ABSTRACT

With the spectacular developments in technology accompanying and aiding scientific research over the past few decades, postgraduate students are often encouraged to focus more on generating data than to utilize their most sophisticated piece of equipment: their mind.
Stop Working & Start Thinking, Second Edition aims to encourage young researchers to think more clearly about their experiments, from experimental design to data interpretation. This new edition builds on the success of the first edition, with new material throughout and a new chapter on measurement interpretation, including an examination of cryptic assumptions.
This book is essential reading for postgraduates who wish to put the mastery back into their M.Sc. and the philosophy back into their PhDs.

chapter 1|3 pages

Preamble

chapter 2|11 pages

Introduction

chapter 3|11 pages

Science like what it is done

chapter 4|8 pages

Science and sciencisms 1

chapter 5|10 pages

Observations, examinations and experiments

chapter 6|13 pages

What are you measuring?

chapter 7|18 pages

Thinking about your measurements

chapter 8|10 pages

Interpreting your measurements

chapter 9|20 pages

Kinds of experiments

chapter 11|10 pages

content and context

chapter 12|17 pages

Notes for postgraduate 12 students

chapter 13|2 pages

Postamble