How to write your first Research

Paper and get it published!

International Journal of Dairy Technology
Aims / Purpose

The purpose of this how to guide is to provide first time authors

with advice on writing a paper for publication in the IJDT.
The guide will also be helpful to those writing a thesis, research
paper or even someone who is used to writing publications.
It is important to remember that when writing an article for
publication it is NOT a condensed version of your thesis.
The aim of this guide is to provide tips and reminders on what you
should include, why it needs to be included and how to include it!
Main steps in publishing a paper
PEER REVIEW
RESEARCH COMPLETED AMEND MANUSCRIPT
ACCORDING TO
COMMENTS AND RESPOND TO REVIEWERS’
RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMENTS – REVISE
WRITING THE REPORT PEERS AND SUPERVISORS MANUSCRIPT

CHOOSING THE RIGHT

CHECK PROOFS
JOURNAL FOR YOUR
RESEARCH ENSURE PAPER COMPLIES
TO JOURNAL STANDARDS
PUBLICATION
WRITING THE PAPER FOR
THAT JOURNAL
ACCEPTANCE
SUBMISSION TO JOURNAL

EDITING THE DRAFT TO REVIEW COMMENTS ON REJECTION

PRODUCE A SCIENTIFC
RESEARCH PAPER REJECTION
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH

PAPER REVIEWED BY YES

REVISE MANUSCRIPT
PEERS/ SUPERVISOR IS THIS STILL THE RIGHT
(PRIOR TO SUBMISSION) JOURNAL FOR YOUR
REVIEW BY SUPERVISOR/
RESEARCH?
PEERS
NO
Why submit to the International Journal of Dairy Technology?

• The journal ranks highly among the leading Dairy Journals worldwide!
• There are NO page charges, but authors can submit using Open Access which incurs a charge. Note,
many institutions, countries and funders have funding agreements for Open Access.
• Increasing CiteScore and Impact Factor.
• Rapid decision on whether paper meets journal standards (normally within 5 days after
Wiley admin. check)
• Quick publication rates – Median of 33 days from submission to publication in 2021!
• Publishes topics covering fundamental dairy research and practical technological challenges facing the
modern dairy industry.

Impact Factor: 4.286

CiteScore 2021: 6.6
[2021] 2022 YTD (Until Oct): 7.3

Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate, 2022):

47/143 (Food Science & Technology)
 The Starting point
WHAT TO CONSIDER? HOW TO DO IT?
• Is this the right journal for your research? Plan your paper – ensure it is logical
• Do consult recent issues and ensure your paper been and contains relevant information.
formatted correctly(see slide 18). The entire paper should be concise,
• Non-native English speakers – are advised to get clear, accurate and logical.
someone experienced in writing scientific-English to
check English-usage before submission. Alternatively, IJDT
use a professional editor before submission to the Does your research fit into one of these areas?
journal. • Effects of production practices on milk and dairy products
• Production of all types of Dairy products
• Ensure that your paper conforms to the rules, • Advances in Dairy processing and technology
• New Product Development e.g., Dairy foods with added
regulations and ethics, in the Country in which you wish value or possible health benefits
to publish. • Quality control and analytical techniques
• Consumer acceptance
– For example, any reference to medical or clinical claims • Marketing of milk and milk products and sustainable
must be approved by relevant health authorities or management of milk, and product supply chains
carefully cited to show claims relate to animal trials only.
 A paper with a poor title AND abstract is unlikely to be
Title accepted or read by other academics!

WHAT DOES A TITLE WHAT TO CONSIDER? HOW TO DO IT?

DO? • Use key words to capture the
• Titles depend on the type of
• Provides clues on the paper you have written readers attention
paper’s purpose • Be specific and keep it short
• The title differentiates the
• Attracts targeted readers paper from other titles • Choose your phrases
• Must engage the reader strategically – a noun phrase,
instantly statement or a question (Cargill
EXAMPLES & O’Connor, 2013)

Effects of added Calcium on salinity tolerance of tomato. Action of antibiotics on bacteria.

Calcium addition improves salinity tolerance of tomato. Inhibition of growth of Mycobacterium
paratuberculosis by streptomycin.
(Source: Cargill & O’Connor, 2013)
 A paper with a poor title AND abstract makes it very
Abstract difficult to find reviewers!

