Useful Research Phrases and What They Really Mean[edit]
"It has long been known" . . . [I didn't look up the original reference.]
"A definite trend is evident" . . . [These data are practically meaningless.]
"Of great theoretical and practical importance" . . . [Interesting to me.]
"While it has not been possible to provide definite answers to these questions" . . . [An unsuccessful experiment but I still have to get it published.]
"Three of the samples were chosen for detailed study" . . . [The results of the others didn't make any sense.]
"Typical results are shown" . . . [The best results are shown.]
"These results will be shown in a subsequent report" . . . [I might get around to this sometime if I'm pushed.]
"The most reliable results are those obtained by Jones" . . . [He was my graduate assistant.]
"It is believed that" . . . [I think]
"It is generally believed that" . . . [A couple of other guys think so, too.]
"It is clear that much additional work will be required before a complete understanding occurs" . . . [I don't understand it.]
"Correct within an order of magnitude" . . . [Wrong]
"It is hoped that this study will stimulate further investigations in this field" . . . [This is a lousy paper, but so are all the others on this miserable topic.]
"Thanks are due to Joe Blotz for assistance with the experiment and to George Frink for valuable assistance" . . . [Blotz did the work and Frink explained to me what it meant.]
"A careful analysis of obtainable data" . . . [Three pages of notes were obliterated when I knocked over a glass of beer.]
"It is clear that much additional work will be required before a complete understanding of this phenomenon occurs"... [I don't understand it.]
"After additional study by my colleagues"... [ They don't understand it either.]
"It is hoped that this study will stimulate further investigation in this field"... [I quit.]
taken from [1] under Psychology Humor / Jokes
also see Psychology Jokes