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A unique introduction to the design, analysis, and presentation of scientific projects, this is an essential textbook for undergraduate majors in science and mathematics. Research Methods for Science gives an overview of the main methods used in scientific research, including hypothesis testing, the measurement of functional relationships, and observational research. It describes important features of experimental design, such as the control of errors, instrument calibration, data analysis, laboratory safety, and the treatment of human subjects. Important concepts in statistics are discussed, focusing on standard error, the meaning of p values, and use of elementary statistical tests. Research Methods for Science introduces some of the main ideas in mathematical modeling, including order-of-magnitude analysis, function fitting, Fourier transforms, recursion relations, and difference approximations to differential equations. It also provides guidelines on accessing scientific literature, and preparing scientific papers and presentations. An extensive instructor's manual containing sample lessons and student papers is available at www.cambridge.org/Marder.
1. Curiosity and research
2. Overview of experimental analysis and design
3. Statistics
4. Mathematical models
5. Scientific information
Appendices
Index
Michael Marder is Professor of Physics at the University of Texas, Austin. He is co-director and founder of UTeach, a program to prepare secondary teachers of science and mathematics. He has been teaching a course on how to do scientific research which led to the writing of this textbook. He is author of the graduate text Condensed Matter Physics.
"The book is highly readable and well organized. This book should be of interest to any student who is considering a scientific field of study, in that it will provide both information on how to carry out and present various types of research, as well as knowledge of what science professionals must do to be successful in their work."
- G.R. Mayforth, Computing Reviews
"Students would learn or reference many points of presentation or data handling if this book were on a shelf in the laboratory."
- Wooil M. Moon, The Leading Edge