WHAT DOES THIS

SECTION DO?
WHAT TO CONSIDER? HOW TO DO IT?
• Provides a condensed A well-written abstract will
• ONLY 300 words
include:
version of the paper
1. The objective – • Be concise and brief
• Helps readers including background and or the • Engage the reader
reviewers identify if the research aim (what was
done and why). • State the main findings
paper would be of
but minimize the quantity
interest to them 2. Information on
methods/experimental of data in the abstract.
• Covers the purpose of plan (how was it found).
the study and should 3. Main findings – with
review important specific data and statistical 6 Keywords
objectives, materials, key significance (what was Should be listed
results and conclusions found?). after the abstract to
enable the paper to
4. Conclusion and be found by others
interpretation (what do the
findings mean?).
Example abstracts
Study of Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectra of ghee
(anhydrous milk fat)
Introducing the
‘context’ of the
Ghee is chemically complex in nature. The authentication and characterization of edible research
fats and oils by routine chemical methods are highly laborious and time-consuming .
Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy has emerged as the predominant
Briefly mentioning
analytical tool in the study of edible fats/oils . In order to assign absorption bands in the
methodology.
infrared (IR) spectrum, spectra of a cow and buffalo ghee samples were acquired in the
NIR region (10 000 – 4000 cm -1). In the FT-NIR spectrum a total of nine peaks were
obtained for cow and buffalo ghee, which almost equal intensity of absorption. The
intensity of absorbance was higher for cow ghee compared to buffalo ghee.
Stating what was
found.

Key words: Ghee, Fourier transform near infrared, IR spectra, fatty acid composition.
Key words to
describe the
Source: https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0307.12450 article.
Example abstract continued
Comparison of five analytical methods for the determination
of peroxide value in oxidized ghee
Introducing what
the study was
In the present study, a comparison of five peroxide analytical methods was
performed using oxidized ghee. The methods included three iodometric titration viz. about and the
Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC) and methodology
American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS), and two colorimetric methods, the ferrous
xylenol orange (FOX) and ferric thiocyanate (International Dairy Federation, IDF)
methods based on oxidation of iron. Six ghee samples were stored at 80oC to Statistical findings.
accelerate methods for analysis as well as flavour score (9 point hedonic scale). The
correlation coefficients obtained using the different methods were in the order: FOX
(-0.836) > IDF(-0.821) > AOCS(-0.798) > AOAC (-0.795) > BIS (0.754). Thus, among
the five methods used for determination of peroxide value of ghee during storage,
the highest coefficient of correlation was obtained for the FOX method. The high
correlations between the FOX and flavour data indicated that FOX was the most
suitable method tested to determine peroxide value in oxidized ghee. Main finding

Key words: Ghee, Lipid oxidation, Peroxide Value, Iodometric method, Colorimetric 5 key words to
method. describe the
(Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.04.023) article.
Example abstract continued
Are we closer to understanding why viable cells of Mycobacterium
avium subsp. paratuberculosis are still being reported in pasteurised
milk? Introducing the
background to the
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) continues to be associated with review.
Crohn’s disease. Following work in the 1990s that suggested that statutory
pasteurisation of milk (72 °C, 15 s) was insufficient to destroy MAP, the UK Dairy Industry
increased the holding time to 25 s. Since then, some plants have increased the lethality
of pasteurisation further with a number using 78 °C for 27 s. Despite the increase in
lethality, a recent survey of pasteurised milk in England found that 10.3% of pasteurised
milk samples tested positive for viable MAP. This article discusses the significance of
MAP and why viable MAP might be found in pasteurised milk. Purpose of review.

Key words: Mycobacterium avium subs. paratuberculosis, Crohn's disease, HTST

pasteurisation, phage amplification Key words to
describe the
article.
(Source: https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0307.12617)
 Why did you start? (Peat et al., 2002)
Introduction
WHAT TO DO? WHAT NOT TO DO?
• Keep it simple and logical • Avoid unnecessary long paragraphs – see below
• Introduce with purpose – summarizing the context of the for example templates for paragraphs in the
study and why the research was carried out introduction
• Include only concise and meaningful background
information • Do NOT waste words on unnecessary context – it
• Citations used must be of benefit and add value. is NOT your entire literature review!
• End the introduction with the research aim OR hypothesis.
This should be concise and effective to attract attention of
the reader

Paragraph 1 – What we know

Brief overview of background
- KEY points
Where does the research fit in EXAMPLE Paragraph 2 – What we don’t know
the field?
STRUCTURES Paragraph 3 – Why we did this study?
AIMS OF THE
STUDY Paragraph 4 – AIMS of the study

(Source adapted from: Peat et al., 2002)

Figure 1 – Example template for the introduction
 This example looks at the first two paragraphs of the introduction,
followed by the very last paragraph to provide an example of how

