Checklist by Bente Niemeijer
Check per paragraph
Is it explicit (i.e. no vagueness)?
Is it concise (i.e. did I not write down any irrelevant information)?
Is it straightforward (i.e. is it written in a clear, matter of fact way)?
All factual statements should have a reference to a source.
Usually, a paragraph is between around 150-250 words.
Use linking/transition words to connect sentences.
A paragraph should be about only one topic.
A paragraph should end with a conclusion and/or transition to the
next paragraph.
A paragraph has minimally three sentences.
Structure of introduction
1. Clinical/societal relevance: the first paragraph includes
clinical/social relevance of the topic of the research paper (i.e. why is
it important for society to do research in this area?).
Do not forget to explain the concepts/constructs that are
mentioned in this paragraph.
2. Scientific relevance: the middle paragraphs you include scientific
relevance and theory (i.e. on what theory will you base your
research question? why is it important for science to do research in
this area? Is there a knowledge gap?). Here you explain what is
already known about the topic, you give the theoretical background
of the topic and make explicit what has not yet been studied.
Do not forget to explain any new concepts/constructs that are
mentioned in this paragraph1
3. Summary, aim of study and hypotheses: in the final paragraph
you summarize your previous paragraphs on scientific relevance,
you mention your research question(s), give the purpose of the
current study, a short description of the study, and give your
hypotheses.
Structure of methods
1. Participants: how did you recruit participants? What where in- and
exclusion criteria? How did the participants get allocated into
groups? Did they get a reward? How did you try to make the
conditions as comparable as possible?
2. Materials: what assessment(s) and/or other materials did you use?
Give a brief description of each material (when it is an assessment
1
do this as soon as the concept is mentioned; do not put it in the text later
1/4
.
Check per paragraph
Is it explicit (i.e. no vagueness)?
Is it concise (i.e. did I not write down any irrelevant information)?
Is it straightforward (i.e. is it written in a clear, matter of fact way)?
All factual statements should have a reference to a source.
Usually, a paragraph is between around 150-250 words.
Use linking/transition words to connect sentences.
A paragraph should be about only one topic.
A paragraph should end with a conclusion and/or transition to the
next paragraph.
A paragraph has minimally three sentences.
Structure of introduction
1. Clinical/societal relevance: the first paragraph includes
clinical/social relevance of the topic of the research paper (i.e. why is
it important for society to do research in this area?).
Do not forget to explain the concepts/constructs that are
mentioned in this paragraph.
2. Scientific relevance: the middle paragraphs you include scientific
relevance and theory (i.e. on what theory will you base your
research question? why is it important for science to do research in
this area? Is there a knowledge gap?). Here you explain what is
already known about the topic, you give the theoretical background
of the topic and make explicit what has not yet been studied.
Do not forget to explain any new concepts/constructs that are
mentioned in this paragraph1
3. Summary, aim of study and hypotheses: in the final paragraph
you summarize your previous paragraphs on scientific relevance,
you mention your research question(s), give the purpose of the
current study, a short description of the study, and give your
hypotheses.
Structure of methods
1. Participants: how did you recruit participants? What where in- and
exclusion criteria? How did the participants get allocated into
groups? Did they get a reward? How did you try to make the
conditions as comparable as possible?
2. Materials: what assessment(s) and/or other materials did you use?
Give a brief description of each material (when it is an assessment
1
do this as soon as the concept is mentioned; do not put it in the text later
1/4
.
