THE RESEARCH Are Bad Data a Myth? Data are the medium of the scientific method and can neither be good or bad Data are the answers to the questions we pose, and it is the way we pose these questions that can be good or bad. Data could have intrinsic values: indeterminate suggestive or compelling in nature. Poorly posed questions often lead to inde terminate results, while exquisitely framed questions more often lead to compelling data. Therefore the secret to good research is in its design What Constitutes a successful outcome? The answer to this question requires another What are the spe- cific objectives of your work? Must you produce a publication (basic research), a working model(industrial research), a reliable technique(applications research), or a prophetic example (intel lectual property development)? these outcomes, so it might be worthwhile to verify your o o The specifications for success may vary significantly among tives with your supervisor or your collaborators. What Source of Data Would Be Most Compelling? If the answer isnt apparent, imagine yourself presenting data in front of a group of critical reviewers. What sort of questions or objections would you expect to hear? Answers to this question can be gleaned from seminars on topics similar to yours and from the scientific literature. The data published in peer-reviewed journals have stood up to the test of the review process and have been condensed to the most compelling evidence available to the author. You might also learn that the author applied an unex cted statistical analysis to support their conclusions Do You Have the Expertise to Obtain These types of data? Do you have access to the specific equipment, materials, and methods necessary to perform your work? Finding access to one of these elements can provide access to the other, as can a network of friends and colleagues. Your desire for training might inspire someone to loan you the use of their equipment, along with their What are your options if the equipment or expertise are unavailable to you? A review of the scientific literature might provide you with an alternative approach. For example, if tech Preparing for Success in the LaboratoryPreparing for Success in the Laboratory 5 THE RESEARCH Are Bad Data a Myth? Data are the medium of the scientific method, and can neither be good or bad. Data are the answers to the questions we pose, and it is the way we pose these questions that can be good or bad. Data could have intrinsic values: indeterminate, suggestive, or compelling in nature. Poorly posed questions often lead to inde￾terminate results, while exquisitely framed questions more often lead to compelling data. Therefore the secret to good research is in its design. What Constitutes a Successful Outcome? The answer to this question requires another: What are the spe￾cific objectives of your work? Must you produce a publication (basic research), a working model (industrial research), a reliable technique (applications research), or a prophetic example (intel￾lectual property development)? The specifications for success may vary significantly among these outcomes, so it might be worthwhile to verify your objec￾tives with your supervisor or your collaborators. What Source of Data Would Be Most Compelling? If the answer isn’t apparent, imagine yourself presenting data in front of a group of critical reviewers. What sort of questions or objections would you expect to hear? Answers to this question can be gleaned from seminars on topics similar to yours and from the scientific literature. The data published in peer-reviewed journals have stood up to the test of the review process and have been condensed to the most compelling evidence available to the author. You might also learn that the author applied an unex￾pected statistical analysis to support their conclusions. Do You Have the Expertise to Obtain These Types of Data? Do you have access to the specific equipment, materials, and methods necessary to perform your work? Finding access to one of these elements can provide access to the other, as can a network of friends and colleagues. Your desire for training might inspire someone to loan you the use of their equipment, along with their expertise. What are your options if the equipment or expertise are unavailable to you? A review of the scientific literature might provide you with an alternative approach. For example, if tech-