Timeline for PhD student pressured to fabricate data due to bad experiment design
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
17 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2022 at 15:51 | comment | added | Andrew Alexander | @FrustratedBird If you make up data, you're essentially contravening the entire point of being a scientist. Not only would you be lying for personal gain, you'd also be hurting human knowledge as well, because it'll take time for people to realize that your data is nonsense. And it won't be pleasant for you when they do. | |
| May 24, 2022 at 14:06 | comment | added | Bryan Krause♦ | @Roland That makes sense as far as the type of error this could be... My assumption that this could be fixed is based on thinking three samples isn't really sufficient to have a good handle on variance, so if three would have been okay then you can do something with one, for example comparing groups of sites rather than individuals. I may of course be wrong, though, not knowing the specific details or field. I'd say with 3 samples using a prior estimate of variance from other data may be just as good (as suggested by Sebastian). | |
| May 24, 2022 at 8:22 | comment | added | Criticizing Israel not allowed | @FrustratedBird I doubt there are journals that have number of samples as a submission criteria. What would matter is whether your paper makes a meaningful contribution to the field of study, etc. It could be possible to make a meaningful contribution with your 1 sample experiment - smaller than the contribution with repeated samples, but still meaningful - or it could not. I don't know - I'm not you or your advisor. Just giving you some hope. | |
| May 24, 2022 at 5:59 | comment | added | user9482 | @BryanKrause OP's issue is basically a variant of the common issue described in Replicate or lie. I agree with Prof. Prosser: what OP describes is indeed a fatal issue from a scientific perspective. OP can still fix this but the fundamental issue is as serious a scientific issue as it gets. | |
| May 23, 2022 at 16:04 | history | edited | Bryan Krause♦ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added 441 characters in body
|
| May 23, 2022 at 16:03 | comment | added | user156798 | Yes now I can perform things more quickly | |
| May 23, 2022 at 16:02 | comment | added | Bryan Krause♦ | @FrustratedBird Not every project in soil science requires 3 years to complete. Do a version of your investigation that can be done in 1 year. Work with your advisors to figure out what this would look like. Use the work you've already done to make this an efficient 1 year. It's normal in science to have to throw away years of work; often, the time elapsed is about learning the methods and once you know what you're doing it can be performed quickly. | |
| May 23, 2022 at 15:59 | comment | added | user156798 | Even after I consult a statistics person the only way I have left is to repeat. Maybe 10 repeats. maybe 100 repeats. But repeat is the only way | |
| May 23, 2022 at 15:58 | comment | added | user156798 | Thanks. Advisors say not to talk further on this matter in any form. Only thing I can do is to repeat each and every experiments that will consume another 2 or 3 year. That will mess up my internal assessment and tenure. | |
| May 23, 2022 at 15:55 | comment | added | Bryan Krause♦ | Consult with someone that has a good handle on statistics that you can share your situation with, and get their advice. Based on what you've shared here, I can't suggest anything specific for your next steps. Get advice in writing from your advisor about what you should do next. | |
| May 23, 2022 at 15:51 | comment | added | user156798 | I dont have any documentation of their suggestion. | |
| May 23, 2022 at 15:49 | comment | added | user156798 | Thank you so much for giving me a 'scientific' answer at this dead end situation | |
| May 23, 2022 at 15:47 | comment | added | user156798 | I wont tell actual number of samples here but they are within 10. Now I require to make bar graphs annova students-t etc | |
| May 23, 2022 at 15:45 | comment | added | user156798 | Not only the administrators but a lot of "friends" are suggesting to handle the situation with made up data and that is as clear as daylight. It breaks my natural curiosity. | |
| May 23, 2022 at 15:45 | comment | added | Bryan Krause♦ | @FrustratedBird Can you clarify how many total samples you have, and how many different groups/conditions? | |
| May 23, 2022 at 15:44 | comment | added | user156798 | Thank you and I cannot upvote due to a technical glitch. Is there journals that accepts data without statistical repeats?? | |
| May 23, 2022 at 15:42 | history | answered | Bryan Krause♦ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |