PREFACE
The primary responsibility of the Scientific Department is to research and study anomalies within the Foundation. The Testing Handbook lays out the regulations and procedures for how to conduct different varieties of research. Regulations within this handbook is enforceable Scientific Command and any violations will result in departmental punishment.
RESEARCH PROCESS
Pre-Test Preparation
Before beginning a test, there are several components of an effective test:
Topic: Topics are the first step toward scientific research; test hosts must have a topic on an anomaly they want to research.
Topics need to be ethical and follow the Code of Ethics; however, you may request for an exemption by going to the #special-test-requests channel in the ScD Discord Server.
Example: I want to research SCP-4966s and their interactions with SCP-1200-46.
Hypothesis: Hypotheses are assumption statements that define the cause-effect relationship between two or more variables.
Example: The consumption of SCP-1200-46 affects the transparency of SCP-4966.
Methods: Methods are the design of tests and how the test host got the results that they got.
Example: SCP-4966 will consume SCP-1200-46 and be observed by the test host(s).
Results: Results are the final component of tests and either prove or disprove the hypothesis.
Example: The researcher wants to observe the relationship between SCP-4966 and SCP-1200-46, so they let SCP-4966 consume SCP-1200-46. In conducting the research, the researcher found that their hypothesis was proven.
Testing Procedure
There are several steps to a basic test:
Head to the Class-D Containment Zone or remain in the Civil Sector and request for combative and Class-D (if Class-Ds are needed in the test) via the "Requests" channel on the radio.
Format: Requesting [#] of Class-D and [#] Combative Personnel for a [List of SCP(s) number] test.
The hierarchy for a combative escort goes: Base SD > MP > SRU > Lambda-7 with one requesting having to wait 5-10 minutes before going to the next spot.
The default ratio of Class-D to combative personnel is 3:1, meaning after every 3 Class-D, Scientific Staff require an additional combative operative.
If your test requires objects, you may wait in the Civil Sector and ride along with the combative that grabs the object(s).
After receiving the Class-D, the Security Department will brief before the test. Once finished, Scientific Staff must head to the containment zone of the tested SCP(s) alongside your escort(s) and Class-D(s).
When at the containment zone of the specific SCP, Scientific Staff must brief and inform their Class-D or sentient anomalies of their tasks.
Scientific Staff should be clear and have simple instructions. During the test, Scientific Staff are responsible for everything, including combative personnel.
It is recommended (but not required!) to assign your Class-D numbers (such as D-1, D-2, etc) for ease of communication.
Once Scientific Staff are done with their experiment, they must fill out a research log with their results and findings. Once finished with the research log, it must be sent in the #test-submissions channel in the Scientific Department Discord server for further review by a Research Instructor+.
It is required to reward the participating Class-Ds through the Terminal on-site: reward <Class-D> "Test Participation" <Rating from 1 to 10>
The rating will give 100 credits at 1 and 1300 at 10.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH METHODS
The Scientific Department has other methods of research other than testing.
Research Projects
Research projects are long-term tasks that require multiple tests to complete; the project thread must be used to share information to other participants and to discuss test results. The following regulations must be followed at all times:
Junior Researcher+ may start a research project;
Research projects will use the project lead's testing clearance;
Research project leads may choose for their project to be private or public;
Private projects are when only people the project lead invites may participate.
Projects must be ethical unless an ethical waiver is in place; and
If a project is left inactive for more than two weeks, it will be removed.
Interviews
Interviews are another form of research conducted by the Scientific Department intended to gather information on an anomaly or lore character's past, relationships with others, and/or any other useful topics. The following regulations must be followed at all times:
Interviews within an anomaly's containment chamber require the combative unit responsible for the anomaly to be present during the interview;
Interviews with free-roaming anomalies do not require a combative escort.
Interviews require department members to have the testing clearance for the anomaly they're interviewing; and
Assistant Researcher+ may interview lore characters.
SPECIALIST TESTING
Collaborative Tests
Collaborative tests are when a maximum of three researchers, who equally work alongside each other, make a test report together. Collaborative tests give five extra research points and can count towards promotion requirements.
Collaborative tests will use the highest ranking researcher's testing clearance;
Collaborative tests must be ethical unless an ethical waiver is obtained;
All members of the collaborative test must equally contribute to the test report; and
The sections must be highlighted in a separate color and mentioned on who did what.
