Scientific Writing Quiz

What is the purpose of medical journals?

• To organize medical conferences

• To publish original research results

• To sell medical equipment

• To provide medical treatment

How is an impact factor calculated?

• Total number of citations divided by average number of journal articles

• Total number of articles published in one year

• Total number of citations divided by total number of journal articles

• Total number of citations multiplied by average number of journal articles

What is the range of impact factors?

• 0 to 50

• 0 to 100

• 0 to 10

• 0 to 200

What are letters in medical journals used for?

• Provide supporting information, clarification, criticism, correction, or an alternative explanation

• Sell medical products

• Organize medical workshops

• Provide medical treatment

Why do letters often take a surprising amount of time to write?

• They need to be concise and informative

• They need to be lengthy and detailed

• They need to be technical and complex

• They need to be creative and entertaining

What happens if a letter is too long for publication?

• It will be edited and shortened by the editorial committee

• It will be published as is

• It may not be considered for publication at all

• It will be published with a disclaimer

What is the maximum word limit for letters in most journals?

• 300 words or one page

• 1000 words or four pages

• 700 words or three pages

• 500 words or two pages

What is the maximum number of authors for a letter in most journals?

• Ten to twelve

• Four to six

• Seven to nine

• Two to three

What is the maximum number of references for a letter in most journals?

• Less than five including a reference to the journal article

• Exactly five including a reference to the journal article

• More than ten including a reference to the journal article

• Exactly three including a reference to the journal article

What influences the impact factor of a journal?

• Quality of the work, speed of publication, and number of references

• Number of articles published, number of citations, and number of authors

• Quality of the work, reviewers, review and publication processes, content of papers, and size of readership

• Size of the readership, number of reviewers, and number of articles published