Moderní trendy v analýzách a mapování
kriminality
+Geoinformační technologie v sociální
geografii
Petr Kubíček
kubicek@geogr.muni.cz
Laboratory on Geoinformatics and Cartography (LGC)
Institute of Geography
Masaryk University
Czech Republic
Lessons plan for spring 2019
• 3 sessions dealing with:
– Scientific writing principles – focus on
state-of-the-art
– Predictive modelling principles
– Crime mapping and modelling (general
principles)
– Practical exercises
– Team work
– English
– Resulting in EN (journal) article (?)
• April 12th, April 26 th (??) – negotiable,
let me know ASAP. 2Thursday, 4 April 2019
Ice breaking session
• You know who I am.
• Who are you?
– Briefly describe your research topic and future
plans.
Scientific writing
Petr Kubíček
kubicek@geogr.muni.cz
Laboratory on Geoinformatics and Cartography (LGC)
Institute of Geography
Masaryk University
Czech Republic
Aim
• To enable beginning researchers/writers
to have the well-founded confidence to
submit their scientific articles to impact
factor journals and complete
dissertations that will pass first time.
5Thursday, 4 April 2019
7
Publication strategy in geography
• „scientometry― – all around Europe.
• Even for PGS.
• Connected with – accreditation and
department future.
• Why is this relevant for Ph.D. students??:
• Dissertation thesis – monograph x article
series (+ intro + conclusion).
• Money talks – Specific research, category A
for IF and Scopus publications (20 – 45 K).
How to …?
• Quality vs. quantity
• No points – conference proceedings
(work in progress, discuss the
preliminary results), journal (CZ +
EU).
• Minimum – SCOPUS journals (AIMT,
Annals of GIS, …)
• WoS – journals with IF
• Geography (67 journals indexed on
WoS).
• Multidisciplinary research.
Where do I start?
Key Elements of Good Scientific Writing
(Kathleen Fahy )
– Have an argument: (hypothesis, thesis)
– Use evidence to support your argument
– Achieve clarity & brevity with:
•careful and consistent word choice
•short sentences with subject first
•Clear and logical structure, flow
•Coherence and avoidance of extraneous ideas or
data.
Thursday, 4 April 2019
13
Word Choices
• Accuracy
– Define your key terms
– Choose precise words and use the same word consistently
each time
• Brevity
– Use the fewest words possible
• Clarity
– Use simple words so that an educated reader can
understand you
Thursday, 4 April 2019
14
Accuracy in Word Choices
Word Definition Example
Affect (noun) To act upon or to influence The environment negatively
affected the wellbeing
Effect (verb) The result of a cause Failure to progress is an effect of
an epidural
Practise (verb) To do repeatedly in order to
gain a skill
The practise of midwifery
Practice (noun) The exercise of a profession Midwifery practice
Its (possessive
pronoun)
Its, like hers and his, does not
have an apostrophe
Nursing has its problems
It’s (contraction) It’s = it is It’s a lovely day today
Thursday, 4 April 2019
15
Simplicity in Word Choices
Poor Word Choices Better Word Choices
Utilised Used
Acquired Got
Ascertained Made sure
Subsequent Next
Voluminous Large, full, big
Remainder Rest
Thursday, 4 April 2019
16
Scientific Sentences
A sentence is a group of words about a
single idea, which contains a least one
subject and at least one verb. SVOMPT
(word classes).
Scientific sentences are short. The subject
of the sentence comes first.
Thursday, 4 April 2019
17
Write Short Sentences
Poor Sentence
When tobacco smoke is inhaled it takes 10-20
seconds for nicotine to be delivered to the
central nervous system via the arterial
circulation.
When tobacco smoke (not the main subject) is
inhaled it takes 10-20 seconds for nicotine to
be delivered (passive verb) to the central
nervous system via the arterial circulation.
Improved Shorter Sentence
Nicotine (main subject) takes 10—20 seconds
to reach (active verb, simple language) the
brain after inhalation.
Thursday, 4 April 2019
18
Use Active (not passive) Voice
• In the active voice the subject names the
actor
Example: Passive
• Participants under aged 14, who did not get
parental consent, were not recruited.
Improved: Active
• I decided not to recruit participants under
age 14 unless they had parental consent.Thursday, 4 April 2019
19
Characteristics of Good Paragraphs
Paragraph begins with a topic sentence (i.e.
the main idea) and the paragraph has:
• Unity: Each sentence is on the topic of the
paragraph.
• Coherence: The relationship between the
sentences is clear and logical.
• Development: The main idea of the paragraph is
well supported with specific evidence, examples
and details.
• Length: Paragraphs should be a minimum of 3
sentences
Thursday, 4 April 2019
20
What is wrong with this paragraph?
Women who have an episiotomy more frequently report
painful intercourse and marital problems six months after
birth. Compared to women who had a 1st or 2nd degree
tear, episiotomy is associated with higher rates of perineal
trauma in subsequent births. Episiotomy is associated with
long-term morbidity. Urinary incontinence is preventable.
