{"id":4979,"date":"2022-10-17T11:51:53","date_gmt":"2022-10-17T11:51:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/tiedonhaku-kirjasto\/?page_id=4979"},"modified":"2026-07-03T13:23:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T10:23:41","slug":"what-is-a-scientific-publication","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/tiedonhaku-kirjasto\/what-is-a-scientific-publication\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"What is a Scientific Publication?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Scientific research and expert work provide magnitudes of research data that is both grounded and trustworthy. Data is collected via different kinds of experimental arrangements, such as measurements and interviews. The acquired data is then processed into research data with extensive systematic and critical evaluation of the findings and their comparison with previous research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The aim of scientific publication is to make the research visible to the community and others interested. The core of scientific publication lies in producing new information and evaluating it in the scientific community. With the use of publications, the academic community is able to evaluate and critique research. Publishing also enables researchers to qualify and distinguish themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research findings are published through channels dedicated to scholarly communication, most commonly as scientific articles in scientific journals or as monographs. Whether a publication is in fact scientific is often deduced with peer-reviewing. Publications can be either printed or electronic, their form is not an indication of their merit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientific articles are a common form of publication, especially in the natural sciences and health sciences. In social sciences and humanities, monographies, i.e., books, by one or more authors, are also a commonly accepted publication type. In certain fields, such as engineering and computer science, a substantial number of conference papers are also published. Thus, the information must also be sought from numerous sources, considering the requirements of your own research field.<\/p>\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"An infographic showing different phases of research and how research is published in each phase.\" width=\"960\" height=\"515\" data-original-width=\"1011\" data-original-height=\"543\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/card\/1636637136050454530\" type=\"text\/html\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><script async src=\"\/\/cdn.thinglink.me\/jse\/responsive.js\"><\/script><br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/app.widgets.thinglink.com\/accessibility\/1636637136050454530\"  rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here to view the accessible version of this interactive content.<\/a>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Information is distributed in various ways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Publishing scientific information differs from the usual sharing of information, knowledge, insight and ideas. The publication types that focus on scientific publications are discussed in more detail in <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/tiedonhaku-kirjasto\/scientific-publications-in-different-fields\/?lang=en\">the Scientific Publications in Different Fields section<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it is important to understand that there are different ways to share information and different types of publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Publications meant for the scientific community, e.g., peer-reviewed scientific articles in periodicals, conference proceedings, or as part of a book or other compendium, scientific books (a monograph or an edited book), compendiums<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Publications meant for the professional community, e.g., articles in professional journals, handbooks, or textbooks, reports or accounts on development or research, textbooks, professional handbooks, guides or dictionaries, edited professional works<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Publications meant for the general audience, e.g., articles in popularised forms, newspaper articles, popularised monographies or edited works, TV, radio and magazine interviews, podcasts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Postings created for different communities online and in social media, e.g., blog posts, articles, short written, visual, recorded or videotaped announcements in social media channels and interaction in communities in different platforms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Theses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scientific publications feature a particular structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is an established form for academic writing, which must be abided by when writing for scientific periodicals. When it comes to the details, each periodical has its own writing instructions that must be followed when an article is wished to be submitted. These writing instructions are found on the pages of the periodicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientific articles most commonly contain the following elements:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Title<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Names and affiliations of the authors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Abstract<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Introduction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Methods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Results<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discussion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acknowledgements and transparency of interests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>References<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This structure is often called IMRAD (Introduction, Methods, Results And Discussion).<\/p>\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A presentation with three screenshots - a scientific article on the publisher's webpage, the same article in the search results of UEF Primo and as a record in UEF Primo.\" width=\"881\" height=\"792\" data-original-width=\"881\" data-original-height=\"792\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/card\/1636690135103832066\" type=\"text\/html\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><script async src=\"\/\/cdn.thinglink.me\/jse\/responsive.js\"><\/script><br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/app.widgets.thinglink.com\/accessibility\/1636690135103832066\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here to view the accessible version of this interactive content.<\/a>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\t<div id=\"accordion-block_571728150e78a1f1e6839c2ed9f3ac37\" class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion accordion-js\">\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"accordion__button\" aria-controls=\"content-882\" aria-expanded=\"false\" id=\"accordion-control-882\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"accordion__heading\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat if the publication is not scientific?\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion__content\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-control-882\" aria-hidden=\"true\" id=\"content-882\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>In addition to scientific publications, there are also other publications that may qualify as source material. In many fields, there are publications specifically meant for professionals, companies, and authorities. Research institutes, ministries, municipalities, as well as different organisations, unions, and associations publish account or report types of literature. Articles are also published in professional periodicals journals.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s important is the content itself: how reliably and unambiguously is the subject described, verified, and argued, and how the content is intended to be used in the thesis. Also, check the practices of your own discipline because there are field-specific differences in how the usefulness of source materials is assessed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Peer-reviewing is used to verify a publication\u2019s scientific status<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Peer-reviewing is considered one of the key criteria of scientific quality in scientific publishing. In peer review, independent experts assess whether a research manuscript is suitable for publication. These experts are researchers working in the same field as the author(s). Usually, at least two reviewers evaluate each manuscript. Depending on the type of peer-review process, reviewers and authors may or may not know each other\u2019s identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The editorial board of a scientific journal first evaluates whether a submitted manuscript is relevant to the journal\u2019s scope and readership. If it is deemed suitable, the manuscript is sent to peer reviewers (referees), who assess its content, methodology, scientific significance, originality, and novelty. Based on their evaluation, the reviewers provide recommendations to the editorial board regarding acceptance or rejection of the manuscript and revision suggestions for the authors. The journal\u2019s editorial board makes the final publication decision based on the reviewers\u2019 comments and recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In disciplines where books play a major role, such as humanities and some social sciences, the publication and peer-review process generally follows the same main steps as the publication of a scientific article. However, the process often involves closer collaboration with the publisher and typically takes longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I identify a peer-reviewed publication?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Peer-review label in Finnish publications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In Finland, peer-reviewed scientific publications usually have a label that can be used to identify publications that have been peer-reviewed. More information on the peer-review label can be found on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsv.fi\/en\/services\/label-for-peer-reviewed-scholarly-publications\">the website of The Federation of Finnish Learned Societies.<\/a> The scientific articles of <a href=\"https:\/\/journal.fi\/aikuiskasvatus\/index\">the Aikuiskasvatus journal<\/a> (journal is in Finnish), for instance, have a peer-review label.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The label can apply to an entire publication, in which case each article of the publication has been peer-reviewed. It can also apply to only some of the content, such as individual articles. In such case, the label can usually be found in the article in question.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Foreign scientific journals:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the article includes a mention of \u201crevised\u201d or something similar, it has usually been modified in response to reviewers&#8217; feedback. In addition to individual mentions, the journal\u2019s website usually contains information on the publisher&#8217;s peer-review practices and which article types are peer-reviewed.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The most common types of peer-reviewed articles are original, research and review articles. However, finding mentions of peer review can be more difficult in compilation works and conference articles.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A screenshot of peer review practice on a scientific journal's website.\" width=\"960\" height=\"544\" data-original-width=\"1178\" data-original-height=\"668\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thinglink.com\/card\/1641776716084936705\" type=\"text\/html\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><script async src=\"\/\/cdn.thinglink.me\/jse\/responsive.js\"><\/script><br\/><a href=\"https:\/\/app.widgets.thinglink.com\/accessibility\/1641776716084936705\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here to view the accessible version of this interactive content.<\/a>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\t<div id=\"accordion-block_c0238dcc0341114762eb5de0f7726521\" class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion accordion-js\">\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"accordion__button\" aria-controls=\"content-8054\" aria-expanded=\"false\" id=\"accordion-control-8054\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"accordion__heading\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMore tips for identifying peer-reviewed publications\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion__content\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-control-8054\" aria-hidden=\"true\" id=\"content-8054\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you are unsure whether a publication is peer-reviewed, you can always ask the library or the publisher directly.<\/p>\n<p>Databases can also help you find peer-reviewed publications, as you can limit your search to peer-reviewed publications only. You should, however, always remember to make sure that the information in the database about the peer-review is accurate!<\/p>\n<p>You can find more information about identifying peer-review publications and the related practices in the <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/tiedonhaku-kirjasto\/evaluating-the-reliability-and-scientific-status-of-a-publication\/?lang=en\">Evaluating the Reliability and Scientific Status of a Publication section<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Note: Peer reviews should not be mixed with review articles or book reviews that are a certain publication type in some databases. Thus, the same term may have different meanings depending on the context.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<div class=\"links-block\">\n\n            <h3>Next<\/h3>\n    \n    <ul class=\"link-list\">\n        \n            \n            <li class=\"link-list-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/tiedonhaku-kirjasto\/open-access-publishing\/?lang=en\" class=\"link-reset link hover-scale-down\">\n                    <svg\n        width=\"43\" height=\"25\"\n        viewBox=\"0 0 43 25\"\n        xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n    <path\n        d=\"M30.027 0 43 12.5 30.027 25 27 22.083 34.351 15H0v-5h34.351L27 2.917z\"\n        fill=\"currentColor\"\n        fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n<\/svg>                    <div>Open Access Publishing<\/div>\n                <\/a>\n                <div class=\"link-info\">\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n\n                <\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scientific research and expert work provide magnitudes of research data that is both grounded and trustworthy. Data is collected via different kinds of experimental arrangements, such as measurements and interviews. The acquired data is then processed into research data with extensive systematic and critical evaluation of the findings and their comparison with previous research. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":842,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4979","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is a Scientific Publication? - Tiedonhakijan opas \/\/ UEF-kirjasto<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/tiedonhaku-kirjasto\/what-is-a-scientific-publication\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fi_FI\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is a Scientific Publication? - Tiedonhakijan opas \/\/ UEF-kirjasto\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Scientific research and expert work provide magnitudes of research data that is both grounded and trustworthy. 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