluates whether the research question is important, the methodology is sound, results are interpreted correctly, and the contribution is novel.

  6. Which of the following is an example of plagiarism even when the source is cited?

    Answer: Reproducing a large portion of text verbatim without quotation marks

    Copying text verbatim without using quotation marks constitutes plagiarism even if the source is cited, because it misrepresents another's words as your own phrasing.

  7. What is the recommended maximum length of a structured abstract in most biomedical journals?

    Answer: 250 words

    Most biomedical journals follow a 250-word limit for structured abstracts, as recommended by ICMJE guidelines.