REFERENCE: The case of the disappearing teaspoons: longitudinal cohort study of the displacement of teaspoons in an Australian research institute. (2005) BMJ 331:1498-1500 ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: To determine the overall rate of loss of workplace teaspoons and whether attrition and displacement are correlated with the relative value of the teaspoons or type of tearoom. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Research institute employing about 140 people. SUBJECTS: 70 discreetly numbered teaspoons placed in tearooms around the institute and observed weekly over five months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of teaspoon loss per 100 teaspoon years and teaspoon half life. RESULTS: 56 (80%) of…
The Science Creative Quarterly
By chrisjones
Chris Jones is a PhD student at the University of Western Australia, Perth. Originally from Warwick in Southern Queensland, he has followed a life of scientific endeavour particularly in plant biology and natural products chemistry.
He is currently researching a small but highly valuable tree species called Santalum album, or Indian Sandalwood. His main interest is how the essential oils in the wood are made, and what role they play in the species ecology. He is visiting the Michael Smith Laboratories for 6 months to gain molecular biology experience and hopefully isolate some of the genes responsible.
JOURNAL CLUB FIND: FORENSICS WITH A SPOON – NO WAIT, MAKE THAT ON A SPOON.
REFERENCE: The case of the disappearing teaspoons: longitudinal cohort study of the displacement of teaspoons in an Australian research institute. (2005) BMJ 331:1498-1500 ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: To determine the overall rate of loss of workplace teaspoons and whether attrition and displacement are correlated with the relative value of the teaspoons or type of tearoom. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Research institute employing about 140 people. SUBJECTS: 70 discreetly numbered teaspoons placed in tearooms around the institute and observed weekly over five months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of teaspoon loss per 100 teaspoon years and teaspoon half life. RESULTS: 56 (80%) of…