How Science Works: Evaluating Evidence in Biology and Medicine

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Summary: what makes good science? read this book to find out
Review: Jenkins' book is a very coherent and straightforward account of the complexities of doing science. Using interesting case-studies, he lucidly describes the proper formulation of scientific hypotheses, the elements of a good experimental or survey design, and the limitations of inference from data. That is, how do scientists discover facts about the natural world, and how do they determine how much confidence to place on such facts. Each chapter is a case-study and a point to be made about the scientific process; thus each can stand alone. But, they also tie together nicely. Given that the case-studies are topical and not overly technical, the general reader lacking a scientific background can still obtain a lot of entertainment and insight from the book. I'd also recommend this book to students in the natural and social sciences, philosophy, medical school, law school, because it is an informative description of what can be considered good sound science versus what is not.

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Summary: how scientists work with evidence
Review: The great value of this book is that there is real,close attention to decisive detail but without the inclusion of needless and intimidating technicalities.The result is that it is never superficial and yet never inaccesible either.I know of no other book that achieves this combination so well.I have taught undergraduate courses--in the US and UK-- on reasoning in science and would certainly use material from this book if I were planning such a course in future.Justice is done to some sophisticated complexities in extremely lucid ways .I think especially of the discussion of different kinds of causes in the biology of aging ,and of genotype /environment interactions in development.This book deserves a very wide readership among students at all levels and among the general public as well .University and public libraries should certainly be getting it.

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Summary: Complex and multi-layered explanations of life science
Review: This is a very interesting and illuminating study of how evidence and theory can be brought together to make understanding in the life sciences. Each of the eight case studies - e.g. on aging, population crash of amphibians, the causes of cancer - are discussed in a way that is both detailed and fast moving. In most life science problems the explanations are multi-leveled and inherently complex. Uncertainty is the rule, and yet so is progress. This is a great little book; I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.