Infographic: Importance of describing the setting of a study in your manuscript
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The setting of a research study refers to the physical, social, or experimental context in which the research is conducted. This includes the location, time period, population, and environmental factors. Most of these details need to be reported in the Methods section and sometimes in the study abstract too (consulting a seasoned peer reviewer at Editage can help you know what to report where in your paper). The below infographic explains why it is necessary to describe the setting of your study in your manuscript.
Why you should describe your study setting
| Reason | Explanation |
| To contextualize the research | Provides readers with important context regarding the population, culture, and environment. |
| To identify potential confounders | Helps readers identify factors that may have influenced results (e.g., climate, cultural norms, political conditions). |
| To boost replicability | Facilitates the ability for other researchers to understand influential factors and replicate the study. |
| To facilitate generalization | Enables readers to understand external validity and the applicability of results to other populations. |
| To enhance transparency and credibility | Increases trust in the research by providing readers with a comprehensive picture. |
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