For Writers: Scientist Archetype

For Writers:  Scientist Archetype

1. A real scientist seeks the truth in science. He or she has no hidden agendas.

2. A real scientist is unbiased. She or he mustn’t care if the experiment’s result is Option A or Option B.

3. A real scientist designs his or her experiment so that every variable is tightly controlled and the resulting data is unbiased.

4. A real scientist doesn’t work for a biased manager. The manager mustn’t care if the experiment’s result is Option A or Option B.

5. A real scientist doesn’t work for a biased funding source. The funding source mustn’t care if the experiment’s result is Option A or Option B.

6. A real scientist, when analyzing data, doesn’t discard “outlier” data points on a chart without a proven technical reason.

7. A real scientist, when analyzing data, doesn’t move data points on a chart. She or he never “doctors” data.

Note 1:  If a data gatherer fails any of the seven criteria above, she or he is not a scientist.

Note 2: These same seven criteria apply to engineers. They seek the truth in technology.

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