Connecting dots!: How to Present a Conclusion Based on Multiple Data Sets

In current chemistry, most of the new discoveries (probably all) is from the “connecting the dots” type of research, not like “I am Amerigo Vespucci and I found the American continent is here.” In other words, hitting good data does not mean much.  You need to do interpretation through a comparison with, for example, previous research and your other measurements, and transform your good data into your "valuable" data.  Students sometimes do research like a competition of how lucky you are, but it is not right. (Although I don't deny the importance of luck in research!)

The easiest exercise of connecting the dots is by drawing a conclusion from multiple data sets.

For example, you synthesized nanocrystals and hope to characterize the product.  You did TEM and FL measurements.  Then, you might think (1) TEM showed monodispersed image + (2) FL spectrum had a narrow emission peak. -> Most likely your sample is uniform shaped nanocrystals. 

You cannot omit "most likely", because each data has a drawback to support the conclusion.  For example, you cannot exclude the possibility that TEM provided too localized information, and the FL spectrum only came from the FL active sample. 

 

my hair is curly, but under a microscope, you cannot tell.
that is why you don't rely on only one data to conclude something.

It is not possible to have an absolute conclusion in science, but still, you can make an effort to make your conclusion stronger.  Here are the 5 steps to make your conclusion good and strong.

How include multiple data in your conclusion and presentation

Step 1. Pick two (or more) different results that lead to one conclusion

Step 2. Pick some previous publications that you want to use to support your conclusion

Step 3. List up ideas that deny your conclusions.  If you cannot do this, probably your conclusion may not be strong enough.

Step 4. Prepare the backup thoughts to disprove the denying idea you hit in the step 3.

Step 5. Present your findings and show how you connected the dots, not just your drawn conclusion(s). Summarize what you can conclude and the exclusion.

In the presentation, the audience is interested in your thought process, not just in your conclusion. Remember the accumulation of solid thought processes make a solid conclusion, and accumulation of solid conclusions makes a good research storyline, and if you tell a story from a research storyline, it makes good research.

  

Good luck presenting your conclusions based on multiple data sets!