As relayed to me by a former Research Methods student, Latarsha

Horne:

"SCIENTIFIC JARGON" by Dyrk Schingman, Oregon State

University

After several years of studying and hard work, I have finally learned

scientific jargon. The following list of phrases and their definitions

will help you to understand that mysterious language of science and

medicine.

"IT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN". . . I didn't look up the original reference.

"A DEFINITE TREND IS EVIDENT". . .These data are practically

meaningless.

"WHILE IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE DEFINITE ANSWERS TO THE

QUESTIONS". . . An unsuccessful experiment, but I still hope to get it

published

"THREE OF THE SAMPLES WERE CHOSEN FOR DETAILED STUDY". . . The other

results didn't make any sense.

"TYPICAL RESULTS ARE SHOWN". . . This is the prettiest graph.

"THESE RESULTS WILL BE IN A SUBSEQUENT REPORT". . . I might get around

to this sometime, if pushed/funded.

"IN MY EXPERIENCE". . . once

"IN CASE AFTER CASE". . . Twice

"IN A SERIES OF CASES". . . Thrice

"IT IS BELIEVED THAT". . . I think.

"IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT". . A couple of other guys think so too.

"CORRECT WITHIN AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE". . . Wrong.

"ACCORDING TO STATISTICAL ANALYSIS". . . Rumor has it.

"A STATISTICALLY ORIENTED PROTECTION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE

FINDINGS". . . A wild guess.

"A CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF OBTAINABLE DATA". . . Three pages of notes were

obliterated when I knocked over a glass of soda.

"IT IS CLEAR THAT MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE A

COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PHENOMENA OCCURS". I don't understand it.

"AFTER ADDITIONAL STUDY BY MY COLLEAGUES". . . They don't understand it

either.

"THANKS ARE DUE TO JOE BLOTZ FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE EXPERIMENT AND TO

ANDREA SCHAEFFER FOR VALUABLE DISCUSSIONS". . . Mr. Boltz did the work

and Ms. Shaeffer explained to me what it meant.

"A HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT AREA FOR EXPLORATORY STUDY". . . A totally useless

topic selected by my committee.

"IT IS HOPED THAT THIS STUDY WILL STIMULATE FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN

THIS FIELD". . . I quit.