Doing Science: Design, Analysis, and Communication of Scientific Research - Softcover

Valiela, Ivan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195134133 ISBN 13: 9780195134131

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2000

Synopsis

Doing Science offers a rare compendium of practical advice based on how working scientists pursue their craft. It covers each stage of research, from formulating questions and gathering data to developing experiments and analyzing results and finally to the many ways for presenting results. Drawing on his extensive experience both as a researcher and a research mentor, Ivan Valiela has written a lively and concise survey of everything a beginning scientist needs to know to succeed in the field. He includes chapters on scientific data, statistical methods, and experimental designs, and much of the book is devoted to presenting final results. He gives valuable suggestions for improving scientific writing, for preparing scientific talks, and devotes three chapters to hands-on advice for presenting data in charts, tables, and graphs. Anyone beginning a scientific career, or anyone who advises students in research, will find Doing Science an invaluable source of advice.

About this title

About the Author

Ivan Valiela is a professor in the Boston University Marine Program at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.

Review

"Valiela (Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts) has prepared a 'how to' book for graduate students or scientists just beginning their careers. It is packed with solid information on how to conduct a research project, starting with the initial grant proposal and ending with
publishing the results. Topics include statistical analysis of data, design of a research question, communication of results with graphs, tables, and figures, and making an oral presentation. ... Amply illustrated to make the author's points, this book will be a valuable addition to both the
library's bookshelves and scientist's personal reference library. Upper-division undergraduates and up."--Choice

"[Y]ou will find this book enjoyable and filled with new ideas and reminders of old approaches long forgotten or put aside. The author has done an excellent job of making what he admits is 'dreadfully dull material' into an interesting and thought-provoking read. . . . This book is not a
recipe for how to do science, but presents practical advice on how scientists do their work. A significant portion of the book is devoted to describing how to do an effective job of presenting and communicating research results. . . . This book will prove helpful to practicing scientists, as well
as anyone starting on the road to scientific inquiry." -- EOS

"I recommend this book as a textbook to courses in universities all over the world."--Photosynthetica

"The last chapter of the book covers perceptions and criticisms of science and presents a summary of why the scientific community is often mistrusted. ... I would urge all readers to start with this chapter because it causes the reader to place the information of Doing Science in context. ...
The book is extremely well written ..."--Journal of Environmental Quality

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0195134133
• ISBN 13: 9780195134131
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 294