Scientific Practices & Ethics/Scientific = Writing

Scientific Practices and = Ethics

- Dr. Kent T. HayGlass

This information, and the package of = general=20 information is to be given to each new trainee entering the = immunology=20 graduate program. As of 2002 it is now provided on the Immunology=20 website.

At the beginning of your scientific career, an explicit = statement of=20 appropriate "scientific ethics" is worth examining. Dr. Kent = HayGlass=20 prepared the information below and has given it out to new members = of his=20 lab since the late 1980's. Some of it is specific to his lab, so = you=20 should definitely consult with your supervisor to identify the lab = practices (ie. concerning record keeping) that are used in your = new=20 lab.

Most practices are learned by example, and this is a topic = that you=20 will discuss with your supervisor, colleagues and others on = multiple=20 occasions. The following is prepared as a starting point from = which you=20 can consider issues likely to arise during your career =96 it is = intended to=20 act as a conversation starter than a manual.

This document is added to as different issues arise. Any = suggestions=20 you might have for other topics or discussions of different areas = of=20 uncertainty would be appreciated, and can be provided to Karen Morrow, = Administrative=20 Assistant for the Department of Immunology.

Appropriate lab = practices

Experimental:

Summaries of experimental design, raw and analyzed data can = be kept=20 in your binder in whatever fashion you find most efficient. A = bound lab=20 notebook book is not necessary as far as I am concerned. Your main = record=20 keeping should be on the computer, with a hard copy for your = binder.=20 Always maintain a backup copy of your computer files.=20 (Different labs have different policies. Determine = what=20 method your advisor wishes).

Every experiment requires:

A clearly stated purpose (Must be explicit = and=20 brief, not "we will look at...")
A hypothesis that has been thought through. = Most=20 people find it useful to model the expected data while designing = an=20 experiment, and therefore see what additional controls need to = be=20 included for your interpretation to stand.
Method - (which may just refer to previous=20 experiments with the differences in this particular experiment=20 highlighted. For the first time, all details should be = identified very=20 explicitly).
Data - Microsoft Excel tables are the most=20 organized and facilitate later statistical analysis. Figures = should be=20 created in Slidewrite or Prizm. Use common sense in analysing = your data=20 in addition to statistics. If your "identical" duplicates set up = the=20 same day are substantially different from one another (something = you=20 determine by chatting with your supervisor) then it doesn't = really=20 matter if your p value is <0.05 when comparing two groups. = You have a=20 problem.
Specific conclusions you draw. Conclusions = are=20 usually followed by a statement about what needs to be done = next. Each=20 experiment must have a clearly, and explicitly, identified = purpose, data=20 and conclusions or you are wasting your time.

All raw data (tapes from counters, floppies with data from = ELISAs,=20 sheets used in injections, animal cards etc.) should be dated, = marked with=20 the number of the experiment involved and kept, though not usually = in the=20 binder. Your rough calculations and day-to-day notes should all be = done on=20 a steno pad. Never use paper towels, or scrap = paper for=20 ANY calculations because when the experiment = fails - and=20 some will - you won't be able to reconstruct why.

This data should be kept at least for a year or two after = publication=20 of your results in case they are challenged. Or, you may wish to=20 re-examine them for something you might have missed when looking = at them=20 initially. If you wish, you can stack them in a drawer or box as, = usually,=20 you are unlikely to look at them again, so you do not necessarily = need an=20 extensive filing system.

You should label the raw data well enough that you can = identify what=20 was what, if necessary. (Which group is which, what was done etc - = the=20 information needed to reconstruct what you did) . Having the date, = type of=20 assay and Experiment number is usually sufficient. When you leave = the lab,=20 tell your supervisor where this information is kept. Different = labs have=20 different policies about who keeps the originals. It is most = appropriate=20 if everyone gets a copy.

Next Page: Scientific=20 Writing

=20

Questions? Comments? Broken=20 Links?
Contact the Web Master at kmorrow@cc.umanitoba.ca
Latest=20 revision: October 14, = 2002

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