
ABNT NBR 6022 - Article in a technical and/or scientific periodical publication
This article provides a comprehensive guide to preparing and presenting scholarly and technical articles in accordance with the ABNT NBR 6022 standard. It covers everything from formatting rules and structural elements to submission guidelines and essential digital tools like ORCID and DOI. The article emphasizes the importance of consulting specific journal guidelines, as they may adapt ABNT norms to align with their editorial policies. It details the types of articles (review vs. original), textual and post-textual elements, and the significance of accurate referencing and citation. Additionally, it offers practical advice on navigating journal submission platforms and understanding the role of persistent identifiers in academic publishing. The information is crucial for authors aiming to publish their research effectively and adhere to established academic standards.
General Principles and Article Types
The ABNT NBR 6022 standard outlines the fundamental principles for structuring and presenting technical and scientific articles for periodic publications. While the ABNT sets general guidelines, authors must always consult the specific directives provided by the editor of the journal to which they intend to submit their work. This ensures compliance with the journal's particular requirements, which might deviate slightly from the broader ABNT norms.
A technical or scientific article is defined as a part of a publication with declared authorship, possessing a technical or scientific nature. These articles can be categorized into two main types:
- Review Article: This type summarizes, analyzes, and discusses information that has already been published. It involves a critical synthesis of existing literature on a specific topic.
- Original Article: An original article presents new themes or unique approaches to a subject. It typically involves original research, data, and interpretations that contribute new knowledge to the field.
The ABNT standard specifies the general principles for the elaboration and presentation of elements that constitute articles in a technical and scientific periodical. Here we will present the norms as determined by ABNT, but it is important to remember that when submitting an article to a periodical, you should always consult the guidelines that the editor determines.
Formatting Requirements
ABNT NBR 6022 largely mirrors the formatting rules observed in academic papers and research projects. Key formatting specifications include:
- Font: The standard recommendation is Times New Roman or Arial, used consistently throughout the text.
- Font Size:
- Main text: 12 points.
- Specific sections (e.g., citations longer than three lines, footnotes, pagination, illustration and table captions/sources): 10 or 11 points, maintaining uniformity.
- Line Spacing: Simple spacing for the entire article, which differs from other academic works that might require 1.5 line spacing.
Regarding layout, while ABNT states it is at the author's discretion, in practice, the graphic design is often dictated by the periodic publication itself. Therefore, authors must adhere to the specific submission guidelines of the journal.
Structural Elements
Sections, Citations, and Notes
The organization of sections should follow ABNT NBR 6024 for numbering sections. Citations and notes must comply with ABNT NBR 10520 for citations in documents. Notes for tables should adhere to the IBGE's tabular presentation standards.
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Acronyms and abbreviations must first be written out in full, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. For example, "Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT)."
Equations and Formulas
Equations and formulas should be highlighted within the text. If necessary, they should be numbered sequentially with Arabic numerals enclosed in parentheses and aligned to the right, as demonstrated in the standard's illustrations.
Illustrations and Tables
Illustrations (e.g., drawings, diagrams, flowcharts) should be labeled with their type, followed by their sequential number (e.g., "Figure 1"), a dash, and a title. The source must be indicated at the bottom; if it is the author's own work, "Own Author" should be stated. A key difference from academic papers is that illustrations should be left-aligned.
Tables also follow IBGE standards. They must be cited in the text and placed as close as possible to the relevant text section. The source must also be indicated. The title and legend of both illustrations and tables should be left-aligned, maintaining consistency with image alignment.
It's crucial that both tables and figures are cited within the text before they are presented.
Pre-Textual Elements
The pre-textual elements of an article typically follow this structure:
- Document Title: The primary title of the article.
- Title in Another Language: Optional, but often required by journals (e.g., English title for Portuguese articles).
- Authorship: Authors' names should be inserted directly, with the first name potentially abbreviated, followed by the surname. For multiple authors, names can be listed on the same line, separated by commas, or in separate lines. A footnote (superscript) should link to the author's corporate affiliation and contact information.
- Abstract: In the document's original language, following ABNT NBR 6028.
- Abstract in Another Language: Optional but widely practiced.
- Submission and Approval Dates: Mandatory elements, including the day, month, and year of submission and approval for publication.
- Identification and Availability: Optional element where the electronic address or DOI may be included, along with other access-related information.
An example might include the document title, an optional title in another language, author names with a linked ORCID, a brief curriculum vitae of authors and their institutional affiliations, the abstract in the document's language, and an abstract in another language (e.g., Portuguese). The submission and approval dates are highlighted as mandatory. Some journals also include a contact email for one of the authors, falling under identification and availability data.
The concept of "Ahead of Print" publication is also mentioned, where an article submitted in, for example, 2020 and accepted in 2021 might only appear in a printed volume in 2023. However, it becomes available online immediately, offering continuous flow publication. This allows journals with print versions to maintain classic article pagination while offering immediate online access, providing flexibility that continuous online-only publication might not.
Textual Elements
Articles must include an introduction, development, and final considerations, which are mandatory elements according to ABNT. While ABNT suggests these general titles, the specific nomenclature can be at the author's discretion and often varies according to the field of knowledge (e.g., Introduction, Methodology, Results, Conclusion).
- Introduction: The initial part of the article, where the subject is delimited, research objectives are stated, and other necessary elements to contextualize the theme are presented.
