How to do science: a guide to researching human physiology

Reviewed by Ana Paula Freire, Associate Professor, Central Washington University on 1/23/26

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

The textbook does provides an effective index and glossary at the end that support navigation and understanding of key terms. The chapters and their main topics are organized offering a basic overview of the content. The material also includes a dedicated section explaining how to use the book, complete with descriptions of icons (e.g., tips, links, videos) and illustrative examples, I believe this is particularly helpful for first-time users and students.
Most chapters successfully cover foundational information and practical applications. However, the depth of conceptual explanation is limited in some key areas. For example, descriptive statistics are not sufficiently explained from a conceptual standpoint, despite the book doing a good job demonstrating how to perform these analyses using Excel and providing access to free statistical software. Interpretation of results is also superficial, even for a basic level text. The textbook does not include discussion of different types of study designs or their corresponding levels of evidence. Including these topics would significantly strengthen the comprehensiveness of the text.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The information presented in the textbook appears to be accurate and is supported by references in each chapter. The majority of citations come from peer-reviewed scientific articles published in well-established journals in the field of physiology, as well as from official websites.
No incorrect or misleading information was identified in the content reviewed. However, several embedded links were not functional at the time of evaluation, which limited the ability to fully assess and verify some referenced materials.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

Some aspects of the textbook appear to be outdated and would benefit from revision. For instance, the section describing current issues and breakthroughs in the field of physiology is no longer reflective of recent advances, as the examples provided date back to 2015. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the discipline, this limits the relevance of this content for contemporary learners.
A few links to videos and external resources were not functional at the time of review (e.g., pages 61 and 100).
The chapters focused on research and experimentation would benefit from greater depth and conceptual development. The text would be strengthened by more clearly addressing different study designs and by explaining how various types of research questions are best matched to appropriate experimental approaches.

Clarity rating: 5

The textbook is written in a clear and accessible manner, making it well suited for students who are just entering the field. The language is straightforward and avoids unnecessary complexity. The presentation of concepts is easy to follow, and the structure of the chapters helps guide students through the material in a logical and understandable way.

Consistency rating: 5

The textbook demonstrates a consistent structure and presentation style across chapters. Terminology, formatting, and level of detail are uniform throughout the text.
No issues with internal consistency were identified.

Modularity rating: 5

The textbook is well divided into clear and distinct sections. Each module is concise and focused, making the content easy to navigate and adaptable for different teaching approaches and course structures.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Text book is well organized and follows a logical flow.

Interface rating: 4

The interface of the textbook is well designed and user-friendly. It integrates multiple types of learning resources, including videos, websites, and external materials that promote engagement and support different learning styles. There is a inclusion of step-by-step Excel tutorials with clear images, for example that can support students in learning how to perform basic analytical tasks and develop practical data-handling skills.
However, there are a few links to external resources that were not functional or accessible at the time of review.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No issues or grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The textbook includes several examples drawn from diverse populations, which helps broaden students’ perspectives and supports inclusive learning.