All members of the collaborative test will be rewarded research points for the report.
Mass Tests
Mass tests are tests that require significantly more Class-Ds than the department-wide limit allows. Collaborative tests give three extra research points and can count towards promotion requirements. These tests must be approved in the #special-test-requests channel and the following regulations must be followed:
Only Senior Researcher+ may conduct mass tests;
All mass tests must be approved by a Board of Research+;
Mass tests must be ethical unless an ethical waiver is obtained; and
Any Command rank does not require BoR+ approval for mass tests.
Termination Attempts
On hold until further notice.
Ethical Waivers
Ethical waivers are used for when department members want to conduct an unethical test; Waiver requests are submitted in the #special-test-requests channel and the following regulations must be followed:
Research Students cannot request for ethical waivers; and
Scientific Department members may request for any ethical waivers to any anomaly that they have access to.
DISCOVERIES
The discoveries program aims to incentivize more creative and interesting tests; researchers can earn extra points from making discoveries. The amount of additional points will depend on how notable the discovery is. The following process is followed:
When submitting a discovery, a member of the Special Research Team will review the submission and determine if it has already been found, a bug, or just not a discovery in general.
Verification of the research results are determined on a case-by-case basis. If verification is required, a simple test must be conducted following the same steps as the original test. A test report is not required to be written for verifications.
Verifications will be prioritized to the Special Research Team; however, it is also open up to the Scientific Command team.
Discoveries are categorized into three parts:
Anomaly Discoveries: Discoveries gained about an anomaly; if the information is confirmed by the Special Research Team, it will be added to the anomaly's record.
Chemical Discoveries: Discoveries gained from finding a new chemical or new information on an existing chemical. Once the information is confirmed by the Special Research Team, it will be added to the Chemical Handbook.
Lore Discoveries: Discoveries that are about an anomaly's backstory, a lore character, or a Person/Group of Interest. Once the information is confirmed by the Special Research Team, it will be added to the Lore Pages.
Discoveries are graded based on how significant the discovery is and how much evidence has been given to support it.
Bonus Points
A - 20 points (Typically given to notable discoveries, brand new or unheard of information)
B - 15 points
C - 10 points
D - 5 points
F - 0 points (Typically given if the information is already listed on the records or well-known)
GRADING
All submitted test reports are graded; depending on how well the report is, certain rewards will be received. Test reports are graded and given feedback by Researcher Instructor+ in the #test-feedback channel. This feedback is vital to listen to, instructing department members on how to improve future test reports.
Grades are only given to advanced test reports, ranging from S to F. Each category on the grading rubric is graded from 0 to 5; the final grade is determined by adding up all of the grades for each category. Below is the official grading rubric that Scientific Command uses.
Grade Calculator
S - If the total score of the test report is 23+ research points; the creativity section is required to gain an S grade
A - If the total score of the test report is between 19 to 22 research points
B - If the total score of the test report is between 15 to 18 research points
C - If the total score of the test report is between 11 to 14 research points
D - If the total score of the test report is between 6 to 10 research points.
F - If the total score of the test report is between 0 to 5 research points, a single category scores a 0, or if there is no provided evidence.
To check how many points you have, you can go to #bot-commands and run the command -coins or /coins. Doing so will display the amount of research points you currently have.
Point Table (Advanced Reports)
S - 20 research points
A - 15 research points
B - 12 research points
C - 7 research points
D - 4 research points
F - 0 research points
Point Table (Advanced Reports w/ Custom Format)
S - 25 research points
A - 20 research points
B - 17 research points
C - 12 research points
D - 10 research points
F - 0 research points
RESEARCH SUBMISSIONS
Once Scientific Department members have completed their test, they have the option to submit. Submitting a test is mandatory; all test report formats are pinned in the #test-submissions channel. Test reports are split into two parts:
Basic Test Reports
Basic test reports are the shortest submissions. The grading scale is only based on fail or pass; completing and passing a basic test report will give the member a maximum of three research points.
Advanced Test Reports
Advanced test reports are written in a Google Document format for more detailed information. These test reports can be based on the department's provided test/interview format document or a custom-made format document.
SPECIALIST PROGRAM
On hold until further notice.
Safe Specialist
Euclid Specialist
Keter Specialist
Chemical Specialist
This documentation was created and approved by Central Command.