Problems:
– Topic sentence is 2nd last
– Last sentence is not related to the topic of the paragraph
Thursday, 4 April 2019
21
Improved Paragraph
Episiotomy is associated with long-term morbidity.
Compared to women who had a 1st or 2nd degree tear,
episiotomy is associated with higher rates of perineal
trauma in subsequent births. Women who had an
episiotomy were more likely to report painful intercourse
and ongoing marital problems six months after birth.
Better because:
– Topic sentence first and gives overview
– Supporting sentences give detail and support
– All sentences relate to the topic sentence
Thursday, 4 April 2019
22
Generic Structure of Scientific Paper: AIMRDC
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
Thursday, 4 April 2019
23
References
1. ICMJE (2013) Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly
Work in Medical Journals. Available at: www.icmje.org Accessed September 8th, 2013.
2. Cargill, M. O’Connor, P. (2009) Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps. WileyBlackburn.
West Sussex, UK
Title and Keywords
Title Guidelines
• Titles contain key words.
• Some are more important than others.
• Place key words near the start of the title
– makes it easier for reader to determine
what paper is about.
• Insert searchable keywords in your title.
• This makes it easier for your work to be
found using web‐based engine.
Compare – word search
• Interim Technical Report on progress from the ADAPPT
project.
• Optimising use of Pesticidal Plants against cattle ticks and
maize pests in Africa: ADAPPT Project interim report.
Compare – different titles (journal specific)
• Fat Rats: What Makes Them Eat?
– New Scientist.
• The role of Luteinising Hormone to Obesity in the Zucker
Rat
– Journal of Neuroendocrinology
• Rats hold the key to a gorgeous body.
– The Daily Mail.
The Keyword List
• opportunity to add words used by indexing
and abstracting services.
• They are often but not exclusively additional
to those in the title.
• Helps others find your work and cite it.
• All research quality now determined by
citation indices.
• How are the citations measured?
Research Abstracts
• Background (context)
• Purpose (aim or question)
• Methods (participants, setting, data
collection and analysis)
• Results (main findings, statistical
significance, effect size)
• Discussion/Conclusion (clinical significance,
recommendations, limitations)
• Abstract must accurately reflect the content of the article
Thursday, 4 April 2019
27
Elements of Effective Introductions to
Research Articles
Write in a way that takes the reader from
general to specific, from the known to the
unknown.
1. Problem and broad context for present study
2. What is already known
3. Need for present study made clear
4. Purpose/Aim or Question for present study
5. Define key terms
6. Optional justification for the present study
!Cite only directly relevant research. Do not report data or
results from present study!
Thursday, 4 April 2019
28
Methods Section of Research Paper
• Purpose: to demonstrate that the
methods were scientifically
rigorous and thus give
confidence that the results of the
study are credible.
• In experimental studies – call for
replicability or reproducibility
(?).
Thursday, 4 April 2019
29
Methods Section (Generic)
Statistical Methods
• Describe in enough detail for reader to be able
judge credibility
• Reference credible sources for methods of
collection and analysis
• Define statistical terms, abbreviations, and
most symbols
• Specify the statistical software package(s)
and versions used
• When possible, quantify findings and present
appropriate indicators of measurement error
(e.g. confidence intervals)
Thursday, 4 April 2019
30
Results (Generic)
• Only report results relevant to the
hypothesis/question in your Introduction
• GENERIC for all journals
• Individual – journal dependat
• Data are facts (numbers); they cannot stand alone.
• Most data belong in figures, graphs and tables.
• Statistics belong with data and therefore should
(mostly) be in the figures, graphs and tables.
• Present data after stating the results they support.
• Results are the meaning of the data; they must be
stated
Thursday, 4 April 2019
31
Results (Generic)
• Emphasize only the most important results in text
• Put supplementary materials in an appendix
(online)
• Give numeric results, not just derivatives (e.g.
parentages)
• Specify how derivatives were calculated, and their
statistical significance
• Restrict tables and figures to those needed to
explain the argument
• Use graphs as an alternative to tables; do not
duplicate data.
Thursday, 4 April 2019
32
Discussion/Conclusion
• Purpose: ―To emphasise the new and
important aspects of the study and the
conclusions that follow from them in
the context of the totality of the best
available evidence‖.
• Briefly summarise the main findings .
• Then explore possible explanations.
• Then compare and contrast your results with results
from relevant studies.
Conclusion
• Link the conclusions to the aim/s of your study.
• Make recommendations (research, practice, theory).33
References
• Ensure that the formatting of the citations in the
text and reference list conform with the style of the
journal your article will be sent to.
• This really bugs editors – get it right!
• Laziness here could tempt a referee to assume
laziness elsewhere in carrying out the work or even
collating results.
• Every part of your written work gives an impression
of your overall scientific quality.
• Quote your colleagues (Citation Index – H) – if
relevant!
35
Non native speakers specifics
• Direct English writing vs translation
• Carefully consider the quality!
• Proofreading:
– Grammar and overall legibility
– Terminology (content specific)
– Structure (see all above section)
• Sloppy English vs English style
HOW TO SUBMITT?
