What to write in a scientific paper Series: A rev to Zhang,2019

When I received the message that the review stage for my paper is finished, I feel much relieved. Major Revisions, at least, better than Reject. After two rows of revisions, my supervisor, Prof Tian is still not content with my paper and he points out that it needs substantial improvement in Discussion Section. For the next few days, I will update some reviews which contain my personal views towards previous studies, and I try to find a cozy, comfortable way to structure papers.

A Review to From intention to action: How do personal attitudes, facilities accessibility, and government stimulus matter for household waste sorting? Journal of Environmental Management

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Zhang, B., Lai, K. H., Wang, B., & Wang, Z. (2019). From intention to action: How do personal attitudes, facilities accessibility, and government stimulus matter for household waste sorting?. Journal of environmental management, 233, 447-458.

ABSTRACT

• Question: There is a notable discrepancy between intention on household waste sorting and the actions taken to support this environmental initiative among residents in China.
• Aim of the study: This study aims to explore the influences of personal attitudes, facilities accessibility, and government stimulus on this discrepancy.
• Methods: Built on …. among Chinese residents.
• Results:: Main result count for 2/5 of the abstract, while additional results counts for 1/5
• Meaning: One general sentence

Findings Summary

1. Discrepancy exists
2. Facilities accessibility and government stimulus weaken discrepancy (By which mean?)
3. Facilities accessibility and government stimulus do not moderate the intention-behaviour relationship
4. Personal norm sig, Subjective norms and perceived behavioural control insig.

Main text

Intro

Note that numbers below stands for subsections in each sections.

1. 3 sentences, macro-level background, display Data. Waste Produced
2. China level, introduce waste sorting.
3. Introduce problem: How to promote household waste sorting is important for source separation of waste.
4. A short general literature Review, turning to unsolved dilemma：However, most of the aforementioned studies do not pay special attention to the discrepancy between behavioral intention and actual behavior around waste sorting. Introduce its importance.
5. A long Literature Review for this dilemma and comparison.
6. Contribution of the article: theoretical and practical. The importance of the study.
7. Main work in the study and paper structure.

Conceptual model and hypotheses

• Introduce Conceptual model and it in the study, explain the contribution.
• Two main sets of hypotheses with each follows its explanation.

Methodology

• PLS-SEM
• Measurement design and questionnaire development
  • Explain the design of the questionnaire: including its constructs
  • Tests
• Case Study
  • Time, subjects and processing

Results

1. Intention-behaviour discordance(Comparing means using t-test)
2. Path coeffient reports of three models and confirmations of hypotheses.

Discussions

1. Interpret results of existing discrepancy
2. Possible reasons
3. Findings differ from previous studies
4. Direct interpret of the results: giving examples and policy implications
5. Other findings and comparison
6. Limitations

Conclusion

• Main work.
• Findings.

Reflection

• Results are just the pure interpret of the result.
• If the results is too little to support a complete sets of discussion, try to combine examples and implications into discussion section.
• In the data and method section, talk more about the design and the robustness of the studies. Explain your constructs if possible.
• Mention your contribution more in sections.