Writing a Research Paper in Writing a Research Paper in AMA StyleAMA Style

These are the basics of using AMA These are the basics of using AMA documentationdocumentation

Suggestion: Follow the PowerPoint to form Suggestion: Follow the PowerPoint to form a general idea about how to use AMA.a general idea about how to use AMA.

Take notes Take notes sparinglysparingly.. Obtain a handbook or handout that covers Obtain a handbook or handout that covers

AMA and keep it next to you as you do AMA and keep it next to you as you do your research and writing.your research and writing.

Different ways of saying the same Different ways of saying the same thing:thing:

Giving credit to your Giving credit to your sources.sources.

Documenting your Documenting your sources.sources.

Citing your sources.Citing your sources. Using in-text Using in-text

citations.citations.

When you write a research paper in When you write a research paper in a health care field, you might use a health care field, you might use

sources like these:sources like these:

Primary sources: Primary sources: Research that you Research that you conducted yourself, such as patient conducted yourself, such as patient interviews or case studies. interviews or case studies. Secondary sources: Secondary sources: Professional books Professional books or journals on health care topics, or journals on health care topics, studies others have conducted that studies others have conducted that focus on health care topics, notes or focus on health care topics, notes or handouts from classes or conferences handouts from classes or conferences you attended, Web publications, etc. you attended, Web publications, etc.

When you borrow from an outside When you borrow from an outside source, there are three basic ways to source, there are three basic ways to

use the material:use the material: Quote directlyQuote directly Summarize Summarize ParaphraseParaphrase

Writers frequently use Writers frequently use all three of these all three of these strategies in the same strategies in the same paper.paper.

To quote from a source: CHECKTo quote from a source: CHECK

Use the exact words of the source. Don’t Use the exact words of the source. Don’t change a thing!change a thing!

Enclose short quotes (up to 40 words) in Enclose short quotes (up to 40 words) in quotation marks. The page number goes quotation marks. The page number goes outside of the quotation marks and before outside of the quotation marks and before the end punctuation.the end punctuation.

For longer quotes, don’t use quotation For longer quotes, don’t use quotation marks. Indent the whole quotation five marks. Indent the whole quotation five spaces.spaces.

If you MUST make a change in the If you MUST make a change in the quote, use brackets quote, use brackets [ ][ ] around the around the

item you changed.item you changed. If you leave something out of a If you leave something out of a

quote, indicate this with ellipses: quote, indicate this with ellipses: ……

When you paraphrase:When you paraphrase:

Put the information into your own Put the information into your own words.words.

Keep all of the points the author Keep all of the points the author made.made.

Keep the points in the same order as Keep the points in the same order as they appear in the source.they appear in the source.

Do not shorten/condense anything.Do not shorten/condense anything. Do not use quotation marks.Do not use quotation marks.

When you summarize:When you summarize:

Put the information into your own Put the information into your own words.words.

Shorten/condense the material.Shorten/condense the material. Do not use quotation marks.Do not use quotation marks.

Rule of thumb for deciding what to Rule of thumb for deciding what to document when you write a document when you write a

research paper:research paper: Borrowed language (direct quotations)Borrowed language (direct quotations) Borrowed ideas, explanations, theories, etc. Borrowed ideas, explanations, theories, etc.

(paraphrases)(paraphrases) Borrowed statistics, information, definitions, Borrowed statistics, information, definitions,

etc.etc.

All need to be documented.All need to be documented.

Where do you put the information Where do you put the information about your sources in an AMA research about your sources in an AMA research

paper? Two places:paper? Two places:

In in-text citations—that is, right in In in-text citations—that is, right in the body of your paperthe body of your paperANDAND

On the References page at the end of On the References page at the end of your paper.your paper.

Each documentation system—Each documentation system—AMA, APA, MLA, CMS, and CSE—AMA, APA, MLA, CMS, and CSE—

has its own very specific rules. has its own very specific rules. You You don’t have to memorize themdon’t have to memorize them——you you can use a style book or a can use a style book or a handout—but make sure you handout—but make sure you

follow them carefully.follow them carefully.

American Medical Association American Medical Association (AMA)(AMA)

Frequently used in medical writing.Frequently used in medical writing.

In the following examples of AMA in-In the following examples of AMA in-text citations, the actual source text citations, the actual source

information is in information is in yellow.yellow. Notice that Notice that where you insert this information can where you insert this information can signal the beginning and end of the signal the beginning and end of the

material you borrowed.material you borrowed.