PRACTICAL PROBLEMS
Progress in Human Geography
Plagiarism and tools to avoid it
• Check the CrossCheck 
Originality report and similarity
index
• What is a bearable
level of similarity
index?
• What is the level
of conformity with
particular
sources?
Reviewign process
• Time consuming (1 year +)
• Reviewer Blind Comments to Author:
– Please include specific, detailed comments
regarding the originality, scientific quality,
relevance to the field of this journal, and
presentation. Check the need for tables and
figures, and the adequacy of the references.
• Acceptance (with minor/major revision,
reject…)
• Even negative reviews can help!
• Do not hesitate do re-submit!
• Choose journals with DOI.
40
Main Reasons Articles Rejected
PROBLEM SOLUTION
Novelty not explained Show how your results are different from current
knowledge
Results not explained Make the meaning of results clear
Too many results Focus on main results – remove others
Communicates only to a
specialist audience
Communicate to an audience including students and
journalists
Misuse of abbreviations Do not use abbreviations
Does not conform to journal
requirements
Follow the guide for authors to the letter
Outside the scope of the journal Select the correct journal by reading Aims and Scope
Poor English Use a professional English editor
Thursday, 4 April 2019
41
Good Writing is Hard Work
• Experienced, well published authors still take
weeks and months to write and refine their
papers.
• Expect 10-20 drafts to be written before
achieving an appropriate quality 
Thursday, 4 April 2019
42
Melanie Kunz - journal articles
based PhD thesis
• INTERACTIVE VISUALIZATIONS OF NATURAL
HAZARDS DATA AND ASSOCIATED
UNCERTAINTIES
• ETH Zurich
• Supervised by Lorenzo Hurni
• based on five scientific publications + an
introductory and a concluding section.
• The articles are structured in three sections:
– Paper 1 and Paper 2 focus on the visualization of
natural hazards
– Paper 3 addresses the visualization of
uncertainties in the field of natural hazards
– Paper 4 and Paper 5 finally present the developed
prototype and provide feedback of hazard
experts as well as a comparison with existing
systems.
Paper 1
How to enhance cartographic visualizations of
natural hazards assessment results
• Melanie Kunz & Lorenz Hurni
• The Cartographic Journal 48(1): 60-71,
• Abstract :
• The objective of this research is to offer suggestions
for enhanced hazard visualizations to facilitate hazard
management tasks and decision making. Existing
cartographic shortcomings are identified based on an
extensive analysis of hazard visualizations and an
expert survey. These shortcomings are discussed and
improvements for important cartographic elements
are presented.
Paper 2
Cartographic visualizations of quantitative
assessment results for multiple natural hazards
• Melanie Kunz, Adrienne Grêt-Regamey & Lorenz Hurni
• 5th Canadian Conference on Geotechnique and
Natural Hazards, 2011, Kelowna, BC, Canada
• Abstract Cartographic visualizations have proved to
be effective means to communicate these results.
However, the large volume of available data, the
presence of multiple natural processes and the
heterogeneity of the user group pose visualization
challenges. In this paper, we analyze results of
natural hazards assessments and present
cartographic techniques for the visualization of
multiple natural hazards. In addition, we discuss
how interactive cartographic information
systems can facilitate the communication of hazard
related data among experts.
Paper 3
Visualization of uncertainty in natural hazards
assessments using an interactive cartographic
information system
• Melanie Kunz, Adrienne Grêt-Regamey & Lorenz Hurni
• Natural Hazards,
• Abstract:
• Natural hazard assessments are always subject to
uncertainties due to missing knowledge about the
complexity of hazardous processes as well as their natural
variability. Decision makers in the field of natural hazard
management need to understand the concept, components,
sources, and implications of existing uncertainties in order
to reach informed and transparent decisions. Until now,
however, only few hazard maps include uncertainty
visualizations which would be much needed for an
enhanced communication among experts and
decision makers in order to make informed decisions
possible.
Paper 4
Customized visualization of natural hazards assessment
results and associated uncertainties through
interactive functionality
• Melanie Kunz, Adrienne Grêt-Regamey & Lorenz Hurni
• Cartography and Geographic Information, 2011
• Abstract:
The challenge of this research is to overcome these existing
shortcomings by combining high quality cartographic
visualizations of natural hazard data as well as associated
uncertainties with interactive functionality. In this paper we
summarize requirements that have to be considered, suggest
functionalities necessary to perform natural hazards
management tasks, and present a prototype of an expert
system for the visualization and exploration of natural
hazards assessments results and associated uncertainties.
Paper 5
Interactive functionality of cartographic information
systems for natural hazards data – comparison of
selected geoportals with an expert system
• Melanie Kunz and Lorenz Hurni
• 25th International Cartographic Conference ICC,
2011, Paris, France (LNGandC)
• Natural hazards assessment results are often presented in
form of cartographic visualizations. Due to the advantages
of interactive systems hazard representations are
increasingly integrated in web-based information
systems. In this paper we give an overview on
functionality and included data of freely accessible
Swiss Geoportals, compare them to an expert
system, and finally present how this expert system
can facilitate natural hazards management tasks.