Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Sciences [Paperback]

Robert V. Smith (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0295977051 | ISBN-13: 978-0295977058 | Publication Date: May 1998 | Edition: 3 Rev Sub

Concise, encouraging, and filled with practical information about the business of being a research student, Graduate Research is a step-by-step guide for students in the life, natural, physical, and social-behavioral sciences. First published in 1984, the third edition is updated with information about new federal regulations governing research and acknowledges the importance of the internet and World Wide Web to today's scientific community. It will be an invaluable resource for students throughout their careers, including undergraduates and high school students planning for the future.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I enthusiastically recommend GRADUATE RESEARCH to anyone thinking about graduate school, to new graduate students, and to those who educate graduate students. I have already purchased copies for all the students in my lab. GRADUATE RESEARCH is in its third edition--how did I miss it before? -- BioScience, April 1999

About the Author

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Product Details

• Paperback: 193 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Washington Pr; 3 Rev Sub edition (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0295977051
• ISBN-13: 978-0295977058
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #687,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An EXCELLENT guide for first or second year grad students!, June 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Sciences (Paperback)

I would highly recommend this book for ANYONE planning to pursue a graduate degree in the sciences. Those early in their graduate career will also find it helpful. Dr. Smith covers several topics from the qualities of a good researcher, choosing the right school, choosing a thesis advisor, as well as scientific ethics and scientific writing. I have found this book very useful. I just wish I would have had it when I was a junior or senior in college!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compact and useful guide, March 20, 2005

By 

M. Hamed (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Sciences (Paperback)

I liked the book in general, its compact style and sound advice. It serves as a guide that maybe useful to grad students especially those in their first years, a recommended reading.
What I didn't like was:
1- The first chapters were more like a research paper full of citations and quote that distracted me a lot from the main topic. Fortunately this style didn't continue for the later chapters.
2- If you are not a chemistry/psychology student you will feel uncomfortable sometimes since the books quotes many examples from those fields. But all in all is ok.
3- Still not what I wanted exactly, a book that covers the thought process for discovery, generating ideas, and the transition from the more relaxed/dependent style of undergraduate to the rigor/creative style of grad. school. Surely the book talks about this in one chapter or two but what I wanted was more devotion to these concepts.

4.0 out of 5 stars Some Information Never Gets Old, December 2, 2008

By 

M. Janczak (SLC, Utah USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Sciences (Paperback)

Definitely a great book! I'm a second year graduate student in chemistry and found the book very readable and useful. The author designed this book in a manner so that anyone from undergraduate to beginning principal investigator can walk away with more knowledge and wisdom in his or her field.

Pros:
--Written for a wide audience.
--Concise, to the point message in each chapter. There's no bull.
--Depth of topics. (Presentation and Publication of Papers chapter discusses everything from selecting a journal to responding to editorial reviews and even how to pay for page charges (something I never thought of))

Cons:
--Old. The 3rd edition was published in 1998.
--Outdated examples (mainly in the chapter on Library and Literature Work)
--Bias towards chemists (made it easy for me to read, but not sure about non-science disciplines)

I believe the author may have changed his career focus (some more recent books about professional life and academic administration), however, I hope someone picks up the responsibility of updating this fantastic book.

Despite the age of the book, I would recommend anyone involved in graduate school to buy this book. It's reasonably priced, and you'll be better off with it on your library.