How to write a title for your research paper

Summary

This tutorial highlights the importance of creating an effective research paper title. The title is crucial as it is the first thing journal editors, reviewers, and readers will see. The video guides through five steps: identifying key aspects of the study, listing keywords, crafting a sentence from those keywords, refining it into a working title, and polishing it for the final version. Key tips include keeping the title concise, informative, and avoiding technical jargon. A subtitle can also be added to enhance clarity. For more resources, viewers are directed to Editage Insights.

Takeaways

• 📝 The title is the most important part of a research paper, as it's the first thing journal editors and readers see.
• 🔍 The title is also the only part of the paper freely available through search engines or databases.
• ❓ To create the perfect title, ask yourself key questions: What is my paper about, what technique did I use, who or what did I study, and what were the results?
• 📚 List important keywords based on the answers to those questions to help shape your title.
• ✍️ Use the keywords to form a sentence that describes your study, even if it’s long at first.
• 📝 Create a working title by deleting repetitive or unnecessary words from the sentence.
• ✂️ Refine the working title to be concise and clear, removing non-essential information.
• 🔑 A good title includes essential information without using abbreviations or excessive technical terms.
• ⚠️ Avoid ending the title with a period and keep it short, simple, and accurate.
• 📖 Consider adding a subtitle to provide extra context, but only if needed for clarity.

Q & A

What is the most important aspect of a research paper according to the transcript?

The title is considered the most important aspect of a research paper, as it is the first thing journal editors, reviewers, and readers will see.

Why is the title important for search engines and databases?

The title is important for search engines and indexing databases because it is often the only part of the paper that is freely available to readers.

What are the key questions to ask when creating a research paper title?

You should ask yourself: What is my paper about? What technique or design did I use? Who or what did I study? What were the results?

What example is provided in the transcript for a paper's subject?

The example given is a study that investigates whether drug A improves the motor function of patients suffering from Alzheimer's.

What keywords were identified from the example in the transcript?

The keywords identified are: drug A, randomized trial, Alzheimer's, six states in the US, 400 cases, improvement in motor function.

How is a working title created according to the transcript?

A working title is created by combining keywords from the study into a sentence, then removing unnecessary or repetitive words to create a more concise version.

What is the working title example provided in the transcript?

The working title example is: 'Randomized trial of drug A for improving motor function in 400 Alzheimer's patients from six states in the US, reports improved motor function.'

How can the working title be polished to create a final title?

The final title can be polished by deleting non-essential information, resulting in: 'Randomized trial of drug A for improving motor function in 400 Alzheimer's patients.'

What suggestion is given about adding a subtitle?

You could add a subtitle to the final title, such as: 'Drug A improves motor function in 400 Alzheimer's patients: A randomized trial.'

What are some key tips for writing an effective research paper title?

Some key tips are: write the title after finishing the paper, keep it short and simple, include essential information, avoid abbreviations or overly technical terms, use relevant keywords, and never insert a period at the end.