Why Papers Get Rejected? and How to Prevent it

What Are the Core Structural Elements of an Influential Paper Template?

Based on the analysis of hundreds of papers and the authors' own experiences, there exists a standardized paper structure (blueprint) that satisfies reviewers’ expectations and increases the likelihood of acceptance.

Over the years, reviewers have identified 'known patterns' of truly good papers that suit specific academic fields or disciplines. When a paper aligns with these expectations, it is more likely to leave a positive first impression and be favorably received.

The core structural elements of templates used in high-impact papers are as follows.
Moreover, to effectively use these templates, each section's presence, order, and appropriate length must be carefully adjusted according to the characteristics of the target journal or academic field.

Core Structural Elements of a Research Paper Template

1. Introduction

Most papers (approximately 99%) begin their introduction with the following components:

• Importance of the topic: Explain why the research topic is important — socially, globally, within the field, or in terms of addressing a critical issue.

• Brief literature review: Provide background by summarizing what is already known about the topic. (This can be one or two short paragraphs.)

• Research gap: Describe what is still unknown about the topic, limitations of prior studies, or unexplored areas, using one paragraph or a few sentences.

• Research aim: Clearly state the objective of the study.

✅ Optional Elements

• Contributions of your paper: You may include a paragraph emphasizing the paper’s contributions after stating the research aim.

• Structure of the paper: You may include a paragraph at the end of the introduction outlining the overall structure of the paper.

2. Literature Review

This section is optional, and while more common in the social sciences,
it is often omitted or treated differently in the exact sciences.

• Purpose: To briefly summarize what is already known in the field, and to logically lead to the research gap and the need for your study.

• Structure: The brief literature review used in the introduction can be expanded into a full literature review section. Each short paragraph can become a subsection, or a few paragraphs can form a mini-section under the literature review.

3. Theoretical Framework or Conceptual Framework

This is also optional, and whether it is included depends on the nature of the research and academic field.

• Content: This section presents and defines the theories or concepts included in the study, explains why those theories/concepts were selected, and clearly describes how they influence the research methodology.

4. Methodology or Materials and Methods

In the methodology section (often called "Materials and Methods" in the natural sciences), the following three key elements must be included:

1. What or Who You Studied:

a. What or who were the research subjects (people, materials, or objects)?
b. How much was studied (amount/volume)?
c. How were the samples/materials obtained? (e.g., random sampling, method and characteristics of material acquisition)

2. Research Tools and Procedures:

a. What tools were used to conduct the research? (e.g., surveys, interviews, equipment, field notes)
b. What were the step-by-step procedures used to study the research subjects with those tools?

3. Data Analysis:

a. What was the basis or method for analyzing the data?
b. How was each stage of analysis performed? This must be described in detail.

✅ Optional Elements

• Context of your study: Include this only if the research was conducted outside the laboratory and the context in which the research was conducted (e.g., climate, population, location) is likely to influence the methodology or results.

• Results, Discussion, and Conclusion:
  These three sections may be separated (Results / Discussion / Conclusion) or partially combined, depending on the field.
  (Examples: Results and Discussion, separate Conclusion; Results separate, combined Discussion and Conclusion; or all three merged.)

  Regardless of structure, the core elements remain the same.

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Results

• Content: Clearly present the research findings.

• Structure: The best way to organize results is by grouping them according to research questions, objectives, or hypotheses. These can serve as subheadings within the Results section. Alternatively, you can categorize results based on key themes aligned with the research objectives.

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Discussion

• Restating Results: If the Results section is separate, briefly restate the main findings in each paragraph of the Discussion section.

• Comparison with Previous Studies: Compare your results with those of previous researchers. If no comparable results exist, state this clearly. You may briefly cite studies already mentioned in the Introduction or Literature Review.

• Explanation of Results: If results are surprising or differ from prior studies, provide possible explanations for these differences.

• Interpretation of Results: Explain what your results actually mean ("So what?"), and convey the key takeaway message clearly.

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Conclusion

• Practical and Theoretical Implications:
  Explain how the results impact practice and how they influence theory or research in the relevant field. This can also be presented as a separate subsection.

• Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research:
  Present the limitations of your study, defend your methodological choices, and provide useful suggestions for future researchers based on these limitations and your findings.

How Does Meeting Reviewer Expectations Influence Paper Acceptance Rates?

Meeting reviewer expectations has a significant impact on the likelihood of paper acceptance, especially during the early stages of review, where the first impression often plays a decisive role.

Below are the ways in which meeting reviewer expectations can affect the acceptance probability of your paper:

1. The Importance of Forming a Positive First Impression

• Very Quick Judgment: Reviewers, like book readers, form a first impression quickly. On average, it takes only 39 seconds to form an initial judgment. This is surprisingly fast.

• Known Pattern Formation: Through years of reviewing, reviewers have developed a mental image of a “truly good paper” that fits their field, based on a known pattern. This mental image helps them recognize quality early on.

• Higher Acceptance Rate When Expectations Are Met:
  When a paper aligns with the pattern reviewers expect, it creates a positive impression, increasing its chance of acceptance. Writing a paper that meets these structural and stylistic expectations can help increase the probability of publication.

2. The Negative Impact of a Poor First Impression

• Failure to Meet Expectations: When a paper fails to meet reviewer expectations, it’s more likely to leave a negative first impression, which lowers the chances of acceptance.

• Lasting Negative Effects: Once a poor impression is formed, it's extremely difficult to reverse it. Even if the reviewer reads the paper thoroughly, their final evaluation is often subconsciously biased by that initial negative impression.

3. The Effectiveness of Using a Blueprint

• The template (or “blueprint”) suggested in the provided materials is based on analysis of hundreds of high-level papers. It helps clarify what reviewers expect in terms of structure and format, based on top papers in each academic field.

• By using such a blueprint, you can write and structure your paper in the way reviewers in your field or target journal expect. This helps make the paper more suitable for high-quality journals, and can significantly speed up the publication process by increasing the likelihood of acceptance.