Academic Publishing

Peer‑reviewed journals remain an important avenue for sharing research with academic and professional audiences. The resources in this section support the preparation, submission, and publication of journal manuscripts.

Writing manuscripts 

These resources support the development of clear, well‑structured manuscripts, including writing with clarity, revising drafts, determining authorship, and managing references. 

• Presentation: The Art of Manuscript Writing – Jessica Gaber, Research Knowledge & Skill Builder  [Video | Slides] 
• Presentation: Manuscript Preparation and Authorship – Lawrence Grierson, Research Knowledge & Skill Builder [Slides] 
• Presentation: Editing – Casey Irvin, Research Knowledge & Skill Builder [Video | Slides] 
• Presentation: EndNote for research – Steve Dragos Research Knowledge & Skill Builder [Video | Slides]  
• Software: EndNote – available for free to employees and students  
• DFM resource:  Guidance for Authorship on Scholarly Work 
• DFM resource:  Discussion Sentence Starters & Prompts 
• External resource:  UBC Science Writing Resource  
• External resource:  Academic Writing, from OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab at Purdue University 
• Book chapter:  Lingard L, Driessen E. How to tell compelling scientific stories. In: Cleland, J, Durning SJ, eds. Researching Medical Education. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell; 2015. 
  • For a copy of this book chapter, contact pcrc@mcmaster.ca 

Reporting guidelines and journal requirements 

Reporting guidelines can support the write up of a research project because it outlines the key items to report according to different study designs. The collection of reporting guidelines can be searched on the EQUATOR website. 

• Reporting guidelines: The EQUATOR Network – an international initiative that maintains a comprehensive database of reporting guidelines for health research.
• Guidelines:  Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals – International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) 
• Reporting checklist: The Consensus Reporting Items for Studies in Primary Care (CRISP)
  • The CRISP checklist provides guidance on reporting research conducted in primary care settings. It is designed to improve transparency, reproducibility, and applicability by addressing features that are particularly important in primary care research, such as context, team‑based care, patient populations, and real‑world practice environments.

Open access publishing 

Open access publishing increases the accessibility and reach of research outputs. This section includes guidance on open access options, author rights, publisher policies, and repository deposit. 

• McMaster Resource: Open Access Publishing –McMaster University Library 
• McMaster Resource: Office of Scholarly Communication – McMaster University Library 

Journal Selection and Evaluation 

Choosing an appropriate journal can influence the visibility, credibility, and impact of research. These resources support identifying suitable journals, evaluating journal quality, and avoiding predatory publishers. 

• McMaster Resource: Researcher’s Toolkit: Write & Publish – Health Science Library