Manuscript Type

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Manuscript Type

Manuscript Type information

Scientific manuscripts are organized in a logical format, which fits specific criteria as determined by the scientific community. This methodology has been standardized in journals which communicate information to those in the field being discussed. Since the researcher has a storyline he or she is trying to transmit, it must be clear and upfront on the exact question and or problem that his research answers. Readers of the manuscript will be energized to review this work when its content is spelled out early in the paper. A well-written manuscript has the following components included: a clear title, abstract, introductory paragraph, methods and materials section, discussion of results, conclusion and a list of references. Each component of a journal article should follow a logical sequence, which members of the science community have become accustomed.

Research Article

This is the most common type of journal manuscript used to publish full reports of data from research. It may be called an Original Article, Research Article, Research, or just Article, depending on the journal. The Original Research format is suitable for many different fields and different types of studies. It includes full Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion sections.

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Materials and Methods
  • Results/Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • Reference 


Review Article

Review Article / Survey Article provide a comprehensive summary of research on a certain topic, and a perspective on the state of the field and where it is heading. They are often written by leaders in a particular discipline after invitation from the editors of a journal. Reviews are often widely read (for example, by researchers looking for a full introduction to a field) and highly cited. Reviews commonly low cite approximately 15 to 50 primary research articles.

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Materials and Methods
  • Results/Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • Reference 
Short Report

These papers communicate brief reports of data from original research that editors believe will be interesting to many researchers, and that will likely stimulate further research in the field. As they are relatively short the format is useful for scientists with results that are time sensitive (for example, those in highly competitive or quickly-changing disciplines). This format often has strict length limits, so some experimental details may not be published until the authors write a full Original Research manuscript. These papers are also sometimes called Brief communications or Short reports or Letters or Technical Reports.

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Materials and Methods
  • Results/Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • Reference 

Case Studies

These articles report specific instances of interesting phenomena. A goal of Case Studies is to make other researchers aware of the possibility that a specific phenomenon might occur.  Case reports should include relevant positive and negative findings from history, examination, and investigation. This type of study is often used in medicine to report the occurrence of previously unknown or emerging pathologies.

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Case Studies phenomenon
  • Conclusions
  • Reference