Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
J Exp Bot. 2019 Jul 23;70(14):3649-3658. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erz279.
All scientific measurements are affected to some degree by both systematic and random errors. The quantification of these errors supports correct interpretation of data, thus supporting scientific progress. Absence of information regarding reliability and accuracy can slow scientific progress, and can lead to a reproducibility crisis. Here we consider both measurement theory and plant biomechanics literature. Drawing from measurement theory literature, we review techniques for assessing both the accuracy and uncertainty of a measurement process. In our survey of plant biomechanics literature, we found that direct assessment of measurement accuracy and uncertainty is not yet common. The advantages and disadvantages of efforts to quantify measurement accuracy and uncertainty are discussed. We conclude with recommended best practices for improving the scientific rigor in plant biomechanics through attention to the issues of measurement accuracy and uncertainty.
所有科学测量都在一定程度上受到系统误差和随机误差的影响。这些误差的量化有助于正确解释数据，从而支持科学进步。缺乏有关可靠性和准确性的信息会减缓科学进步的速度，并可能导致可重复性危机。在这里，我们同时考虑测量理论和植物生物力学文献。从测量理论文献中，我们回顾了评估测量过程准确性和不确定性的技术。在我们对植物生物力学文献的调查中，我们发现直接评估测量准确性和不确定性还不常见。讨论了量化测量准确性和不确定性的努力的优缺点。最后，我们提出了通过关注测量准确性和不确定性问题来提高植物生物力学科学严谨性的建议最佳实践。
