Article Types

Summary Table

Please view the table below for a summary of the types of articles that will be accepted for publication in Investigations along with the manuscript style guidelines.

*The word count does not include references.

Investigations offers several opportunities for publication (Table 1). To determine into which category your publication will fall into, we provide the details about each below

Original Research/ Full Article

These are details of completed original research that is performed by a student researcher at IPFW. They include hypothesis, background study, methods, results, interpretation of findings, and a discussion of possible implications. The research question being answered will need to be original and compelling. The following are the sections that need to be included in the manuscript: (1) Introduction (2) Materials & methods (3) Results (4) Discussion & (5) References. Sections (3) & (4) can be combined into one Results & Discussion section depending on the author(s) choice.

Research Communications

Typically shorter in length than an original research article, these are for research that is currently in progress or for projects that cannot be developed into a Full Article. There are six main sections to include in these communications: importance of the problem, unknown, experimental/methodological approach, and data collected, results and analysis, and conclusions.

Research Snapshots

Typically 300-600 words in length, these highlight key elements of research articles published by IPFW students and faculty elsewhere or theses/dissertations submitted by IPFW students as part of their graduate studies.

Review Articles

Typically 3000 – 7000 words long, these articles summarize the current status of research /understanding on a topic. These articles are expected to teach the reader about (a) the main people working in a field, (b) recent major advances and discoveries, (c) significant gaps in research, (d) current debates and (e) ideas of where research might go next. These can include writing assignments written for specific classes. The student should work with the mentor to format the article according to the guidelines of IUJ.

A review article or review paper is based on other published articles. It does not report original research. Review articles generally summarize the existing literature on a topic in an attempt to explain the current state of understanding on the topic. Review articles can be of three kinds:

1. A narrative review explains the existing knowledge on a topic based on all the published research available on the topic.
2. A systematic review searches for the answer to a particular question in the existing scientific literature on a topic.
3. A meta-analysis compares and combines the findings of previously published studies, usually to assess the effectiveness of an intervention or mode of treatment.

Perspective, Opinion, and Commentary

Perspective pieces are scholarly reviews of fundamental concepts or prevalent ideas in a field. These are usually essays that present a personal point of view critiquing widespread notions pertaining to a field. A perspective piece can be a review of a single concept or a few related concepts.

Opinion articles present the author’s viewpoint on the interpretation, analysis, or methods used in a particular study. It allows the author to comment on the strength and weakness of a theory or hypothesis. Opinion articles are usually based on constructive criticism and should be backed by evidence. Such articles promote discussion on current issues concerning science.

Commentaries are short articles usually around 1000-1500 words long that draw attention to or present a criticism of a previously published article, book, or report, explaining why it interested them and how it might be illuminating for readers.

Book Review

The aim of a book review is to provide insight and opinion on recently published scholarly books.