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

by Valiela, Ivan

• ISBN13: 9780195385731
• ISBN10: 019538573X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-09-04
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Now in its second edition, this classic compendium offers practical advice for anyone interested in science and how it is done. Based on his extensive experience both as a researcher and a research mentor Ivan Valieias lively survey captures the essentials of working in science. Starting with history and basic principles and moving toward current practice, the chapters cover the range of activities involved in doing science, from formulating questions and designing experiments to collecting and analyzing data. Valiela pays special attention to the effective communication of science, in particular the preparation and presentation of scientific results in papers, posters, and talks

Author Biography

Ivan Valiela is Senior Resident Scientist of the Ecosystems Center at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Obtaining Scientific Information	p. 3
Introduction	p. 3
Empirical Science	p. 5
Deductive Science	p. 19
Elements of Scientific Data and Tests of Questions	p. 33
Kinds of Date	p. 33
Accuracyand Precision	p. 36
Frequency Distributions	p. 37
Descriptive Statistics	p. 40
Distributions and Transformations of Data	p. 44
Tests of Hypotheses	p. 47
Statistical Analyses	p. 53
Analysis of Variance	p. 54
Regression	p. 64
Correlation	p. 69
Analysis of Frequencies	p. 73
Summary of Statistical Analyses	p. 74
Transformations of Data	p. 76
Principles of Research Design	p. 85
Desirable Properties of Research Design	p. 85
Design of Treatments	p. 86
Design of Layout	p. 90
Response Design	p. 101
Sensible Experimental Design	p. 103
Communication of Scientific Information: Writing	p. 107
The Matter of Publication	p. 107
The Matter of Which Language to Use	p. 112
Writing Scientific English	p. 118
Communicating Scientific Information: The Scientific Paper	p. 139
Organization of a Scientific Paper	p. 139
The Life History of a Scientific Paper	p. 150
Scientific Papers: Important and Changing	p. 159
Other Means of Scientific Communication	p. 163
The Scientific Talk	p. 163
The Poster Presentation	p. 171
The Proposal	p. 174
Presenting Data in Tables	p. 187
Why Show Data in Tables?	p. 187
The Elements of Tables	p. 190
Layout of Tables	p. 193
Tables That Need Not Be Tables	p. 195
Presenting Data in Figures	p. 199
Graphical Perception	p. 204
Types of Figures	p. 205
Principles of Graphical Representation	p. 225
Case Studies of Graphical Data Presentation	p. 235
Bivariate Graphs	p. 237
Three-Variable Graphs	p. 251
Histograms	p. 253
Bar Graphs	p. 258
Pie Diagrams	p. 264
Doing Science in Society	p. 275
The Profession of Science	p. 275
Unbiased and Independent Judgment	p. 275
Validity of Facts	p. 278
Giving Credit to Others and Sharing Credit	p. 284
How Widespread Is Questionable Behavior in Science?	p. 284
Perceptions and Criticisms of Science	p. 291
Current Perceptions about Science	p. 291
Science and Some Modern Critics	p. 308
Sharpening Perceptions about Science	p. 312
Index	p. 323
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