In compelling, user-friendly prose, the authors explain how young scholars can create high-quality research that attains a high impact. They describe how to generate strong, original ideas, how to design experiments, and how to organize findings into clear and compelling research articles.

They then examine the work of widely-admired scholars who have developed innovative assessment tools and research methods, and researchers whose work has shifted paradigms, bridged disciplines, and challenged long-held assumptions. Throughout, the authors convey an infectious enthusiasm for colleagues whose work has inspired them in their own careers.