Hey, not sure if what I'm asking is complete rubbish but i swear theres a word for this. Basically is there a word for when an experiment goes wrong? I'm currently writing about genetic engineering and I can't figure out the word for an experiment that's gone totally wrong or has problems with it. I feel like it may be anomaly...but I'm not sure Can anyone help? Thanks!
Nah, it's not 'anomaly'. As is customary for Australians, I'll go with "it's ****ed". Serious answer now: could you use 'casualty'? I've got a word in my mind that starts with "mis-" or "mal-". I can't remember it. A few weeks ago, there was a thread about suing doctors for getting stuff wrong. I can't remember the word that was used, but I'm pretty sure it fits? Sorry I couldn't be more help.
Simply, so-called failed experiments lead to negative results or are characterised as negative....These are experiments in which the expected results do not occur or unexpected results occur. Journals have a publication bias in favour of positive results, so, for example: four experiments on drug X are undertaken of which three suggest it's no better or worse than placebo and one suggests it might have curative powers beyond that of placebo..and the latter is published, the others forgotten.
An anomaly is an unexpected result. It might be because the experiment has gone wrong, or it might be revealing something significant. As others have pointed out, a negative result is not a failed experiment, but a technician tripping over and knocking all of the equipment off the bench would be. But then you use the normal language for things going wrong: failed, botched, fouled up and so on.
Yeh somehow I'm starting to think it is anomaly. Had more of a look into it and it seems to be the word I'm looking for...just wasn't sure at first. Thanks for he help!
