THE ART OF SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION 



and then finding an answer by the most direct means. The general 

 subject of planning research is discussed later under the tide 

 " Tactics ". 



SUMMARY 



One of the research worker's duties is to follow the scientific 

 literature, but reading needs to be done with a critical, reflective 

 attitude of mind if originaUty and freshness of outlook are not 

 to be lost. Merely to accumulate information as a sort of capital 

 investment is not sufficient. 



Scientists tend to work best on problems of their own choice 

 but it is advisable for the beginner to start on a problem which 

 is not too difficult and on which he can get expert guidance. 



The following is a common sequence in an investigation on 

 a medical or biological problem, (a) The relevant literature is 

 critically reviewed. (6) A thorough collection of field data or 

 equivalent observational enquiry is conducted, and is supple- 

 mented if necessary by laboratory examination of specimens. 



(c) The information obtained is marshalled and correlated and 

 the problem is defined and broken down into specific questions. 



(d) Intelligent guesses are made to answer the questions, as many 

 hypotheses as possible being considered, (e) Experiments are 

 devised to test first the likeliest hypotheses bearing on the most 

 crucial questions. 



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