Navigating the Process of Research Article Writing and Publication

The journey of a research article is like a Lego game - completing one objective at a time (research question) to connect to other existing pieces (knowledgebase), thus progressing the field or completing the Lego. The purpose of a research article is to answer a critical question in the field rigorously. It aims to answer a single question with multiple proofs of validation. Trying to answer multiple questions simultaneously only leads to complicated output with greater chances of rejection. Prior to zoning into the nitty-gritty of the research article, the utmost aim of a good research article should be to solve a crucial problem of the field that would help it to move forward. Contrary to the belief, the research project should not just be curiosity-driven, it should be carefully thought of. It should bridge the gap in the field with an overarching aim to improve a disease condition and patients’ life quality. Thus, the conceptualization phase is critical. Before initiating any research, the researcher should ask themselves- what question this research will answer, whether it is critical for the field, and will the field move forward based on their findings. If the answer to these questions is yes, the researcher should move forward and design the experiments. The time given during the conceptualization phase would ultimately shorten the time for research article preparation and publication.