STP Scientific Writing 4

Question 1

In statistical reporting, which must always accompany a mean value?

Accepted Answer

A measure of variability such as SD or SEM

Answer

A mean reported alone is meaningless without a measure of spread; SD (standard deviation) or SEM (standard error of the mean) must be included.

Question 2

What is the role of the Introduction in a scientific paper?

Accepted Answer

Establish background, identify the knowledge gap, and state the study aim

Answer

The Introduction moves from broad context to a specific gap in knowledge, concluding with the study's objective or hypothesis.

Question 3

Which of the following should NOT appear in a Results section?

Accepted Answer

Interpretation of what the results mean

Answer

Interpretation and discussion of results belong in the Discussion section; the Results section only presents data objectively.

Question 4

What is 'HARKing' in the context of scientific writing?

Accepted Answer

Hypothesizing After Results are Known

Answer

HARKing occurs when researchers present post-hoc hypotheses as if they were pre-specified, inflating false-positive rates and distorting the scientific record.

Question 5

When writing for an international scientific audience, which English variety is acceptable in US-based STP submissions?

Accepted Answer

Either, but must be consistent throughout

Answer

Either American or British English is acceptable in international science, but a single variety must be used consistently throughout the manuscript.

(STP) Scientist Training Programme Practice Test

(STP) Scientist Training Programme Practice Test

STP Scientific Writing 4