ABSTRACT

All scientists need to understand their ‘tools’, meaning the techniques they use in their research. For example, statisticians need to understand the limitations of their statistical tests, and scientists utilising databases need to know the limitations of those databases, just as much as experimental scientists need to understand the limitations of the techniques they are using. By far the most common mistake made by young scientists is to attempt to do far too much in a single experiment. The usual controls are known as negative controls; for example, the untreated animals or cells. Scientists only start persuading their fellow scientists when they can show a great many observations which repeat the same effect. The number of papers a post-doctoral scientist has published can be a major factor in determining whether or not they are able to secure a permanent scientific position.