[TowerTalk] Understanding scientific discussions

[L. B. Cebik]

In cleaning out some old files that date back to when I served as
Assistant Dean for Research at UTK, I ran into the following item that
will clarify many discussions you encounter in science and engineering
literature.  It is so old that it may be new again to some.

-73-

LB, W4RNL
=========================================================

               A Key to Understanding Scientific Literature

     What he/she said                        What he/she meant

1.  It has long been known that. . .    I haven't bothered to look up the
                                        original reference but. . .

2.  Of great theoretical and            Interesting to me
     practical importance. . .

3.  While it has not been possible      The experiment did not work out,
     to provide definite answers to     but I figure I could at least get
     these questions. . .               a publication out of it. . .

4.  The W-PO system was chosen as       The fellow in the next lab had some
     especially suitable to show        already made up. . .
     the predicted behavior. . .

5.  Three of the samples were chosen    The results on the others didn't
     for detailed study. . .            make sense. . .

6.  Accidentally strained during        Dropped on the floor. . .
     mounting. . .

7.  Handled with extreme care           Not dropped on the floor. . .
     throughout the experiment. . .

8.  Typical results are shown. . .      The best results are shown. . .

9.  Agreement with the predicted
     curve is. . .
          excellent                          fair
          good                               poor
          satisfactory                       doubtful
          fair                               imaginary

10.  It is suggested that. . .
     It is believed that. . .
     It may be that. . .                I think. . .

11.  It is generally believed           A couple of other guys think so
      that. . .                         too. . .

12.  It is clear that much additional   a.  I don't understand it. . .
     work will be required before a     b.  My grant is up for renewal. . .
     complete understanding. . .

13.  Unfortunately, a quantitative      Nobody else understands it either.
     theory to account for these
     results has not been formulated.

14.  Correct within an order of         Wrong. . .
     magnitude. . .

15.  Thanks are due to Joe Glotz for    Glotz did the work, and Doe
     assistance with the experiments    explained what it meant.
     and to John Doe for valuable 
     discussion.



--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm