Testing Handbook
Preface
The core 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.
Testing Regulations
When testing at Paragon Research Institute, all Scientific Staff must follow the regulations listed in this section.
Research Process
This section will give a basic outline of how to set up, conduct, and conclude your tests. For a more in-depth guide, refer to Conducting an Experiment.
Pre-Test Preparation
Topic: Topics are the first step toward scientific research; test hosts must have a topic 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
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 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+.
actually lemme post pics in command chat
Section IV > Testing Regulations
When testing at Paragon Research Institute, you must follow the regulations listed in this section. This section will also cover all basic information about testing, for a detailed explanation on how to test head to Conducting an Experiment
You may only test on a maximum of 3 SCPs (object or not) at a time
May be raised using the Research Reward system
There is no limit on the number of chemicals that you can use in a test, just be reasonable!
All tests must have a combative escort
Interviews do not require combatives unless you need to enter a Containment Zone and/or use Class-D subjects
You can only host tests that involve Class-D personnel when the site is stable
When the site is unstable, you may only host tests that do not involve Class-Ds
You may only conduct tests in CR when the site is unstable
You may only conduct low risk tests when the site is unstable
Your test may only require a maximum of 2 combatives when the site is unstable
You may test during a Rise but the following regulations must be followed while testing during a Rise
There may only be 1 test at a time during a Rise
Tests during a Rise may only have a maximum of 3 Class-Ds
You are not required to submit a test log when you complete a test, but no rewards will be given for the test if it is not logged
You are required to reward your Class-D(s) for participating in your test, and proof of the terminal input must be provided in your test log.
You are permitted to repeat previous test questions, you are not required to create a unique test question for every test
Always a good thing to confirm previous results!
Section 4.1 > Specialist Testing
Team Tests
A team test is any test that has more than one test host. Team Testing is similar to a standard test, the only difference is that you work together with a group of up to 4 people to complete the test.
Team tests may only have up to 4 test hosts
Team tests will use the highest ranking Researcher's testing clearance
Team tests must be ethical unless an ethics waiver is in place
All members of the team test must contribute to the test report
All members of the team test will be rewarded point for the report
Mass Tests
A mass test is a test that requires significantly more CDs than the limit allows. Mass tests must be approved in #special-test-requests and the following regulations must be followed at all times:
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 ethics waiver is in place
Board of Research+ do not require approval for mass tests
Initial Testing
Initial testing is the period of time when an anomaly is first delivered to the site. During this period, the Scientific Department is responsible for finding out all basic information about the anomaly and deciding the anomalies containment, risk and disruption classes. All regulations associated with initial testing for base-ScD can be found below:
An assignment for initial testing will be posted in the ScD server by ScD High Command within 24 hours of the SCP's release.
For the first 3-4 days the SCP will be restricted to Senior Researcher+ and SRT Personnel, the SCP will be opened to additional personnel after this period has ended.
The rank that can test on the SCP after this period has ended will be based on the information gathered by the Senior Researchers and SRT.
Initial testing should not last longer than 1 week, if the initial testing period lasts for longer than this the SCP will be Classified as Euclid and opened to all Researcher+
SRT Command may host Group Tests to allow lower ranking ScD personnel to participate in initial testing.
All Group Tests hosted by SRT Command should be logged in #event-logs in the ScD server and the SRT logging channels.
Additional regulations regarding initial testing can be found in the SRT Guidelines
Termination Attempts
Termination attempts are any test that may result in the termination of an SCP. Termination attempts may only be conducted if the following requirements are met:
Termination attempts must have approval from the Research Director/Overseer and Actor Director
Only Senior Researchers+ may conduct termination attempts
Termination attempts must be requested in #special-test-requests
Termination attempt do not require EC approval
Ethical Waivers
If you want to conduct an unethical test, you can do so by going to #special-test-requests and requesting an testing waiver or a misc waiver, you are required to follow all guidelines listed on the channel when requesting a waiver and conducting a test.
Research Students and Interns may not request for Testing or Misc waivers
JR+ may request for waivers involving Safe SCPs and Misc Waivers
Researchers+ may request for waivers involving Euclid SCPs
Senior Researchers+ may request for waivers involving Keter and Esoteric SCPs
Controlled Breaches
If you wish to conduct a test that has a high chance of causing a breach, requires the breaching of an SCP, or includes the SCP breaching in the test plan, you are required to obtain approval from Eta-9 Central Command to conduct the test as well as an Ethical Waiver.
Section 4.2 > Additional Research Methods
Research Projects
Projects are to be conducted through a series of team tests. Projects are a long-term test or a research topic that would require multiple tests to complete, the project thread should be used to share information to other project personnel and to discuss test results. Overall, the main point of the project is to discover something. Contrary to the usual ScD testing, the final product of project testing is the most important part of it.
