PHSC 602
SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE
Catalog Entry
PHSC 602. Scientific Literature
Two hours lecture; three hours laboratory (library) (3).
Provide opportunity to locate, retrieve, and assimilate information from scientific literature. May be taken twice provided the topics studied are different each time.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
1. Topics to be covered include:
a. The importance of research
b. An overview of research
c. Selecting a research problem
d. Outlining research plan
e. Ethical principles
f. Legal restraints
g. Review literature
1. Purposes
2. Scope
3. Conducting review
(a) Key words
(b) Preliminary sources
(c) Theses and dissertations
(d) Periodicals
(e) Conducting computer search
4. Mistakes often made
h. Critical evaluation of literature
1. Factors to consider
(a) deliberate bias or distortion
(b) non deliberate bias
(c) sampling bias
(d) overlooked variable
(e) Hawthorne Effect
(f) John Henry Effect
(g) Placebos
(h) Critical evaluation of statistical analysis
1. Mistakes often made in evaluating research
2. Statistics Appropriate to Topic
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Each student, in consultation with the instructor, will select three research topics. Each student is to locate, retrieve, and assimilate information from scientific literature searches and present the material to the class.
The lecture time will be devoted to the aforementioned topics and student presentations. Hence, the students in each class, in conjunction with the instructor, will determine a portion of the course content.
Goals and Objectives of Course
Graduate students will learn the essentials of library research.
Assessment Measures
Pencil and paper tests will be used to measure knowledge. Papers, reports, and discussions will be used to measure the ability to do library research.
Other Course Information
None
APPROVAL AND SUBSEQUENT REVIEWS
DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
September 1991 Revised and updated Franklin Jones, Chair Physical Science Department
