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Scientists assume an attitude of openness and accountability on the part of those conducting an experiment. Detailed recordkeeping is essential, to aid in recording and reporting on the experimental results, and providing evidence of the effectiveness and integrity of the procedure. They will also assist in reproducing the experimental results.
Integrity may be augmented by the introduction of a ''control''. Two virtually identical experiments are run, in only one of which the factor being tested is varied. This serves to further isolate any causal phenomena. For example in testing a [[drug]] it is important to carefully test that the supposed effect of the drug is produced only by the drug itself. [[Doctor]]s may do this with a [[double-blind]] study: two virtually identical groups of [[patient]]s are compared, one of which receives the drug and one of which receives a [[placebo]]. Neither the patients nor the doctor know who is getting the real drug, isolating its effects.
Once the experiment is complete, the researcher determines whether the results (or data) gathered are what was predicted. If the experimental conclusions fail to match the predictions/hypothesis, then one returns to the failed hypothesis and re-iterates the process. If the experiment(s) appears "successful" - i.e. fits the hypothesis - then the results are to be published in a way which allows others (in theory) to ''reproduce'' the same experiments and results.
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