Foreword vii PREFACE ix Chapter 1 The Beginning 1 First, You Need Advisors--and They Need Students 4 Next, You Need a Research Topic and a Strategy 13 Some Personal and Practical Points 17 Major Hurdles: Preliminary Exams and Final Defense 32 Chapter 2 On Definitions and Dualities 37 What Is a Thesis and What Is Research? 39 A Brief History of Scientific Research Philosophy 41 Definition Dualities: Thought Tools for Research and Problem Solving 48 Definition Dualities: First Principles 49 Definition Dualities: Design 67 Definition Dualities: Outcome 75 A Triad: The Testable, the Trusted, and the True 81 Chapter 3 Research Planning 91 The Research Plan Explained 97 Research Grant Proposals 125 Chapter 4 Reading and Writing 129 Reading and Evaluating Scientific Reports 131 Hints for Scientific Writing 134 Free Writing 141 Preparing a Literature Review 143 Writing for Scientific Publication 154 Chapter 5 Keeping Track of Things 159 The Research Notebook 160 Your Personal Diary 163 Free-Writing Notebook 163 Chapter 6 Presenting Your Work and Yourself 165 Oral Presentations 167 Poster Presentations 178 Résumés or Curricula Vitae and Cover Letters 180 Chapter 7 When It's All Over 185 References 189 Index 193.