Overview
Doctors and other health professionals are increasingly drawn toward research in the course of their training, often with little guidance on the skills, techniques and personal qualities required of a medical research worker. This short and helpful book has been written by three authors with long experience in performing and evaluating research in medicine. It provides essential advice for the beginner, covering in a practical and accessible fashion all the steps involved from choosing a research project to preparing and submitting a thesis. Now in its second edition, many important revisions have been made including updates on the use of computers, career implications, degree structures and ethical issues in human and animal experimentation. The illustrations by David Langdon provide a wry commentary on the ups and downs of life in research.
The book contains black-and-white illustrations.
Synopsis
A succinct yet lively beginners guide to embarking on a research programme or career, including cartoon illustration.
J. Michael Kilby
This is a second edition handbook (first published in 1990) written to assist healthcare professionals carry out a research project. It is designed to provide practical advice about how to initiate and carry out a research experience. Much of the text is confined to concise lists, outlines, and inane cartoon drawings with unfunny captions. This book is aimed at medical students or practitioners planning a first foray into research, and the terminology and style are appropriate for the intelligent but uninitiated reader. All three authors have academic backgrounds at prestigious English universities. Each came to research by a different pathway, suggesting the potential for diverse but complementary perspectives. The greatest shortcoming for the American reader is that much of the content is specific to the English educational system; the authors themselves mention that U.S. universities tend to be more structured and formal than the programs described here. While brevity is nice, the results are often terse, over-simplified solutions to difficult challenges (""Never get a beeper,"" ""Never be on call""). The book is a bit archaic on some issues (the Internet is given similar billing to Index Medicus as a search tool). The text is male-oriented and there is no mention of gender issues in career planning. The major strength is good advice about realistic time management, pertinent to many students who might benefit from integrating appropriate checks and balances into their educational and career ambitions. Wise pointers are offered about developing good writing habits and strategies for attacking daunting presentations or manuscripts. This pocket-sized book can only goso far in addressing such a broad topic, but it does represent a thoughtful attempt to outline some of the pros and cons of choosing a research career
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: J. Michael Kilby, MD(University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine)Description: This is a second edition handbook (first published in 1990) written to assist healthcare professionals carry out a research project.
Purpose: It is designed to provide practical advice about how to initiate and carry out a research experience. Much of the text is confined to concise lists, outlines, and inane cartoon drawings with unfunny captions.
Audience: This book is aimed at medical students or practitioners planning a first foray into research, and the terminology and style are appropriate for the intelligent but uninitiated reader. All three authors have academic backgrounds at prestigious English universities. Each came to research by a different pathway, suggesting the potential for diverse but complementary perspectives.
Features: The greatest shortcoming for the American reader is that much of the content is specific to the English educational system; the authors themselves mention that U.S. universities tend to be more structured and formal than the programs described here. While brevity is nice, the results are often terse, over-simplified solutions to difficult challenges ("Never get a beeper," "Never be on call"). The book is a bit archaic on some issues (the Internet is given similar billing to Index Medicus as a search tool). The text is male-oriented and there is no mention of gender issues in career planning. The major strength is good advice about realistic time management, pertinent to many students who might benefit from integrating appropriate checks and balances into their educational and career ambitions. Wise pointers are offered about developing good writing habits and strategies for attacking daunting presentations or manuscripts.
Assessment: This pocket-sized book can only go so far in addressing such a broad topic, but it does represent a thoughtful attempt to outline some of the pros and cons of choosing a research career
J. Michael Kilby
This is a second edition handbook (first published in 1990) written to assist healthcare professionals carry out a research project. It is designed to provide practical advice about how to initiate and carry out a research experience. Much of the text is confined to concise lists, outlines, and inane cartoon drawings with unfunny captions. This book is aimed at medical students or practitioners planning a first foray into research, and the terminology and style are appropriate for the intelligent but uninitiated reader. All three authors have academic backgrounds at prestigious English universities. Each came to research by a different pathway, suggesting the potential for diverse but complementary perspectives. The greatest shortcoming for the American reader is that much of the content is specific to the English educational system; the authors themselves mention that U.S. universities tend to be more structured and formal than the programs described here. While brevity is nice, the results are often terse, over-simplified solutions to difficult challenges (""Never get a beeper,"" ""Never be on call""). The book is a bit archaic on some issues (the Internet is given similar billing to Index Medicus as a search tool). The text is male-oriented and there is no mention of gender issues in career planning. The major strength is good advice about realistic time management, pertinent to many students who might benefit from integrating appropriate checks and balances into their educational and career ambitions. Wise pointers are offered about developing good writing habits and strategies for attacking daunting presentations or manuscripts. This pocket-sized book can only goso far in addressing such a broad topic, but it does represent a thoughtful attempt to outline some of the pros and cons of choosing a research career2 Stars from Doody