Philosophy scientists can use Part III: Measure Twice
Welcome to the third post in our series about aphorisms that contain wisdom which scientists can use. If you missed the introduction to this series we recommend you check it out. This week we are discussing the phrase:
“Measure twice, cut once”
I’m a big fan of wood working. In my opinion more people should be; it can teach you some incredible practical skills, it’s a fun creative outlet and it’s an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Aside from these practical benefits the world of woodworking has much to offer in terms of wisdom, such as this week’s aphorism. It is most commonly associated with wood workers and craftsmen; where it acts as a reminded to measure something twice before cutting into your wood or other working material. Once again, as with last weeks aphorism it is used to warn against what might be obvious; once an action has been taken you might not be able to undo it, so make sure you do it right the first time.
It is thought that this saying came into existence around the 1500’s but the exact time is uncertain. While it is commonly associated with woodworking the specific place, or vocation of whom ever first spoke the phrase, remains equally unclear. One source indicates that it came from Italian goldsmith and sculptor Benvenuto Cellini around 1558. In contrast, another source suggests that it originated with linguist Giovanni Florio in 1591. While there is no consensus concerning how this particular aphorism came about it seems likely that it arose during the Renaissance era, when craftsmanship was a common trade.
Regardless of its origins this aphorism is one that I first heard as a child and think it is still relevant to today’s digital age. While you might already check everything you do twice, particularly the perfectionists out there, and just because you trust your first guess doesn’t mean there you can’t get apply some of this wisdom to your life:
Don’t trust the first result
The first time you run an experiment and it does the exact opposite of what you expected can be tough. Likewise, if you do something for the first time and it is perfect it can be easy to be ecstatic with the results. Unfortunately science can be cruel. We have to be careful not to take first results at face value and look deeper. It’s our job to make sure data is reliable. Meaning we have to be sceptical of everything, a process which can be tough but it is a necessity (rather than measuring twice statisticians usually need at least 3 repeats). The responsibility falls to you to ensure that some element of fortune didn’t creep in to influence your results. This mind-set doesn’t just go for experiments, just because something didn’t go according to plan, maybe a presentation didn’t go so well, or a conference wasn’t what you expected, it doesn’t mean that every time you give a presentation or every conference you go to will be like that. Don’t be disheartened by a single event, try again and get an actual measure of what happens before passing judgement.
Take your time
In more a practical sense, as this aphorism is meant to imply, checking your work before moving forward can be crucial to avoid mistakes. When setting up an experiment you don’t want to get the volumes wrong or grab the wrong bottle of solution; not only are you wasting the raw ingredients but you’re wasting your own time. Sometimes you might not have the opportunity or ability to literally measure something twice, instead you have to check your plan. Did you check your maths, is the scale balanced and working, is the spatula contaminated because someone didn’t clean it? This does not guarantee that everything will go according to plan, but it is always worth double checking these kinds of things. Sometimes this may feel you are adding extra or unnecessary steps but this kind of preparation could prevent, or at the very least minimise, unforeseen consequences.
Don’t assume you’re right
If you have data from one experiment that supports your theory it’s easy to think you have the full picture. It can feel nice to get some vindication, but once again you have to always be questioning – am I actually seeing the full picture or is there more to the story? It can be hard and there’s a fine line between being critical and self-doubt, but as a scientists it is your job to think critically. You need to consider what if this isn’t what I thought, is there any other way I can check this; another type of experiment or other peoples results which support, or disprove, what I think? This is what lies at the core of this aphorism for me. While you trust that you were right the first time, we are all human and can make mistakes, so don’t assume you were infallible and find a way to confirm that you are right.
Where a wood worker will be carving a piece of oak a scientist might be making buffers, in either situation preparation and precision are key. Hopefully discussing this aphorism has helped you see some of the wisdom that it contains and sparked some ways you might be able to apply it to your life. Whether it’s physically double checking things or thinking more critically about your conclusions, at the end of the day the responsibility falls to you to check your own work so you can have confidence in it.
Can you think of any more reasons that this aphorism could be useful to a scientist? Let us know on twitter.