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On Being a Scientist Responsible Conduct in Research, Second Edition (1995) / Chapter Skim
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Experimental Techniques and the Treatment of Data
Pages 4-6

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
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From page 4...
... When the experimental techniques became widely known and were replicated, belief in cold fusion quickly faded. In some cases the methods used to arrive at scientific knowledge are not very well defined.
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From page 5...
... One astronomer who thought that spiral nebulae were within the MiLky Way, Adriaan van Maanen of the Mount Wilson Observatory, sought to resolve the issue by comparing photographs of the nebulae taken several years apart. After making a series of painstaking measurements, van Maanen announced that he had found roughly consistent unwinding motions in the nebulae.
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From page 6...
... Scientific knowledge and scientific methods, whether old or new, must be continually scrutinized for possible errors. Such skepticism can conflict with other important features of science, such as the need for creativity and for conviction in arguing a given position.
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Key Terms

  • cold fusion
  • mount wilson
  • power fluctuations
  • van maanen
  • decisions helps

  • solid squares
  • scientific consensus
  • sometimes contradictory
  • contradictory conclusions
  • statistical tests

  • kathleen suggests
  • distant galaxies
  • individual bias
  • intentional misrepresentation
  • scientists bring

  • proposed theory
  • comparing photographs
  • graduate student
  • provide accurate
  • deviation calculated

  • judgment contribute
  • experimental semiconductor
  • doing similar
  • suggests dropping
  • remaining data

  • conclusively demonstrated
  • help generate
  • manuscript describing
  • error abound
  • knowledge contributing


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