This is a lecture-only version of our Avoiding Bias in Microscopy Experiments workshop. No registration is required for this lecture, but you’ll need a Harvard ID to get into the building.
There are many factors that contribute to irreproducibility in microscopy experiments, and in this lecture we’ll focus on one of them: bias. Every experiment we do is subject to bias – whether it’s because we have a vested interest in the outcome of the experiment, or simply because our visual perception system tends to detect certain features in images preferentially. Unless we are vigilant about recognizing where our experimental design leaves openings for bias to affect results, we may come to conclusions that are incomplete or wrong. This lecture will introduce practical methods for designing microscopy experiments that are protected from bias, and provide general advice about recognizing potential bias.