High-quality scientific research doesn't stand alone but instead is tied to previous findings within the field. By first researching the relevant experiments that have come before the designing of their hypotheses and procedure, scientists can ensure that their research expands upon these previously discovered principles instead of simply rehashing previously discovered information.
By making their reasoning chain clear in their lab writeups, scientists can improve the quality of their scientific research. Upon reading the resulting report, others within the field of science should be able not only to understand how the scientist reached his conclusions but also to replicate the process he followed to arrive at them. To ensure that this is possible, scientists should focus upon creating concise yet clear procedural statements that explain the process in an understandable manner.
While scientists can work in isolation, the best research is commonly completed by teams of two or more individuals. By working cooperatively, scientists can benefit from combined brain power and cooperative problem-solving. When researching, many scientists may opt to join with others in their specific field or with those having different specialties.
Published research is generally of higher quality than that which remains unpublished. Published findings are open to peer scrutinization and therefore are more carefully inspected for errors in scientific method or logic. Research published in peer review journals is checked by others within the industry for errors prior to publication, ensuring, at least in part, that the findings are sound and the methods proper.