Flapjack, Science and Methods: Your Recipe for Reliable Results

Recently I had a go at making some flapjacks for my family. I’m pleased to say they went down a storm. They absolutely loved them! So much so, they have since asked for more, but on several attempts, try as I might, I’ve not been able to produce them in the same way. I’ve resigned to telling them to stop comparing each new batch to that first one (which has seemingly become the yardstick all future attempts are measured against), as that was more ‘beginners luck’ if anything, a one-off. Lightning does not often strike twice.

The problem is also self-inflicted. The first time I loosely based it on a recipe, but also freestyled it a bit, adding handfuls of this and that I found in the cupboard I thought would be nice. Reflecting on this during bouts of frustration and unsuccessful subsequent attempts, it’s been a timely reminder of the importance of the ‘methods’ section, not just in a recipe in this case, but it also made me think of the ‘methods’ in a scientific report.

When you pick up a cookbook, you expect more than just a list of ingredients – you want clear, step-by-step instructions to recreate a delicious dish. In the world of science, the methods section serves a similar purpose. It’s not just a dry recitation of procedures;

it’s the scientific recipe that allows for repeatability of research outcomes.

Cooking demands precise measurements and timings to achieve a delightful dish. Similarly, science relies on accurate measurements and timing. In your methods section, you’ll specify how much of each ingredient to use and the exact sequence of steps to follow. This precision minimises errors and ensures consistency in results.

In the kitchen, you might give your dish a taste test to make sure it’s just right. In science, our taste test is a bit different.

The methods section is the recipe for other scientists to follow. They’ll replicate the experiment, give it a taste, if you will, and see if it’s up to scratch.

That’s what we call peer review.

And heres the final spin. I don’t just think methods are important in recipes and science. Capturing effective steps taken to something you want to do or achieve can provide insight on how they can be reproduced for an attempt at some degree of consistent outcome (even if not always possible due to different and multi-faceted variables). This is true in business, sport and even life.

So, there you have it. The methods section in a scientific report, well, it’s not just a list of procedures. It’s the recipe for reliable results. It’s what makes sure we’re all on the same page, creating knowledge that stands the test of time. Just like a well-loved recipe ensures your favourite dish tastes the same every time, the methods section guarantees we’re cooking up a storm of knowledge that’s more reliable than my first batch of flapjacks.