Example introduction
an introduction could be started and how to finish on the objective
or aim of the study.
Introducing the context of the
study by starting with the ”big”
Source: https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0307.12717 picture, of yoghurt generally.
Per capita yoghurt consumption has increased in the last three decades due to its nutritional value and associated
health‐promoting properties. Yoghurt contains nutrients with high biological value such as proteins, vitamins (A, B2 and B12),
minerals (calcium, phosphorus and potassium) and essential fatty acids. In addition to these valuable components, yoghurt is Beginning to
also safe for lactose‐intolerant consumers (Aryana and Olson 2017). Furthermore, yoghurt is considered a healthy dairy
product due to its lactic acid bacteria content, which can promote a healthy intestinal tract, enhance the immune system, narrow down
protect against pathogens, and could reduce the risk of specific types of cancer. Many food technologists have studied the to the yoghurt
addition of probiotics, prebiotics and plant extracts to produce specific types of yoghurt called symbiotic or bio‐yoghurt the study is
(Hadjimbei et al. 2020; Khaledabad et al. 2020).
focusing on.
Concentrated yoghurt, or Greek‐style yoghurt (GSY), is defined as a semisolid fermented milk. It is estimated that GSY
accounts for 50% of the total yoghurt market in the United States, with a projected growth of about 5% in the upcoming
years (Das et al. 2019). Traditionally, GSY is produced by straining the yoghurt after fermentation using cloth bags, which
releases whey and increases the solid content. GSY usually contains 6.4–10.7 % fat, 8.2–10.4 % protein and 2.8–4.9 % lactose,
though its final composition will mainly depend on the manufacturing method. For instance, the concentration of solids could
be increased by using membrane‐based technologies, centrifugation, desorption, or with the direct addition of milk protein The final
powders and/or stabilising agents (Costa et al. 2019). These technologies can be applied prior or after fermentation. paragraph,
***** summarizing
the
Yoghurt is a widely accepted dairy product listed as a healthy food, which makes it suitable for exploring new alternatives information
with fat replacers that could mimic the mouthfeel and reduce physicochemical changes. In this study, the incorporation of
GMP as a fat replacer in GSY to improve its physicochemical and sensory properties was evaluated, so, consumer acceptance on the
of products undergoing a significant reduction of saturated fat can be maintained. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate research gap.
the effect of using glycomacropeptide (GMP) as a fat mimetic on the physicochemical properties and sensory shelf life of a
fat‐reduced Greek‐style yoghurt
Ending on the
OBJECTIVE of the study.
 What did you find? (Peat et
Materials and methods al., 2002)

WHAT DOES THIS WHAT TO CONSIDER? HOW TO DO IT?

SECTION DO? • REPRODUCIBILITY • Identify ...
• This section must outline - – Methods – if novel then in detail
• REPEATABILITY
how the problem was
• ‘FAIR’ Data (Findable, – Equipment
studied.
Accessible, Interoperable, – Frequency of observations
• Answer what methods Reusable) – Precise measurements
were used and why?
REPEATABILITY – Statistical tests
Has the research been based on – Ethical Consideration
For Example – making cheese – has the
assessing several replicates in
order to achieve a good
•
following been considered?
Have enough batches been made to representation of the process? WHAT NOT TO DO?
be representative?
• At different lactation stages?
• Diet of the lactating mammal. REPRODUCIBILITY
• Don’t be overly repetitive
• Seasonality
• Processing methods
Research able to be • Avoid talking about the pros and cons of
replicated by other other methods
laboratories and
researchers • Avoid talking about the results you found
A NOTE ON EXPERIMENTAL REPLICATION
Authors are responsible for explaining how their experimental work was replicated and that the number of
replication is scientifically valid. The editorial team and reviewers will return or reject manuscripts where it
is not clear how many replications of the main experiment (s) has/have taken place.

When reporting the use of central composite designs, state the star points used, the coded α-value and
the number of times the centre point was replicated in the design. State if stepwise regression was used.

It is not sufficient to demonstrate a high degree of statistical relevance using a factorial response surface
methodology or other experimental design if relevant factors have been omitted e.g. seasonality and/or
the limitations of the omissions have not been discussed.

During the initial consideration of whether replication meets the Journal standards for a research article a
decision will be made on whether 12 of 15 degrees of freedom should be applied (Anonymous 2012) and
the number of trials/variables studied will then be used to obtain an independent estimate of the
replication required.

Experimental work that has been undertaken without significant replication e.g. to test a concept or a pilot
study should be submitted as a Short Communication.
 What did you do? (Peat et al., 2002)
Results
WHAT DOES THIS WHAT TO CONSIDER? HOW TO DO IT?
SECTION DO? • Present results clearly
• Information provided on methods and
• States what you have found. results must enable the reader to • Be concise
• Shows the relationships between evaluate the study and reach their own • Using the minimum AND only essential
variables and correlations
conclusions figures and tables
• Information in the results directly
relates to understanding of the • Statistical significance results
research objectives and
conclusions
FIGURES , TABLES AND SUPPLEMENTARY FILE
ILLUSTRATIONS • Supplementary material
WHAT NOT TO DO? • Any figure, table or illustration including raw data is increasingly
must have a legend (title) and be being required . This is
• Don’t be overly repetitive numbered in consecutive order. compulsory for some journals.
• Must be clear and understandable • Restricted to materials that are
• Don’t include irrelevant material that will without reference to the text.. specifically identified in the
not be explained later in the discussion • Only use ones that add value to manuscript and do not have to
the research. be understandable without
• Don’t compare results to others in the field • Titles, axis should be clear and reference to the manuscript.
(that’s in the discussion!) readable. Keep abbreviations to a • May include some additional
minimum. references
 What does it mean? (Peat et al., 2002)
Discussion
WHAT DOES THIS WHAT TO CONSIDER? HOW TO DO IT?
SECTION DO? • Be concise and informative
• HOW do the results
• Answers - WHY was the • Discuss the significance of your
compare to other studies
work done? results
– critical analysis of own
• Explain your main research paper and • Highlight the research
findings others. contribution to the field and
potential for further research