- Development: The main body, containing an organized and detailed exposition of the subject. It can be divided into sections and subsections following ABNT NBR 6024.
- Final Considerations (or Conclusion): The concluding section, presenting considerations corresponding to the objectives and hypotheses discussed.
The choice of section titles often depends on the specific conventions within broad and sub-areas of knowledge. For instance, in health sciences, "Introduction, Method, Results, and Conclusion" is common. Journals also often define word or page limits, which influence the textual presentation.
An example of a textual layout might show columns (common in journals) and highlight a formula presented in the ABNT-recommended format, with proper margins and emphasis within the text. A table would appear with its identification (e.g., "Table 1") and a title, conforming to ABNT norms. However, an image might have identification and a caption below but no explicit title, differing from the ABNT recommendation for images. This discrepancy reinforces that while ABNT provides guidelines, journals may reorder or adapt elements according to their editorial policies.
It's also noted that an article can serve as a presentation of results from a monograph, dissertation, or thesis, which are often considered "gray literature," while periodicals are formal publications with wider circulation. It is common to state in the abstract or introduction that the work is a result of, or was produced from, a thesis or dissertation.
Post-Textual Elements
ABNT considers references as the only mandatory post-textual element. Optional elements include:
- Glossary: A list of terms and their definitions.
- Appendix: Supplementary material created by the author.
- Annex: Supplementary material not created by the author.
- Acknowledgments: Should be the last element if included.
It's important to note that the order proposed by ABNT may not always align with the final presentation in a scientific article. For instance, references might appear as the last element. Other examples of post-textual elements seen in articles include acknowledgments, ethical approval declarations, consent-to-publish statements, and appendices (which might be linked in HTML versions). Declarations of conflict of interest and funding sources are also common and sometimes mandatory, often providing links to funders' websites.
ORCID and DOI
ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID)
ORCID is a free, unique identifier for authors. Researchers register on the ORCID website to generate a distinct numerical code, which signifies their identity in scientific publications. Its purpose is to facilitate the registration of publication information and automate updates of an author's scholarly output. ORCID is particularly crucial for distinguishing between researchers with the same name (homonyms). The Lattes Curriculum platform already integrates ORCID for researcher identification.
DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
The DOI is a persistent identifier for digital objects. Similar to ORCID for authors, the DOI provides a unique identification code (a pattern of numbers and letters) for scientific articles and other digital content (e.g., images, books, book chapters) published exclusively in a virtual environment. This makes it easier to access the article directly via a persistent link. Researchers or authors cannot acquire a DOI themselves; it is usually assigned by the periodical to which the article is submitted, provided the periodical has acquired the DOI. While not all journals acquire DOIs due to associated costs, having a DOI is highly beneficial. When a DOI-assigned article is added to a curriculum platform like Lattes, it automatically populates some article information and provides a direct link, streamlining the registration process and enhancing discoverability.
The video also mentions other digital tools that enhance article accessibility and management, such as Mendeley for reference management and options to share articles on social media. It highlights the ability to download or copy various reference formats (e.g., for EndNote, Zotero) for improved citation management.
Submitting Scientific Articles
When preparing to submit a scientific article, it is crucial to first identify potential journals. Authors should then consult the "Guidelines for Authors" section of these journals, which details the types of publications accepted (e.g., original articles, review articles) and specific submission rules. It is essential to tailor the article to these rules during the writing process.
Most scientific periodicals today utilize online submission platforms. Authors will need to register on the platform, creating a login and password. During registration, basic author information (name, affiliations, ORCID, contact details) is requested. The platform will then guide the author through the submission process, often requiring the input of "metadata."
Metadata includes information about all authors (who must also be registered on the platform and linked via their ORCIDs), the article's title (often requiring a version in a foreign language), the abstract (adhering to word count limits), keywords, and other relevant data. Typically, the main body of the article is uploaded as an attachment, while author details and the article's front-page information are entered separately during the submission process. This separation ensures blind peer review, where evaluators assess the article without knowing the authors' identities, ensuring impartiality.
While ABNT standards provide core guidelines, journals often adapt them according to their editorial policies. For events or expanded abstracts, strict adherence to ABNT standards is more common. This reinforces the need for authors to understand and follow both general ABNT norms and specific journal requirements to successfully publish their work.
Takeaways
- Adherence to Guidelines: Authors must prioritize consulting journal-specific guidelines, as they dictate the final presentation, even when ABNT norms provide the general framework.
- Article Types: Differentiate between review articles (summarizing existing information) and original articles (presenting new research or approaches).
- Standard Formatting: Follow ABNT guidelines for font (Times New Roman or Arial, size 12 for main text, 10/11 for specific sections), simple line spacing, and proper formatting for acronyms, equations, illustrations, and tables.
- Mandatory Elements: Ensure all pre-textual (title, authors, abstract, dates), textual (introduction, development, final considerations), and post-textual (references) elements are included as per ABNT and journal requirements.
- Digital Identifiers: Utilize ORCID for author identification and understand the role of DOI for article identification, as these facilitate discoverability and impact tracking.
- Submission Process: Familiarize yourself with journal submission platforms, which require author registration, metadata input, and often ensure a blind peer review process.
- "Ahead of Print" Publication: Be aware that articles can be published online immediately ("Ahead of Print") even if the print version is released later, ensuring early dissemination of research.
References
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