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Generally speaking, knowing your target audience is of extreme importance in every professional activity. It is more likely to arise interest in a product if the target consumer identifies with it. Scientific research is no different. By tailoring the message to the listener, you will be closer to being understood more clearly and effectively.
The Importance of Knowing Your Target Audience
If you also consider the fact that your manuscript will be looked upon and evaluated by several people before it even gets to the pages of a scientific journal, then you might be dealing with a multiplicity of behavioral aspects within a more generic group or audience. That is why Elsevier provides a number of Language Editing services, carefully designed to tailor and adapt your scientific research to every audience, in any situation.
Identifying Your Target Audience
Knowing who you want to speak to is sometimes hard to identify, once you think about it. If you still aren’t sure who your target audience is, these key points might help you:
- Interest: Who will want to read your research? Who will be interested in your key findings?
- Level of education: Is your document suited for people with an advanced level of education or lower levels?
- Background: Do you want to impact other scientists in the same scientific field as you, or professionals in other areas of activity?
- Expertise: Do you want to engage beginners or experts?
Once you have answered these questions, you’ll have a good idea of what your target audience looks like. Now you are ready to plunge into the task of thinking about how to convey your message in the best way, and to engage your audience. Don’t forget to have in mind the process of communication and how to make the most of it:
- Message (what)
- Target audience (who)
- The messenger (by whom)
- Method of transfer (how)
- Effect of the message transferred (result)
The Singularity of the Target Audience for Scientific Research
It’s true that scientific research and reports follow certain standard scientific structures and guidelines for presenting methods, results, and conclusions, making it easier to be identified and read as such. However, there are many other aspects – jargon, correct scientific language, aim, scope (among others) – that might negatively influence your submission, if poorly used. Why not consider Elsevier’s Language Editing services? Together with our professionals, you can decide what is the best approach to successfully reach your target audience, taking particular consideration to the nature of the document. For example:
- If you are writing a scientific or laboratory report for a university science course, the most immediate target audience would be the examiner or instructor who will grade your work. He or she will have most certainly a high expertise level, so they will expect specialized terminology and accurate explanations.
- If you are writing a scientific report, to describe the progress of a research project, to the committee of a funding agency for the purpose of obtaining new or continued financial support – consider that some of your audience will not have in-depth knowledge about your area of specialization. Scientific reports should always be clear and concise, with tables, graphs, and other figures to transform complex data into accessible information for a variety of readers.
- If you are preparing a scientific report for formal publication, or expanding it into an original research article for a scientific journal, your target audience will be wider and more varied. A scientific manuscript submitted to a journal encounters different audiences at different stages in the publication process, so administrative staff may look at it solely in terms of adherence to guidelines and clear and competent language. Peer reviewers, on the other hand, will be experts, acting as quality controllers for the research reported.
Language Editing Services by Elsevier Author Services
Through our Language Editing Services, we correct proofreading errors, and check for grammar and syntax to make your paper sound natural and professional. We make sure editors and reviewers can understand the science behind your manuscript.
With more than a hundred years of experience in publishing, Elsevier is trusted by millions of authors around the world.
