Keeping notes and analysing your results

Tidy record keeping is often associated with good research. Try to keep copies of all files relating to your project. As you obtain results, you should always calculate, analyse and graph data as soon as you can (see Fig. 11.1). This can reveal aspects that may not be obvious in numerical or readout form. Don't be worried by negative results - these can sometimes be as useful as positive results if they allow you to eliminate hypotheses - and don't be dispirited if things do not work first time. Thomas Edison's maxim 'Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration' certainly applies to research work!