ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is intended for biologists, scientists, and, possibly, social scientists in helping them understand the process of research from experimental design to data interpretation. Development of an individual from an undergraduate to fully-fledged researcher requires a change in mindset; it is not simply a matter of writing a thesis. The book addresses ways of thinking about research, about experimental design and being sensible about statistics. It covers starting of the research, maturing as a postgraduate researcher, and presenting work as a talk and as a thesis. It also suggests different styles of research group. The book attempts to wrest the influence on the design of experiments away from statisticians and back to biologists.
