The Practical Work

Abstract

Having completed the design to a reasonable degree you should be able to start the practical work. This needs to be carried out in a planned and organised way to maximise the time and facilities available to you and thus to increase your chances of obtaining results. It is, of course, possible to work in a haphazard manner with little forethought and direction but this will be wasteful of time and facilities and probably very frustrating. During the practical work you will become increasingly familiar with the procedures and make various adjustments and refinements. You will also increase your competence at the techniques, general understanding of the project and what is involved in obtaining results. It is important therefore to start the practical work as soon as possible and not spend a disproportionate amount of the timetabled practical time reading the literature or designing the ‘perfect’ investigation. Do recognise that you will have to work in stages, in a systematic way and that you cannot expect everything to work initially, continuously, or that you can complete an investigation within one practical period.