I was pleased to see this posting, since when I first read about the possible use of pencils to collect data I was quite taken aback. When I was an undergraduate in physics we wre informed that all data were to be written in ink in a bound (not looseleaf) notebook. Raw data were written on the left-hand sheet, and all comments and analysis on the right. If you thought the data were bad you could say so, but you could not erase the data.
The use of computers to log data also allows for destruction of data. I recall one cruise when the chief scientist was having trouble with his laptop, so we downloaded data from the CTD to mine and then transferred them to his. Since I had the data I looked at them and made some interesting observations. When I went to talk to him about them, he told me that he had already erased the data since he thought they were bad! He was actually quite indignant that I had found useful information in what he thought were flawed data. Of course in some cases data cannot be written on permanent data -- dive logs for example are written on erasable pads under water and then transferred to dry media. I still think that the data collection protocols should require that all raw data be preserved, no matter how bad they seem. As for the matter of pens, I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Fisher Space Pen, the one developed for use by astronauts. I had several and found them remarkably tough and versatile. Since I no longer live in the US I don't know whether they are still available or perhaps are sold under a different name, but I sure liked mine. Bill Silvert Portugal ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris MacQuarrie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 12:00 AM Subject: Re: Pens or pencils for field notes > Hello all, > > For what its worth, My undergrad field school instructor advised us never > to > take field notes in pencil. He gave the example of an inexperienced field > assistant erasing a page of what they thought was 'bad' data. Of course, > they later discovered the error and the measurements were lost. > > Pen might be messier or more expensive, but there is no chance of the data > being accidentally (or heaven forbid, purposely) deleted. > > Chris > > > > On 6/5/07, Barbara White <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> We would like to solicit people's ideas about what kind of pens or >> pencils >> they think are appropriate for taking field notes with respect to >> permanence. >> > >