It is important to show the reader, as It is important to show the reader, as clearly as you can, where the material clearly as you can, where the material you borrowed from your source starts you borrowed from your source starts

and stops.and stops.

In most cases, AMA uses In most cases, AMA uses superscript numbers for in-superscript numbers for in-text citations, starting with text citations, starting with 1. 1.

Example: The estimation is based on Example: The estimation is based on the assumption that 55 and 107 g the assumption that 55 and 107 g water is produced for every 100 g water is produced for every 100 g carbohydrate and fat oxidized, carbohydrate and fat oxidized, respectivelyrespectively1717..

When using the same When using the same source again, use the same source again, use the same superscript number, but add superscript number, but add

the specific page you’re the specific page you’re referring to:referring to:

AltmanAltman33 reported that the aversion to reported that the aversion to organ donation decreased in pietistic organ donation decreased in pietistic denominations, which supported denominations, which supported GilmanGilman1(p33) 1(p33) and LaFollette’sand LaFollette’s44 earlier earlier findings.findings.

How to superscript on a PC:How to superscript on a PC: Highlight citation number, then hit Highlight citation number, then hit

“control,” “shift” and “+.”“control,” “shift” and “+.”

Here’s a frequently asked question Here’s a frequently asked question about using in-text citations:about using in-text citations:

Do I need to keep inserting a superscript Do I need to keep inserting a superscript number for my source over and over number for my source over and over again?again?

Answer:Answer:

Insert the information as often as you think Insert the information as often as you think the reader needs it.the reader needs it.

Keep asking yourself, “Am I positive that the Keep asking yourself, “Am I positive that the reader knows where I found the information reader knows where I found the information in this sentence or paragraph and whose in this sentence or paragraph and whose words/ideas/language I’m using here?”words/ideas/language I’m using here?”

If you’re not positive, throw in another in-If you’re not positive, throw in another in-text citation. It’s better to use too many than text citation. It’s better to use too many than too few.too few.

Your Your in-text citationsin-text citations tell the tell the reader to look at your reader to look at your

referencesreferences under the name under the name of your source in order to of your source in order to

find find publishing information.publishing information.

In fact, savvy readers who are In fact, savvy readers who are researching a topic always check the researching a topic always check the References pages of their sources to References pages of their sources to find additional sources that will help find additional sources that will help

them with their own writing and them with their own writing and research projects.research projects.

You might want to try this You might want to try this yourself!yourself!

Your References (page)Your References (page)

It comes at the end of your paper, It comes at the end of your paper, starting on a separate page.starting on a separate page.

It is a list of all of the sources you It is a list of all of the sources you used in your paper.used in your paper.

References page, continued…References page, continued…

The title of this page is The title of this page is ReferencesReferences. Do not . Do not call it References Page. Do not put call it References Page. Do not put quotation marks around it. Do not quotation marks around it. Do not underline References or italicize it.underline References or italicize it.

Center the words References at the top of Center the words References at the top of the page.the page.

Alphabetize the citations according to Alphabetize the citations according to authors’ last names.authors’ last names.

You will write a full citation for each You will write a full citation for each source (book, journal, website, etc.), source (book, journal, website, etc.), giving as much information to your giving as much information to your

reader as possible about the source.reader as possible about the source.

AMA has a specific order for the pieces AMA has a specific order for the pieces of information in each citation. We will of information in each citation. We will

look at this order later.look at this order later.

Reference page, contd.Reference page, contd.

Keep an AMA guide on hand. Pay close Keep an AMA guide on hand. Pay close attention to: attention to: What type of information goes on the References What type of information goes on the References

page.page. What the order of this information is for an AMA What the order of this information is for an AMA

citation (as opposed to other styles).citation (as opposed to other styles). How punctuation is used in AMA. (Yes, it does How punctuation is used in AMA. (Yes, it does

matter.)matter.)Tip: Be sure to copy your source information right Tip: Be sure to copy your source information right

away—when you are actually using the source—so away—when you are actually using the source—so you’ll have it when you develop the References you’ll have it when you develop the References page.page.

Here is the basic format for a Here is the basic format for a book with one author:book with one author:

Davis NM. Davis NM. Medical Abbreviations: Medical Abbreviations: 15,000 Conveniences at the Expense 15,000 Conveniences at the Expense of Communications and Safetyof Communications and Safety. 10. 10thth ed. Huntingdon Valley, PA: Neil M. ed. Huntingdon Valley, PA: Neil M. Davis Associates; 2001:173.Davis Associates; 2001:173.

