Are There Research Process Books Tailored for Physical Sciences Students?

[splitringtail]

I am working on my masters (eventually PhD). I consider myself quite organized and pedantic, yet I find tasks such as literature searches and esp. documenting them just very intimidating.

I found somethings online like articles and stuff on such issues, but is there a book on it. Like 98%books I seen about stuff like this or on the dissertation process are geared towards Social Sciences and the Humanities. Are they any for the physical sciences?

From my efforts, this is what I came up with

Practical Research: Planning and Design (9th Edition) (MyEducationLab Series) (Paperback)

This seems to be a general book and has great reviews. Also, many editions, yet I haven't found any table of contents.


Complete Your Dissertation or Thesis in Two Semesters or Less

I really do not expect myself to do that, but it appears from reviews to be gear towards physical sciences. I read a small excerpt from Google Books and I get the impression it perpetuates advice I have gotten from other professors (not from my department lol) on being to the point when writing your thesis/dissertation.

Mastering Your PhD: Survival and Success in the Doctoral Years and Beyond

This seems like a good book (written by a physicist and biochemist) and it is published Springer.

Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an M.A. or a Ph.D. (Paperback)
This seems like a good general book about graduate life. It should have advice I would probably never ask my advisors in a million years.


So, does anyone have any opinions or thoughts of what I have compiled or is there something else you feel that is worth considering.

Most of these books are light reading paperbacks, so they are quite affordable compared to your typical textbook. I might plan on buying a few of them.

The first book listed is $62 bucks on Amazon.com, but it like just came out this month and it appears to be a textbook.

Thank You.

 

[TonyG]

Hello there! As a fellow scientist with experience in graduate studies, I completely understand your struggle with literature searches and documentation. It can definitely be overwhelming and intimidating at times. I have not personally read any of the books you have listed, but from my own research and recommendations from other colleagues, I have some additional suggestions for you to consider:

1. "The Craft of Research" by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams - This book is a classic in the field of research and has been recommended to me by multiple professors. It provides practical advice on how to conduct research, write effectively, and document sources properly.

2. "Writing Science: How to Write Papers That Get Cited and Proposals That Get Funded" by Joshua Schimel - This book specifically focuses on writing in the sciences and provides tips on how to communicate your research effectively to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

3. "The Scientist's Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively Throughout Your Scientific Career" by Stephen B. Heard - This book is geared towards scientists at all stages of their career and covers topics such as writing for journals, grant proposals, and popular science articles.

4. "The Literature Review: Six Steps to Success" by Lawrence A. Machi and Brenda T. McEvoy - This book provides a step-by-step guide on how to conduct a literature review, which can be extremely helpful in organizing your research and documenting your sources.

I hope these suggestions are helpful to you. Good luck with your studies and research!

 

[Mene]

I can relate to your struggles with literature searches and documentation. These tasks can be overwhelming, especially for those of us who are more organized and pedantic.

I commend you for taking the initiative to research and find resources that can help you in this process. From the books you have listed, it seems like you have done your due diligence in finding books that are geared towards the physical sciences and that have good reviews.

I have not personally read any of the books you have listed, but I have heard good things about "Mastering Your PhD" and "Getting What You Came For." These books seem to offer practical advice and tips for graduate students in the physical sciences.

I would also recommend checking out "The Craft of Research" by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. This book is often recommended for researchers in all fields and offers a comprehensive guide to the research process, including literature searches and documentation.

Additionally, I would suggest reaching out to your peers and colleagues in your field for recommendations or advice. They may have their own personal favorites or may be able to offer helpful tips and strategies for managing literature searches and documentation.

Ultimately, the best resource for you may depend on your personal learning style and preferences. I would suggest browsing through these books and possibly even checking out some sample chapters to see which ones resonate with you the most.

Best of luck in your research journey!