Tips to break down research jargon and communicate clearly
While research accessibility has improved in recent years, with many journals offering open access to their articles, this does not necessarily mean that the audience will be able to correctly and efficiently grasp the takeaways of the research. Research papers are usually written in a formal and highly structured style, which can make them difficult to follow for those who are not familiar with the conventions of academic writing.
Understanding and appreciating a research paper is particularly challenging for laypersons or researchers who are not experts in the field. Research papers often focus on specific questions, and the implications of the findings may not be immediately apparent to those outside the field. Further, technical language and jargon can make a research paper dense and inaccessible.
Jargon refers to technical language or specialized terminology used by professionals in a particular field. Using too much jargon may lead to confusion and misunderstanding, undermining the message of the study. In addition, excessive use of jargon gives the impression that the author is trying to mask a lack of understanding or originality.
Accessible writing is writing that is comprehensible and understandable to all readers. By avoiding jargon, improving readability, being sensitive and inclusive, and using visual aids, researchers can communicate their message effectively and guarantee that their research will have a wide reach and significant influence.
We will address two questions in this post: (i) Why is it important to make your research more accessible to a wider audience? (ii) How can you communicate your findings in a straightforward manner to make it comprehensible to many?
The importance of communicating research to both academia and society
There are several reasons why your research findings should go beyond the academic bubble:
Preventing misinterpretation of findings: Communicating research findings to a broader audience can help prevent the misinterpretation or misuse of the results. This is especially important in fields that have significant implications for public opinion.
Improving the impact and visibility of the work: By communicating research findings to a wider audience, researchers can increase the visibility of their work, which can lead to greater recognition of their contributions to their field.
Fostering collaborations: To continue the point above, increased visibility and recognition may even attract new funding opportunities or meaningful collaborations with industry, government, or community organizations.
Promoting public interest in science: Disseminating research findings to a broader audience can help promote public interest in science, thereby increasing public support for scientific research.
Practical tips for making your research writing accessible
Let’s break down the essentials for clear and accessible research communication.
1. Structure your article to make it accessible
a. Write in short, clear sentences and paragraphs
Use short sentences (not more than 25 words per sentence).
Avoid using complex sentences.
Use short paragraphs (not more than five sentences per paragraph).
b. Organize your content with titles, headers, and bulleted lists
Provide informative, unique titles and headings/subheadings.
Use headings/subheadings in their logical order.
Use keywords in headings and subheadings.
Where appropriate, use numbered or bulleted lists to display information (easier to scan and grasp than blocks of text).
2. Ensure crisp, clear, and concise writing
a. Keep it simple
Avoid using unnecessarily complex words and phrases. Try to use plain language whenever possible.
Avoid jargon. Why say “riparian avifauna” if you can say “river birds”?
Provide explanations for any technical terms that must be used.
Avoid acronyms, initialisms, or abbreviations if they are unnecessary or only used once.
If you need to use acronyms, initialisms, or abbreviations, write the term in full the first time and use the acronym itself thereafter.
Provide a glossary of terms and/or list of abbreviations.
Avoid using idioms; readers whose first language is not English may take them literally and not appreciate the author’s context. For example, the idiom “once in a blue moon” means something that happens very rarely, but it might be confusing to someone who is not familiar with the expression.
b. Remember that fancy does not mean better!
Be succinct and clutter free: eliminate unnecessary phrases and redundancies.
Use the active voice instead of the passive voice wherever possible.
Avoid nominalizations (also known as zombie nouns), i.e., words that are created by turning a verb or adjective into a noun. Using zombie nouns can make writing sound more abstract and stilted. For example, “investigate” is a verb, but when it is turned into the noun “investigation,” it becomes a zombie noun. Instead of saying “We conducted an investigation on XYZ,” it is simpler to write “We investigated XYZ.”
Do not depend too much on a thesaurus or on paraphrasing tools. You wouldn’t want to end up with tortured phrases like “colossal information” and “irregular esteem” instead of “big data” and “random value”!
3. Be mindful of the audience and the context
a. Be sensitive
Avoid using language or visuals that may be offensive or insensitive to certain groups.
b. Be inclusive
Use language that is inclusive of all people, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or physical disabilities.
4. Use different tools to explain complex concepts in a more accessible way
Use analogies, metaphors, and similes to simplify complex scientific concepts. For example, when explaining an aspect of the immune system, you could say “Macrophages and mast cells of the immune system are like emergency services in a major road accident.”
Use anecdotes and storytelling to humanize research, making it more relatable for the general public. For example, a scientist giving a presentation on the dangers of climate change might use an anecdote about a recent extreme weather event.
Use visual aids such as diagrams, graphs, and images to communicate complex information more effectively.
Provide clear captions and legends that let the display item stand alone.
The color, design, and size of images should be decided keeping in mind people with visual deficiencies. For instance, use an appropriate color scheme that is accessible to those with color vision deficiency.
Use plain English summaries and graphical abstracts.
A plain language or visual summary of the message at the beginning or end of the communication can help to clarify the key message.
Conclusion
Clear, concise writing that explains complex concepts in simple language is a sign of expertise and proficiency in a subject. Accessible writing is organized logically, easily readable, and comprehensible to a wide readership. In addition, for better appreciation of the key takeaways and implications of a study, content can be presented in plain, everyday language and even diverse visual formats.
Communicating research findings to both academic and non-academic audiences is important for ensuring that the research has a meaningful impact on society. It also goes a long way in building trust and collaboration between researchers and the broader community.
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