ique A isn't available, the literature describing the devele of that method will undoubtedly discuss techniques B and C and why they are inferior to technique A. Even if you have access to technique A, verifying your data via technique B or C might prove useful What Can You Do to Maximize the Reliability of Your Data? Equipment and Reagents Is your instrumentation working properly? When was it last checked for accuracy? An inaccurate spectrophotometer or pl meter could affect many aspects of your research. Do you possess all necessary reagents and have you proved their potency? Have you considered your current and future sample needs? Will you employ statistical sampling in your experimental plans? You might save time, trouble, and money by analyzing your statistical sampling needs at the start of the project instead of returning to an earlier phase of the research to repeat a number of experiments. How will the data be collected, stored, and ana- lyzed? How will statistics be applied, if at all? Sample issues Replicates a discussion about statistical analysis is beyond this book, statistics in experimental design. Consider the use of statistics when determining the number of required replicates. Otherwise, you might find yourself returning to an earlier phase of your project just to repeat experiments for the purpose of statistical validation Quantity How much material will you require over the short and long terms? Will the source of your material be available in the future, or is it rare and difficult to obtain? Will the physiologi cal or chemical properties of the source change with time? What is the likelihood that the nature of your work will change, introducing new sample demands that require frequent sample Should you prepare enough material in one episode to last the duration of your project? Sounds like a sure approach to mini- mize batch to batch variations, or is it? If the sample requirements make it practical to prepare an extraordinarily large amount of material, what do you know about the storage stability of the Franciskovichnique A isn’t available, the literature describing the development of that method will undoubtedly discuss techniques B and C and why they are inferior to technique A. Even if you have access to technique A, verifying your data via technique B or C might prove useful. What Can You Do to Maximize the Reliability of Your Data? Equipment and Reagents Is your instrumentation working properly? When was it last checked for accuracy? An inaccurate spectrophotometer or pH meter could affect many aspects of your research. Do you possess all necessary reagents and have you proved their potency? Have you considered your current and future sample needs? Will you employ statistical sampling in your experimental plans? You might save time, trouble, and money by analyzing your statistical sampling needs at the start of the project instead of returning to an earlier phase of the research to repeat a number of experiments. How will the data be collected, stored, and ana￾lyzed? How will statistics be applied, if at all? Sample Issues Replicates A discussion about statistical analysis is beyond this book, but Motulsky (1995) provides practical guidance into the use of statistics in experimental design. Consider the use of statistics when determining the number of required replicates. Otherwise, you might find yourself returning to an earlier phase of your project just to repeat experiments for the purpose of statistical validation. Quantity How much material will you require over the short and long terms? Will the source of your material be available in the future, or is it rare and difficult to obtain? Will the physiologi￾cal or chemical properties of the source change with time? What is the likelihood that the nature of your work will change, introducing new sample demands that require frequent sample preparations? Should you prepare enough material in one episode to last the duration of your project? Sounds like a sure approach to mini￾mize batch to batch variations, or is it? If the sample requirements make it practical to prepare an extraordinarily large amount of material, what do you know about the storage stability of the 6 Franciskovich