Title |
The title should be descriptive, clear and concise as it gives readers an indication of what the paper is about. Avoid using jargon, formulae and abbreviations in the title. |
Abstract |
An abstract is a short summary of what the study is about, it addresses the main sections of your research paper. Readers read the abstract to determine whether the research paper is relevant to their needs and whether they should read it in its entirety, which gives them an overview of the paper’s main points. Your abstract must comprise of Background, Aim, Setting, Methods, Results, Conclusion and Recommendations. Maximum number of words: 150 to 250 words. |
Acknowledgements |
Acknowledgments: A brief description of the contributions made by those who helped with the work but are not eligible for authorship should be included in the Acknowledgments section. The authors are responsible for making sure that each person named in the Acknowledgments has granted permission to be included. |
Keywords |
Each contribution should be accompanied by a list of not more than 6 keywords. |
1. Introduction |
The introduction should present both the social and scientific significance of the study, along with its aim and objectives: Social significance: Begin the introduction by clearly and logically arguing the importance or relevance of the study, using evidence from existing literature to support your case. Scientific significance: Next, highlight the originality of the study by summarizing the current knowledge on the research question or topic and identifying the knowledge gap that this study seeks to fill. This argument should also be supported by evidence from the literature. Conceptual framework: In some cases, it may be necessary to explain the theoretical foundation of the research and how these theories are interconnected within a conceptual framework. Reference the literature that underpins this framework. Aim and objectives: Finally, the introduction should end with a concise summary of the study’s aim and objectives. |
2. Literature Review |
Each study has a theoretical foundation which is clear from a comprehensive literature review. The literature review summarises the subject field and evaluates several sources to support research questions. It helps researchers understand the current knowledge in their field, including its boundaries and limitations. Literature reviews can also help researchers find gaps in the literature, resolve conflicts between studies, and place their research within the context of existing literature. |
3. Research Design and Methodology |
Research methods and design: This section should cover the following elements: Research approach & Study design: Provide an outline of the study design used. Study population and sampling strategy: Detail the study population, including any inclusion or exclusion criteria. Specify the intended sample size, along with your sample size calculation or rationale. Explain the sampling strategy and describe in practical terms how it was implemented. Intervention (if applicable): If the study included intervention and comparison groups, describe the intervention in detail and outline what occurred with the comparison groups. Data collection: Identify the tools used for data collection and their validity. Explain in practical terms how the data were gathered and any significant issues encountered, such as language barriers. Data analysis: Describe the processes for capturing, checking, and cleaning data. Outline the analysis method, including any statistical tests used or the steps followed in qualitative data analysis. Ethical considerations: Confirm that approval was obtained from the author’s institution or a relevant ethics committee, and provide the institution’s name and ethical clearance number. |
4. Research Findings and Discussion |
4.1 Results: Present the study’s results in a logical order that aligns with the study’s aims and objectives. Use tables and figures as needed to display findings. Include quotations (verbatim responses) to support your interpretation of qualitative data. 4.2 Discussion: The discussion section should cover the following four aspects: Key findings: Provide a summary of the main findings without repeating the detailed results. Interpretation of key findings: Discuss how these findings connect to previous research, existing knowledge, practices, or policies. Delineations and Limitation: Highlight the strengths and limitations of your methods and what readers should consider when interpreting the results. |
5. Recommendations and Conclusion |
Implications or recommendations: Outline the implications of your study or suggest recommendations for future research, policy, or practice, ensuring that these recommendations are directly based on your findings. Conclusion: Offer a concise summary of the results, highlighting their meaning or significance in relation to each of the study’s objectives. |
6. References |
When at all feasible, authors should include direct citations to the primary research sources. Neither authors nor editors nor peer reviewers should use references to further their own interests. IJMP adheres to HARVARD STYLE OF REFERENCING |
7. Annexures |
This information serves to bolster the methods or conclusions presented in the article and may contribute to the reproducibility of the results. Examples include raw data, processed data, and similar materials. |