Table 2 Example of the structure of linguistic definitions.
Word | Investigation |
|---|---|
Verb/Noun | Noun |
Definition | An Investigation is a set, a collection of related studies and assays; a self-contained contained unit of scientific enquiry. |
Context | Evaluating the effect of an ingredient in a diet traditionally relies on one or more related studies for example where the subject receive different concentrations of the ingredient. The concept of investigation provides a container that allows us to group these studies together. |
Notes | When can we consider an investigation completed? Ongoing discussion. For instance, according to the Minimal Information About a Microarray Experiment (MIAME) an Experiment is a set of related hybridization that are in some way related (e.g., related to the same publication). In the case of the Investigation, we do not want to tie this concept to a publication or a deposition to a database or a submission to regulatory authority. The decision should be left to the individual investigator. |