The proper management, interpretation, and representation of
scientific data are central to all scientific inquiry. A wide range
of scientific approaches are incorporated into the research carried
out at the NIH, but two guiding principles underlie all data
management and presentation. First, data should faithfully reflect
the experimental results, qualitatively and quantitatively, without
misrepresentation. Images (microscopy, blots, gels, etc.) should be
representative of all the results obtained. Second, sufficient
documentation of the experimental methods and the data should be kept
in the laboratory for at least five years, such that any trained
individual would be able to independently examine and interpret the
data. The cases selected for 2005
(also available as a pdf file with
Figure 1 as a separate image)cover these
topics thoroughly. There are five cases related to the management and
representation of different types of data in laboratory settings, and
an additional four cases related to epidemiological
and clinical data management, and we encourage each group to
discuss those cases that most pertain to the types of experiments
they carry out.
We strongly encourage facilitators to provide the following two
documents as supplements to the 2005 case discussions.
Document 1 -- The NIH Catalyst article entitled "What's
in a Picture? The Temptation of Image Manipulation" which
provides guidelines for proper handling of digital image data with
powerful examples of what can go wrong (the images from the article
can also be found in the powerpoint
file).
We strongly recommend that this brief
article be required reading before the case
discussions.
Document 2 -- Three retractions
published in Cell in 2004 (pdf
file). How could these retractions have been avoided?