The importance of long-term experiments and problems of time passing in research methods used in natural sciences

Abstract

Earth's resources are a closed set and it is important to consider them in the context of the passage of time. As the world around us is a dynamic system, an analysis of the time approach as a variable of the system to explain the phenomena and processes in the natural sciences, is becoming indispensable. Scientific explanation may relate to short but unlimited periods of observation or experimentation. Long-term studies broaden the scientific knowledge about the elements that are invisible in the short term, or set limits to the influence of the time factor. The results of the research are cognitive in basic science and practical for many applied sciences. Methodology of long term studies is very specific. Difficulties in conducting such studies are due to changes in the environment or research tools, but also the approach and interpretation of the researchers. The paper presents examples and approaches to long-term studies, namely cross-sectional designs and longitudinal surveys as well as the implementation of such studies. Despite the lack of continuous, spectacular scientific discoveries, long-term follow-up studies are important. A thorough understanding of their methodology must refer not only to the researcher conducting the experiment today, but also to the recipient of the results. Putting in the hands of a responsible researcher the resolving a particular problem also means the acceptance of waiting for a long time for the results. This is particularly important for the retardation of the conversion rate of natural resources.