Scientific reports etc.

[mummymonkey]

I was reading this:

http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050627/full/050627-14.html

and noticed that it was about a report which was "launched" in London.

Why would a report be launched rather than published and what's the difference between a 'report' and a 'study'? How do 'scientific papers' fit into all this and are they launched or published? Are reports and studies peer reviewed first before being launched/published?

It's all very confusing for the layman like what I am.

[Rob Lister]

Originally posted by mummymonkey
I was reading this:

http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050627/full/050627-14.html

and noticed that it was about a report which was "launched" in London.

Why would a report be launched rather than published and what's the difference between a 'report' and a 'study'? How do 'scientific papers' fit into all this and are they launched or published? Are reports and studies peer reviewed first before being launched/published?

It's all very confusing for the layman like what I am.

I can probably answer your question but it will require JREF peer review. Nature is a respected and very important science publication. Along with the many peer review studies they publish, they also publish news in the various fields of science that their readership might be interested. They also include some commentary and letters.

Only the studies are peer-reviewed. The news articles generally regard interesting discoveries or observations that may or may not be provable. It's just keeping the readership up to date on what's being researched and what the researcher's speculations are.

I won't comment on the news article in question because that didn't seem to be the gist of the thread.

[pupdog]

I may be engaged in one "study" but prepare several "reports" based on the study results.

Some sort of evaluation of the proposed study is generally done, including peer input--the sponsors want to be sure the study is feasible and represents good science. The reports, likewise, receive peer review to ensure that methods and conclusions follow accepted scientific practice and are consistent with current knowledge (or if not consistent, provide a cogent argument why not).

[Jyera]

I quote from the article ...
"... said lead author John Raven of the University of Dundee, at the report's launch in London. "

It seems to me that "launch" refers to some organised event.
Probably for public relation or publicity or formality.

Facts are needed to ascertain the meaning of "launch" used in the context of the above quoted sentence.
We'll need someone with more intimate knowledge about the actual facts of the event.