Questionnair on "hedging" in scientific writing

“Hedging” in Scientific or Academic Writing

I am doing research about the likelihood expressed using different hedging expressions: (1) adverbs, (2) modal verbs, and (3) particular verbs in scientific or technical research papers.

Motivation of this survey:

Many Japanese researchers have difficulties in deciding how to hedge. To be honest about their research findings, they need a list of hedging expressions that precisely show their intended degrees of probability in their research papers.

My survey is as follow:

Please assume that you are reading (but not writing) scientific or technical research papers, and determine what likelihood different adverbs, modal verbs, and verbs are intended (or the degree of probability).

Question 1:

Please indicate the degree of probability in percent below when you read this sentence:

Sample:

Irradiation with NIR light seemingly induces death of target cells. (70%)

(1) Adverbs

Irradiation with NIR light seemingly induces death of target cells. ( %)

Irradiation with NIR light apparently induces death of target cells. ( %)

Irradiation with NIR light possibly induces death of target cells. ( %)

Irradiation with NIR light probably induces death of target cells. ( %)

*Irradiation with NIR light seems to induce death of target cells. ( %)

Irradiation with NIR light appears to induce death of target cells. ( %)

Your comments (if any):

(2) Modal verbs

- will, can, may

Irradiation with NIR light will induce death of target cells. ( %)

Irradiation with NIR light can induce death of target cells. ( %)

Irradiation with NIR light may induce death of target cells. ( %)

- must, should

Irradiation with NIR light must induce death of target cells. ( %)

Irradiation with NIR light should induce death of target cells. ( %)

- might, could

Irradiation with NIR light might induce death of target cells. ( %)

Irradiation with NIR light could induce death of target cells. ( %)

Your comments (if any):

(3) Verbs

Our experiment demonstrates that irradiation with NIR light induces death of target cells. ( %)

Our experiment reveals that irradiation with NIR light induces death of target cells. ( %)

Our experiment shows that irradiation with NIR light induces death of target cells. ( %)

Our experiment indicate that irradiation with NIR light induces death of target cells. ( %)

Our experiment implies that irradiation with NIR light induces death of target cells. ( %)

Our experiment suggests that irradiation with NIR light induces death of target cells. ( %)

Your comments (if any):

(4) Combinations

Our experiment demonstrates that irradiation with NIR light can induce death of target cells. ( %)

Our experiment reveals that irradiation with NIR light can induce death of target cells. ( %)

Our experiment shows that irradiation with NIR light can induce death of target cells. ( %)

Our experiment indicate that irradiation with NIR light can induce death of target cells. ( %)

Our experiment implies that irradiation with NIR light can induce death of target cells. ( %)

Our experiment suggests that irradiation with NIR light can induce death of target cells. ( %)

Your comments (if any):

Question 2: Your personal information

What is your nationality? ( )

What is your research field (if any), or your specialty? ( )

What is your occupation? ( )

Thank you very much for your cooperation.