On November 19, 2024, our colleague Branko Stanić delivered a guest lecture on the process of writing a scientific paper, using his research article The Effects of Budget Transparency on the Budget Balances and Expenditures of Croatian Local Governments as an example. The lecture was part of the doctoral program in Economics and Business Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka, and was conducted within the course Philosophy, Methodology, and Ethics in Scientific Research.

The workshop-style lecture covered various topics, including defining the research topic, formulating research questions, and developing hypotheses. It also addressed the process of writing a literature review, focusing on the growing role of artificial intelligence in research. Additionally, the lecture explored the presentation of research design, data, and methodology, as well as the final steps of presenting results, drawing conclusions, and summarizing the findings. Key challenges in the research process were also discussed, including common reasons for the rejection of scientific papers. Solutions to these challenges were emphasized, particularly the importance of transparent, open, reproducible and replicable research practices.

The presentation concluded with a lively and constructive discussion, where doctoral students asked numerous questions and shared valuable comments. The guest lecture was organized at the invitation of Prof. Vinko Zaninović, Head of the Economics and Business Economics doctoral program.