Anyone holding Assistant Researcher or above may start a Research Project
Research Projects will use the project lead's testing clearance
If you are testing on an SCP that is above your clearance as part of a project, you must have someone with the correct clearance present at the test, this is to avoid confusion for combatives/escorts.
You may choose between a private or public project. In private projects only people you invite may take part, but in a public project anyone may join.
Projects must be ethical unless an ethics waiver is in place.
If a project is left inactive for more than 1 week it will be removed. (Projects may be put on-hold if the situation requires it)
Section V > Interview Regulations
Interviews are another form of experiment conduct by the Scientific Department. Interviews are intended to gather information on an anomaly or Lore Character's past or current thoughts about the Foundation, or any other useful topics. The following regulations must be followed at all times when conducting an interview
Interviews within an SCP's containment chamber require the combative unit responsible for the SCP to be present during the interview
Interviews with a free-roaming SCP (any SCP you find wandering the site) do not require a combative escort
When interview a free-roaming SCP, try to move to a quieter location on-site
Interviews require you to have the testing clearance for the SCP you are interviewing
Any Research Intern or above may interview Lore Characters
Section VI > Discoveries
If you feel that you have discovered something for the first time you can submit it in discovery-submission. Any rank can submit a submission as long as they feel as if it was a first time discovery. There are three types of discoveries.
SCP Discoveries: Discoveries gained from an SCP. If your information is confirmed by High Command, it will be added to the SCP's file.
Chemical Discoveries: Discoveries gained from finding a new chemical or new information on an existing chemical. Once the information is confirmed by High Command, it will be added to the Chemical Handbook.
Lore Discoveries: Discoveries that are about an SCP's lore, a Lore Character, or a Person/Group of Interest. Once the information is confirmed by High Command, it will be added to the Lore page.
If your discovery is notable (giving us brand new, unheard of insight into an SCP, chemical, or lore), it will be put on the Notable Discoveries page along with your test/interview report (or discovery submission if you have no report)!
The discovery 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.
When you submit a discovery a Research Instructor+ will review your submission and determine if it has been found already, a bug, or just not a discovery in general.
Verification of your test will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If verification is required, a very simple test must be conducted following the same steps as the original test. A test report is not required to be written for verifications.
Command will do verification if it is necessary, but may open it up to non command depending on complexity.
Grading Rubric
Discoveries are graded based on how significant the discovery is, and how much evidence has been given to support it.
For example: Learning information about SCP-049's backstory would be more significant than learning that SCP-2398 instantly kills SCP-008-2 instances.
Bonus Points:
A - 15
B - 10
C - 5
F - 0
F will only be given if the discovery can already be found on the science hub or is already well known.
Section X > Specialist Programme
Safe Specialist
Euclid Specialist
Keter Specialist
Chemical Specialist
The Specialist Program is designed to give proper credit and associated rewards to the researchers who have demonstrated extensive knowledge in a particular subject matter. There are four qualifications, being Safe, Euclid, Keter, and Chemical. The requirements for each can be found below:
Safe Specialist
Attend 5 Safe Class SCP lectures
Due to the large amount of safe SCPs, you are only required to attend a lecture for 5 SCPs for Safe Class.
Conduct 10 B+ test/interviews
Euclid Specialist
Attend all Euclid Class SCP lectures
Conduct 5 B+ tests/interviews
Keter Specialist
Attend all Keter Class SCP lectures
Conduct 3 B+ tests/interviews
Chemical Specialist
Conduct 5 B+ tests
Record yourself making a chemical that takes 3 steps to make. Send the video in #request-hub.
Expert Role
A role reserved for any Specialist that went out of their way to get specialized in the entirety of the Specialist Program. Those that currently hold this role are extremely dedicated. Currently, the requirements to earn this role are the following:
Must be a specialist in 2 out of the 4 categories
Pass the Expert Exam
Make a ground-breaking discovery in any field (one that is website-worthy)
ScD Command must approve of you becoming an Expert
Once you have met the requirements mentioned above, you can request to become a Specialist by using the pinned format in the #requirements-logs channel.
Becoming a Specialist will provide you with the following perks:
A special role in the ScD server;
The ability to test/cross-test on all SCPs in that class (this doesn't void supervision)
A 25% increase in research points for tests on SCPs in their specialised class;
The ability to host ScD assignments (once a week) related to their field of expertise.
Becoming an Expert will provide you with the following perks:
A special role in the ScD Server;
The ability to test/cross-test on all SCPs;
The ability to do reward tests without supervision such as, increased SCP limit, Mass Test and a SCP-131-GRY test. (You still have to request the reward);
The ability to test without supervision during initial testing;
A 40% increase in research points from all sources;
All other perks from being a Specialist.
Please note that these benefits are subject to change. If you have any suggestions on how to improve or change these benefits, please feel free to share your ideas in the #suggestions channel.
This documentation was created and approved by Central Command.
