Getting together to communicate new ideas and build relationships is critical for maintaining a vital research group. That is why our lab arranges a team-building once a year, together with the experimental dementia research group. This year, we visited Kastanjelund in Yngsjö for scientific discussions and social activities. Playing games together actually helps to understand the challenges in replicating research findings. 

One of our games consisted in dividing each team into two subgroups, one that could see the original Lego construction and the other that should try to replicate it based on oral instructions and body-language communication. This is more frustrating than you ever think! 

Despite plenty of time, none of the teams managed to get a perfect copy of the described construction. (Even though they were doing significantly better than expected, some got very close). 

Take-home message: To communicate your methods so that it is crystal clear for a peer to replicate the experimental setup is more difficult than you may think. Method description might not be the most inspiring part to write, but putting effort into clear communication here is necessary to conduct good research.