EDITOR’S NOTE: Your Article Benefits From A Compelling Conclusion

Abstract

In this era of Internet-based, open-access journals, the careful construction of a powerful conclusion section is vital to publishing an influential and highly cited paper. The most compelling opening paragraphs for the conclusion section clearly provides: (i) the overarching question that the study is trying to answer; (ii) a simplified statement about the method used to gather evidence; (iii) an unambiguously clear answer to the research question; (iv) a paragraph about why we as a community should care about these results; and (v) a specific listing of what the next fruitful steps are needed by the broader research community. By following this simply five-step formula, authors are much more likely to provide readers—and peer reviewers—with a compelling conclusion section that results in a more frequently cited and widely influential paper.