Last name, first initials: Last name, first initials: Title of WorkTitle of Work. . Edition. Edition. Place of publication: Place of publication: Publisher; Publisher; year: page number.year: page number.

The format for a book citation The format for a book citation shows you the “skeleton” of all shows you the “skeleton” of all AMA citations…AMA citations…

Chapter in book:Chapter in book:

Wallace RJ Jr., Griffith DE. Wallace RJ Jr., Griffith DE. Antimycobacterial agents. In: Kasper Antimycobacterial agents. In: Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Longo DL, Braunwald DL, Fauci AS, Longo DL, Braunwald E, Hauser SL, Jameson JL, eds. E, Hauser SL, Jameson JL, eds. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Harrison’s Principles of Internal MedicineMedicine. 16. 16thth ed. New York, NY: ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2005:946.McGraw-Hill; 2005:946.

Books compiled by group, Books compiled by group, agency, or committee (no agency, or committee (no

author or editor)author or editor)

United States Pharmacopeia Drug United States Pharmacopeia Drug Information: Drug Information for the Information: Drug Information for the Health Care Professional Health Care Professional . Vol 1, 23. Vol 1, 23rdrd ed. Greenwood Village, CO: Thomson ed. Greenwood Village, CO: Thomson Micromedex; 2003:2514-2517. Micromedex; 2003:2514-2517.

Serial books that are Serial books that are updated:updated:

Tatro DS, ed. Tatro DS, ed. Drug Interaction FactsDrug Interaction Facts. . St. Louis, MO: Facts and St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons:1104.Comparisons:1104.

Journal articles:Journal articles:

Smith J, Canton EM: Weight-based Smith J, Canton EM: Weight-based administration of dalteparin in obese administration of dalteparin in obese patients. patients. Am J Health-Syst PharmAm J Health-Syst Pharm. . 2003; 60:683-687.2003; 60:683-687.

Source from a Web SiteSource from a Web Site

National Institutes of Health. NIH National Institutes of Health. NIH guidelines on the inclusion of women guidelines on the inclusion of women and minorities as subjects in clinical and minorities as subjects in clinical research. Available at: research. Available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not94-100.html. Accessed on July 19, 2000.. Accessed on July 19, 2000.

Source from a DatabaseSource from a Database Kemp, JP, Kemp JA. Management of Kemp, JP, Kemp JA. Management of

Asthma in Children. Asthma in Children. Am Fam Am Fam Physician Physician [online]. 2001;63:1341-8, [online]. 2001;63:1341-8, 1353-4. Available from: Ebsco 1353-4. Available from: Ebsco Medline Comprehensive Fulltext. Medline Comprehensive Fulltext. Accessed June 4, 2001.Accessed June 4, 2001.

Electronic sources varyElectronic sources vary

Even your instructors probably Even your instructors probably have to look up AMA format for have to look up AMA format for some of these online sources. some of these online sources. Your best bet is to look them Your best bet is to look them up in the up in the AMA Manual of Style, AMA Manual of Style, 1010thth ed. ed. or or http://healthlinks.washington.ehttp://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/styleguides/ama.html.du/hsl/styleguides/ama.html.

What is an abstract?What is an abstract?

It’s a 75- to 100-word summary of It’s a 75- to 100-word summary of your paper. It provides readers with your paper. It provides readers with an overview:an overview: Thesis/main ideaThesis/main idea Key pointsKey points Research applications or Research applications or implications of your findingsimplications of your findings

Abstracts are optional, but your Abstracts are optional, but your instructor may require one.instructor may require one.

The abstract is on a separate page The abstract is on a separate page immediately after the title page.immediately after the title page.

Center the word “Abstract” one inch from Center the word “Abstract” one inch from the top of the page. the top of the page.

Where to find helpful information.Where to find helpful information.

1. Using the best sources/using sources 1. Using the best sources/using sources correctly: Take the Information Literacy correctly: Take the Information Literacy pre-test on MU’s website.pre-test on MU’s website.

2. American Medical Association. (2007). 2. American Medical Association. (2007). AMA Style Guide. AMA Style Guide. http://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/stylhttp://healthlinks.washington.edu/hsl/styleguides/ama.html. Accessed September eguides/ama.html. Accessed September 8, 2009.8, 2009.

3. Help with any part of the writing 3. Help with any part of the writing process: Visit the Writing Center (room process: Visit the Writing Center (room 2410).2410).