WHAT NOT TO DO? Provide a take • Emphasize new findings

home message • Describe strengths and
• Don’t just repeat the results weaknesses of study
• Don’t just ignore papers where their
results contradict yours INSTEAD
Clearly state the
explain differences.
paper’s impact
• Avoid using jargon
Combining results and discussion sections
There is opportunity for some research papers to have the
results and discussion section combined. If that suits your
research, then here are some points to consider.

Reviewers expect to see significant analysis and discussion of

results. Combining the results and discussion sections works best
for papers with only a small number of tables or figures.

Separate results and discussions sections generally works better

for papers containing extensive findings and dealing with complex
concepts.
Conclusion
WHAT DOES THIS WHAT TO CONSIDER? HOW TO DO IT?
SECTION DO? • Be concise
• A conclusion should recap and • Consider future work or
• Clearly state how the results
reiterate what you have found and improvements.
meet the research aims
the importance of the research.
• Note the limitations in the
• In a review the conclusion can be
research
suggestions for further/ future
research. Provide a take
home message

WHAT NOT TO DO?

• Do not repeat the abstract or the
results
Clearly state the
• Do not just restate the research aim, paper’s impact
INSTEAD explain how you reached it
Reviews

A review should link together the relevant work that has been previously
published and provide in-depth discussion of the topic area. In a good review
the authors coherently and critically summarize the existing work in a self-
consistent framework and add their own thoughts and insights. This adds
value to the topic. Many reviews submitted to the IJDT miss these
characteristics and just state a list of findings from individual research work
that has been previously published. Discussion on recent developments and or
the research gaps is required. The review also needs to be well structured,
logical and coherent.
Basic formatting
Ensure correct use of the English language and correct grammar.
Manuscripts
• Must be in an editable format
• Double line spacing
• Wide margins
• Line numbering use one continuous number set throughout the paper
Word count – 3,000 – 5,000 words (NO more than 10,000)
[Included in the word count: abstract; introduction; methods; results; discussion; acknowledgements; table titles; and figure legends].
Species Nomenclature –Microorganisms must be named by their formal names in italics. The full name must appear in the abstract and at first use
at the beginning of the paper before using abbreviations later.
Foot notes should be avoided
Trade names must have capital letters
Manufacturers and suppliers of materials or equipment must be stated with names and addresses given.
Abbreviations should be avoided. If essential, the full name should be stated first
Only use SI units.
Referencing – keep to essential citations only. Generally, limit to < 25 KEY references
• Harvard Style – see - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/pb-assets/IJDT%20Harvard%20Referencing-1526308934970.pdf
• For Example: Kucukoner E and Haque Z U (1998) Peptide profile of low-fat Edam cheese. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal
Sciences 22 449-452.
Further reading…

Anonymous. (2012). Design and analysis of efficacy evaluation trials. EPPO Bull.
42:367–381.
Cargill M and O’Connor P. (2013).Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and
Steps. 2nd ed. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
Elsevier. (2021). 11 steps to structuring a science paper editors will take seriously.
[Online] Elsevier. Available from: https://www.elsevier.com/connect/11-steps-to-
structuring-a-science-paper-editors-will-take-seriously.
Peat, J, Elliot E , Baur L and Keena V. (2002). Scientific Writing: easy when you know
how. London: BMJ Books.
Wiley. (2021). International Journal of Dairy Technology – Author Guidelines. [Online]
Wiley. Available from:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/14710307/homepage/forauthors.html
[Accessed 4/01/2021].
ABOUT THE AUTHORS AND THE IJDT

• This guide was written by Ms Camilla (Millie) Preece and Dr Michael Mullan. The authors acknowledge
discussions with Dr Giuseppe Aprea (Italy), Professor Adriano da Cruz (Brazil) and Professor Bhavbhuti M.
Mehta (India).

• Millie Preece is a PhD student at Harper Adams University. Michael Mullan is the Editor-In-Chief of the
International Journal Of Dairy Technology.

• The International Journal of Dairy Technology is published by Wiley on behalf of the Society of Dairy
Technology.

• Issued February 2021.

• Revised September 2022