Electronic Lab Notebooks and Experimental Design Assistants

Abstract

Documentation of experiments is essential for best research practice and ensures scientific transparency and data integrity. Traditionally, the paper lab notebook (pLN) has been employed for documentation of experimental procedures, but over the course of the last decades, the introduction of electronic tools has changed the research landscape and the way that work is performed. Nowadays, almost all data acquisition, analysis, presentation and archiving are done with electronic tools. The use of electronic tools provides many new possibilities, as well as challenges, particularly with respect to documentation and data quality. One of the biggest hurdles is the management of data on different devices with a

Supporting Team Based Learning Using Electronic Laboratory Notebooks: Perspectives From Transnational Students

“…This result confirms previous findings in the literature regarding the hurdles to widespread adoption of ELNs. As mentioned in the literature [44], cost is the dominant issue, which gives paper based notebooks a clear advantage [45]. Our findings are therefore different from those by Kanza [44], where 52% of surveyed users indicated that their willingness to pay more than $5 per month in licensing fees.…”

“…A lab notebook should contain a detailed record of research data. Furthermore, the main advantages of ELNs are well documented in the literature [25], [29]. In comparison to paper-based notebooks, ELNs are software tools that are designed to enable lab work to be easily shared, copied and archived [30].…”

eLabFTW as an Open Science tool to improve the quality and translation of preclinical research

“…Although there are some disadvantages in using ELNs, 6,8 we believe that the advantages outweigh those by far. Especially in aspects regarding open science and reproducibility, data safety and availability, as well as transparency and as a tool for thorough standardization.…”

“…These hurdles include the costs of obtaining the software and maintaining the necessary infrastructure, the time needed to implement the ELN and adapt the lab habits, as well as the fear of data being stored in a cloud on a foreign server. 6 Another point that is important when working with primary samples of patient data is the protection of personal data (e.g., patient information) from unauthorized access. 6 Other scientists fear that the software will be discontinued in the future, making it necessary to search for a new ELN, with the uncertainty whether the data from the previous system can still be accessed and imported to the new system.…”

“…6 Another point that is important when working with primary samples of patient data is the protection of personal data (e.g., patient information) from unauthorized access. 6 Other scientists fear that the software will be discontinued in the future, making it necessary to search for a new ELN, with the uncertainty whether the data from the previous system can still be accessed and imported to the new system. 6…”