{"id":26,"date":"2015-07-30T09:39:18","date_gmt":"2015-07-30T08:39:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/temp.smartfantasyandscifi.com\/blog\/?p=26"},"modified":"2016-03-11T14:34:43","modified_gmt":"2016-03-11T14:34:43","slug":"always-have-a-backup-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microsites.ncl.ac.uk\/fmspgrstudentguidelines\/2015\/07\/30\/always-have-a-backup-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Always Have a Backup Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

Relying on a single procedure\u00a0or technology in science is foolish. Research is unreliable, and the particular method you have chosen may not be capable of yielding good data. Therefore, you should always have at least one backup method capable of reaching the same conclusion. If that is not possible, then a backup idea\u00a0for looking at something different is a viable alternative. It doubles your chances of getting good data.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the main difference between the high and low impact journals is the thoroughness of research. Whilst low impact papers rely on a single procedure\u00a0(still with multiple replicates), the studies with higher impact use multiple different techniques\u00a0to show the same thing<\/strong>, providing increased evidence for their conclusions.<\/p>\nGet Practical Tips<\/span>

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  1. Compare high impact with low impact papers on the same subject, and see how many different methods each type uses to demonstrate their conclusions.<\/li>\n
  2. If there are limited possibilities for answering the same question, try answering a different but related question at the same time. You can always branch your project in a different direction.<\/li>\n
  3. DO NOT give up on every experiment that does not immediately work. A backup is important, but should not be immediately resorted to. Science takes perseverance. Look to correct the mistakes in your current procedure before starting a new one.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\u00a0<\/b>
    \nGet Wet Lab Tip<\/span>