I just recently heard Cochrane's Aphorism:
Before ordering a test, decide what you will do if it
is (1) positive or (2) negative. If both answers are the same, don't
take the test.
The origin is probably from clinical practice, but it seems apt to paraphrase it for scientists' use:
Before running an experiment, decide what you will do if it
is (1) positive or (2) negative. If both answers are the same, don't do the experiment.
Much time, money, and distress would be saved in any field of research if only every PhD was taught this during their first month of work.
