Good Research Practices

The term has become ethically laden

Practicalities And on and on… Data management Publishing decisions Data interpretation Personnel supervision Fraud detection Conflict of Interest management And on and on…

Rules for Notebooks Permanent binding Numbered pages Paper of good quality Permanent, light resistant ink, no pencil

Front Matter Name, address, email, phone number on front cover Notebook number on front cover if relevant Table of Contents ( 2 pages) Table of Abbreviations

Frances Richmond Sept 20,2004 Electronic records

You must not………. Tear out pages Erase or obliterate entries Write on non-sequential pages Leave pages empty

Changes to Entries Cross out with a single line, change below, then sign and date change Mass = 2.4 kg Mass = 2.4 kg 2.8 kg, F Richmond, Sept 20,2004

But I want to use an electronic notebook! What are the problems? How do we solve the problems?

Storing notebooks Store working notebooks in a secure location Archive old notebooks according to a system, usually for 20 years

Notebooks in a multiuser environment Avoid entries in multiple notebooks—a single project should preferably have a single book, and different contributors should sign and date contributions

Keeping Track of work… Issue numbered notebooks to specific users who are responsible for the book Issue guidance and training on the use of the book

Who owns “my” notebook? Not you, unless you are working for free with your own space and materials Generally your employer—be sure you understand who owns the book if you have more than one employer

So where and what do I write? No derogatory remarks! Begin each experiment on a right-handed page Write date unambiguously in upper corner Title Objective Chemical equations Required materials Numbered steps for procedure Record results and insights immediately—no detail too small!

When and who collects the data? Date must be clear Date must be attested Signature of inventor/investigator Signature of corroborating witness Not a collaborator or individual with a conflict of interest Someone who can and has read and understood the work Someone who respects confidentiality Read and understood Frances Richmond September 2, 2004

Quality matters! If the notebook is messy it will be discredited as a reliable source If a book is too clean, it will be discredited as well! If it contains mistakes, valuable time and resources may be squandered