Reporting Chemical Data: Statistics, Figures and Data Availability
How results are reported decides whether anyone can build on them. That means stating replicates and uncertainty rather than a single number, drawing figures that show the data instead of hiding it, and depositing the raw files where they can be checked.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Reports a result with the number of replicates and an uncertainty that matches how it was obtained
- Redraws a figure so that the underlying points are visible rather than only their mean
- Explains what selective reporting of successful runs does to a conclusion
- Says which raw files should be deposited for a stated result and in what form
1 · Read
How you report decides whether anyone can build on your work. State the number of replicates with every result, and quote an uncertainty that matches how the number was obtained. For replicates, give the mean and the standard deviation, which measures how far the runs scatter around the mean. Runs of 5.12, 5.18 and 5.15 mg give a mean of 5.15 mg and a standard deviation (dividing by n minus 1) of 0.03 mg, reported as 5.15 plus or minus 0.03 mg, n = 3. Share all the runs, not just the pretty ones.
Draw figures that show the data instead of hiding it. Plot the underlying points rather than only their mean, so readers see the spread your summary compresses. Reporting only successful runs warps every conclusion built on the figure.
Open sharing changed what checking means. With many papers and raw files online, others can check calculations, redraw figures and repeat the work, so mistakes get caught and good results get confirmed faster.
Deposit the raw files behind each stated result in a usable form: the readings, not just the polished table. Name the file set per result so a stranger can retrace your steps.
Show every run with its uncertainty, plot the points, and deposit the raw files.
Practice items adapted from WeBWorK Open Problem Library problems by N. Spencer Sitton (NAU) (x1) and Doug Torrance (Piedmont) (x7) (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0). Practice items x2-x6 are original to this dataset.
2 · Watch
به انگلیسیTake it off screen
Where it sits
Optional connections
This opens up
Nothing builds on it yet.
15 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.