How to Spot a Predatory Journal
They will publish anything, charge you for it, and the paper becomes almost impossible to withdraw. The checks take five minutes and almost nobody does them.
6 min read
Blog stream
Research & Evidence
Critical appraisal, publishing, research integrity and how to read the orthopaedic literature.
27 articles, newest first.
ICMJE Authorship: Who Earns a Place and How to Resolve Disputes
Four criteria joined by AND, not OR. Collecting the data does not by itself make you an author — and the department head who read nothing is not one either.
8 min read
Research Integrity for Surgeons
Research integrity for surgeons: fraud is rare. The common problem is practices most researchers do not recognise as problems, which corrupt the evidence base.
7 min read
How to Choose a Research Supervisor and Project
The right supervisor and project make or break your research. How to choose both so your work actually finishes and counts.
3 min read
Time-Efficient Ways to Stay Current With the Literature
You can keep up with the evidence without drowning in it. Time-efficient systems for staying current with the surgical literature.
3 min read
Registries and Big Data in Orthopaedic Research
How national registries and large datasets are reshaping orthopaedic research, and how to use them.
10 min read
How to Handle the Q&A After Your Presentation
How to field questions confidently and gracefully after presenting your work at a meeting.
10 min read
Getting Published in a High-Impact Journal
Publishing in a top journal is achievable with the right approach. How to choose the journal, frame the paper, and survive peer review.
3 min read
Clinical vs Basic-Science Research in Orthopaedics
The differences between clinical and basic-science research in orthopaedics, and how to choose your path.
9 min read
Building a Strong Research CV
How to build a research record that strengthens your CV and supports an academic or competitive clinical career.
10 min read
How to Respond to Peer Review
How to read, absorb and respond to peer-review comments so your paper survives and improves.
8 min read
Journal Club Done Right: The Surgeon's Guide to Critical Appraisal
A journal club guide for surgeons: a framework for critical appraisal beyond the abstract, making sense of surgical statistics and presenting a strong session.
12 min read
Understanding Levels of Evidence in Orthopaedics
A clear explainer of the levels-of-evidence hierarchy and what it means for reading and using research.
10 min read
How to Collaborate Well on Research Projects
How to build and sustain productive research collaborations, and avoid the pitfalls that sink them.
10 min read
How to Read a Research Paper Critically
Critical appraisal is a skill every surgeon needs. Here is a practical framework for reading a paper and judging whether to trust it.
3 min read
Finding Research Funding as a Surgical Trainee
Where surgical trainees can find research funding and how to put together a competitive application.
8 min read
Should You Do a PhD or MD in Surgery?
How to decide whether a higher research degree is right for your surgical career, and what it really involves.
10 min read
Audit and Quality Improvement Projects That Actually Matter
Most audits gather dust. Here is how to design quality-improvement work that genuinely changes practice and stands out on your CV.
4 min read
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Beginners
A beginner-friendly introduction to systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and how to get started on one.
9 min read
How to Make a Research Poster That Stands Out
How to design a research poster that communicates clearly and draws people in at a busy conference.
9 min read
How to Do a Literature Review Efficiently
A practical method for searching, screening and synthesising the literature without losing weeks to disorganised reading.
4 min read
How to Write a Conference Abstract That Gets Accepted
How to write a clear, compelling abstract that earns a place at a conference.
9 min read
Navigating Research Ethics Approval
A practical guide to getting research ethics and governance approval without it derailing your project.
8 min read
Getting Started in Research When You Have No Time
How to begin a research portfolio as a surgical trainee with a full clinical load — small, high-yield projects that actually finish.
5 min read