Experimental details, methods, world wide web?

Question

why is publishing experimental details and resultsa vital part of the experimental method? How do you think the development of the world wide web will affect scientific publishing? Will these effects all be for the good of science?

Answer 1

the basic expectation is to document all data and methodology so it is available for careful scrutiny by other scientists, thereby allowing other researchers the opportunity to verify results by attempting to reproduce them. This also allows statistical measures of the reliability of these data to be established,this is as the result of the scientific method
then the experimental part,details or methodology can be tested by experiments by other scientists, If test results contradict predictions, then the hypotheses are called into question and explanations may be sought. Sometimes experiments are conducted incorrectly and are at fault. If the results confirm the predictions, then the hypotheses are considered likely to be correct but might still be wrong and are subject to further testing,;therefore scientists assume an attitude of openness and accountability on the part of those conducting an experiment. Detailed record keeping is essential, to aid in recording and reporting on the experimental results, and providing evidence of the effectiveness and integrity of the procedure. They will also assist in reproducing the experimental results.and at the long
term is a positive effect for the benefit in science and
the science community,the www is one of the best
source of information,such are the advancements
in communication

Answer 2

If you think you have discovered a scientific truth then the details of your method for discovering it must be published for your finding to be recognized as scientifically valid. It is only through publication that other scientists can verify that your experiment is indeed repeatable, or that there was some flaw in your model.

I think your question is interesting in that the communication methods brought on by the world wide web can vastly increase the number of "published papers" and thus the variety of claims that can be made. For the most part independently published claims are full of flaws and the cruft of the internet just makes it harder to separate the gems from the trash. I believe that this is behind the abundance of paranormal claims that we are seeing nowadays - slipshod experimentation that has not been subject to appropriately review.

But indeed the web does allow for true democratization of science, in that if one has actually discovered something on their own, and is able to draw enough attention to it via the web to elicit wide peer review, more interesting discoveries can be made.

Answer 3

It basically boils down to the speed in which information can be sharred. 500 yrs ago, a doctor spent his life learning and noting aspects of care that semed to work. The recipient of those notes used them and then added his own notes and knowlede to it. 2oo yrs ago it would take weekes to get information from one continent to another but at least the printing press made the information more available to more people. !00 years ago, technology was added to the mix but not readily availble to all persons studying a particular process or disease phenomonem. 50 yrs ago info could be mailed or phoned at a much faster speed. But the world wide web allows people who would other wise have no way of connecting or knowing of others studying the same process, can connect at the speed of light and learn from each other. The speed in which info can be shared is the true benefit of the internet. Doctors and researchers can compare and build on each others progress and failures and colaborate whether they know each other or not. We have seen benifit in the study of Alzheimer's disease, and others and the dvelopement of medications or treatments are shared rapidly. This ability is a tremendous advantage to the medical, pharmacutical. and research fields. I am sure that rapid sharing of information also helps the other sciences as well. I believe that often times it eliminates repeating processes that have been proven by others to be inefectual.

Answer 4

I don't have to say anything, guy above me already said everything that needed to be said, but if you want a short version of what he said then here it is: you need to publish your results so that other scientists can be aware and take that into consideration when finding the truth. internet makes the results of their experiments more easily available and yeah they're all for the good of science