Written Reflection 1
This first year of research was a great opportunity and filled with new learning experiences every day. There were many successes, and also some failures that took place. I was successful in learning to work in a lab, and also following all the procedures. It was a very fun experiment, watching my ideas unfold before me! Although I had a few problems, such as some difficulty and confusion the first few days while in the lab, the project overall was a success. One aspect of my research I wish I could have done better on were my detailed procedures. I wrote them while I was in the lab, so I was in a hurry. I did not right them as thorough as I had liked, and often had trouble referencing measurements I used. I had good pictures; they are clear to see and visually show what is happening during experimentation. The data was collected by counting each viable cell in the four separate quadrants in the hemacytometer. They were put into separate tables to show which cell line they were from, and also the number of viable cells that were counted. After further inspection, a great suggestion was given to me: to multiply each cell number by five, to give an estimate of cells per milliliter, instead of cells per microliter. This helped data analysis by giving a more realistic estimation. I used Minitab ANOVA (tests variance) to calculate the statistical significance of each cell line. After experimentation, I feel like I am most qualified in lab procedures and aseptic technique. I have a great knowledge of Acetaminophen and the hazards of it. In contrast, I feel like I need more knowledge on the sections of my paper. The flow needs to be a little bit better. Overall, this research year was a great experience!