| The principles of scientific research, Freedman. |
| 1 | The principles of scientific research by paul freedman London to my wife author's prefice THE main reason for writing this book has been the author's belief that young men and women embarking on research would find their task easier if they could have at their disposal a book exclusively concerned with research and dealing with it as a whole. |
| 2 | Thirty years' experience of industrial research have convinced him that such persons, whatever their previous education, inevitably discover that classes, textbooks, lectures and practical laboratory work, which have been the basis of their scientific knowledge, have not given them a master-key for opening the door to undiscovered knowledge. They have still to learn how research should be done. This stage of their learning is a groping process, popularly known as " learning by experience". |
| 3 | It is the object of the present book to help them in this stage of their learning. The author is only too conscious of omissions and in- adequacies in his treatment. He would plead in justification that he was primarily concerned with meeting the require- ments of young people just entering the field of research, and that while some of them might have an honours degree and an experience of some post-graduate work, others might have lower academic qualifications, yet possess a desire and a capacity to do fine research in the future. |
| 4 | For these reasons the author has endeavoured to be brief, to present the matter as clearly and directly as possible, to keep mathematics to the barest minimum, and to give, whenever possible, simple examples illustrating the principles expounded. It is hoped that the readers will find the book useful. They may not find it excessively cheerful. But the author believes that a realistic view of things can never be full of unqualified optimism this side of the millennium, and that no enthusiastic young scientist, determined to succeed, will be discouraged by a few difficulties. |
| 5 | vii viii AUTHOR'S PREFACE The author sincerely thanks his daughter, Miss Ruth Freedman, for her meticulous checking of the manuscript, his colleague, Mr. Arthur Serner, for his help with the drawings, Messrs. Crompton Parkinson Ltd., for facilities for the typing of the manuscript, and his publishers for editorial assistance. P. F. London, November, 1948 FOREWORD By JOHN W. T. WALSH, M.A., D.Sc. Vice-President of the International Commission on Illumination IT MAY well be that some of the older scientific generation will find it strange that a book dealing with the principles of scientific research should be needed at all. |
| 6 | "What is its aim?" they will ask, and "for whom is it intended?" Such as these are still living in the days when scientific research was, almost without exception, taken up "for the love of it" and all other considerations were entirely secondary. They do not realise that to-day natural science is generally regarded, like medical science, as a career; at its highest, no doubt, a vocation, but nevertheless not to be divorced from all the other matters that a young man (or woman) takes into consideration when choosing his life's work. |
| 7 | Over and over again, a grammar school boy who has shown some aptitude in one or more of the science subjects in the general or higher schools examination decides that he would like to "go in for science" as a career, and in most cases further enquiry shows that to him the word "science" is synonymous with scientific research. Even the student at college is more than likely to fall into the tragic error of assuming that if he obtains a good honours degree he is, ipso facto, well qualified for a career as a research worker. |
| 8 | Sometimes, but all too seldom, a kindly senior points out the vast difference between ability to learn and those much rarer qualities which are needful for a successful research scientist. If only every student could be shown this distinc- tion, in how many cases might he be saved from the ulti- mate disillusionment which so frequently results in adding one more to the ranks of those who, although capable and valuable members of the scientific community, nevertheless pass their lives . |
| 9 | under a perpetual sense of disappointment and frustration? ix x FOREWORD: BY DR. j. w. T. WALSH The prevention of such real tragedies is, I believe, the greatest function which this book can perform for the rising generation of scientific workers, and so I can only hope most earnestly that it will find its way into the hands of everyone to whom a career in science offers an attraction. There is, however, a second important and growing class to whom the book is addressed; those who, while not them- selves engaged in scientific research, have, nevertheless, such a profound influence on an individual or a group of research workers that they have it in their power completely to paralyse the efforts of even the most brilliant among them until he decides to seek a more congenial atmosphere. |
| 10 | The author has written so feelingly and so convincingly on this matter that, again, it is to be hoped thai every business executive who is in any way influentially connected with a research organisation will read this book from cover to cover, will mark the particular passages applying to his case, and will learn the essential lesson that scientific research is as far removed from the ordinary run of business as business is far removed from, let us say, the arts or letters. |
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Комментарии
Пока немножко поправлю сейчас часок-другой с помощью запоминания отрывков через меню выбора
Сильно мешают набору многочисленные ошибки автоматического распознавания, местами просто зверские. Сначала пыталась их фиксировать, но стало ясно, что это мартышкин труд, лучше уж смириться. :)
По содержанию. Набирала не ради чтения, но, насколько поняла, автор обращается к молодым, только стартующим в науке людям, у которых ожидания и представления о том, что такое "заниматься наукой", зачастую неадекватны, далеки от реальности. Автор хочет вовремя предупредить и просветить каждого: и о самой методике научного исследования и эксперимента, в её историческом становлении и в современной практике; и о непростых вопросах обиходной жизни в научной среде (взаимоотношения с шефом, проблемы финансирования и разные другие). Ведущая мысль - что только при искренней любви к самому процессу добывания новых знаний молодому человеку стОит выбирать столь тяжёлый и часто неблагодарный путь. :)
и
Это количество проверенных и исправленных? Это немалая часть, хорошо работа продвигается.
Not a bad idea. :)