Data, your studies and your integrity. Lab/research* notebooks. Dr Ted Rohr

Transcription

1 Data, your studies and your integrity Part 1 David Pow Lab/research* notebooks Part 2 Dr Ted Rohr Research Integrity and Governance Data Management 2013 *Lab/research notebook will be used as an interchangeable term

2 How do we store our data? Step 1: the research notebook

3 Why does record keeping and data integrity matter? Many reasons that affect YOU Provide a helpful and accurate record of your studies that help you to write up your thesis Ensures your data can be reproduced by the next person in your group who needs to replicate the same or similar data Provides a mechanism for providing proof of what you did (or did not do) if challenged Challenges: Institutional, IP issues, publication issues, compliance with regulatory codes

4 Taken from PubMed: What do you think when you see an entry like this? Would an entry like this influence you or your colleagues?

5 There are innumerable online and physical sources on how to write a good lab notebook

6 Ancient history ~ 30 years ago Expectations: We all keep accurate experimental notebooks. This example took about 10 minutes to locate.

7 What is different today? Expectations: We still expect an experimental notebook to be in a form that will enable another person to recreate the experiment. In addition: we expect that you should be able to prove you have performed the work at a particular time in a particular way. (IP, integrity, ethics etc) The data and the lab book remain the property of the University and must be retained and stored by such

8 How many errors can you spot?

9 A typical numbered lab book. Name, dates, laboratory and project title are included

10 students in SMS should be using an approved hardback notebook that is issued by the school office Look inside your lab notebook: You will see this statement

11 The book: Enter your name Location: School of Medical Sciences etc Project title Book Number Signed and dated

12 The table of contents... What is wrong here?

13 Dated table of contents page entries are sequential Dates are included

14 Not everyone knows what DPM means in YOUR book (days post mortem or disintegrations per minute?)

15 What are the key elements on recording your work? The experimental notebook should be a record that is completed at the time of the activity and dated accordingly It should be recorded in ink It should be witnessed 1 or preferably 2 people who would not normally be a party to any invention that the work might generate Anything inserted into the notebook should be permanently affixed and should be signed across in a way that prevents removal or substitution.

16 The page should be signed, witnessed and dated Specimen signatures Notice the dates

17 An insert has been added into the book. Signed across the edge Note it is reasonable to add comments that add insight into why a result is

18 CORRECTING AN ENTRY Draw a single line through the entry In this instance you will note that additional sign-off by the head of the lab is included

19 Major changes Cross out and changes signed by witness

20 Schematic diagrams that help explain what you did can and should be included where they help to explain things

21 Where a page ends draw a single line through and sign to prevent amendments or additions at a later point

22 The end is as important as the beginning... The end of the records should be clearly identified and pages ruled through to prevent further entries

23 What about things you cannot stick into your book? Your book may make reference to, for instance a separate folder that contains, for instance X-ray films, Gels etc. This should be suitably indexed and referred to in your lab book Digital data Dr Rohr will comment upon provision for digital data storage. Data should be cross referenced with an appropriate file naming structure and mention of such in your experimental note book

24 How many errors can you spot? Could you interpret or re-create this experiment?

25 The table of contents... What is wrong here? Dates, page sequence. What happened between pages 2 and 7?

26 Why Me? Your lab notebook, the safe storage and cross referencing of primary data and the recording of your activities is important for you and your supervisor. What if I don t record my data as indicated?

27 The letter you do not want to receive... but if you do, then having the primary data e.g. as recorded by the original digital capture device is essential. If you cannot supply such then the journal typically contacts your University integrity officer. Your lab book will help you locate the data and confirm the veracity of

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29 The School Data Storage Sheet Without this we will not sign off on your thesis! Your Data and Lab notebooks are the property of RMIT and RMIT is legally responsible for storing such for a minimum of 5 or 15 years

30 Summary: Keeping a good lab book is not rocket science Follow the basic rules Show your lab book to your supervisor at each scheduled meeting arrange for it to be regularly witnessed Remember it is a document that helps you during events such as confirmation of candidature etc and may be needed for inspection.

31 Research Integrity & Governance Data Management Dr Ted Rohr Director Research Integrity, Governance & Systems

32 Overview of RMIT s Research Integrity & Governance

33 The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and RMIT s Research Integrity Policy

34 Website and Professional Development

35 The responsible conduct of research includes the proper management and retention of the research data. Retaining the research data is important because it may be all that remains of the research work at the end of the project. (Section 2 of the Code)

36 Important issues to consider: