Digital library
Textbooks, references and open learning resources.
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Calculus Made Easy
Silvanus P. Thompson · City and Guilds Technical College
Calculus Made Easy is a book on infinitesimal calculus originally published in 1910 by Silvanus P. Thompson, considered a classic and elegant introduction to the subject. Calculus Made Easy ignores the use of limits with its epsilon-delta definition, replacing it with a method of approximating (to arbitrary precision) directly to the correct answer in the infinitesimal spirit of Leibniz, now formally justified in modern nonstandard analysis and smooth infinitesimal analysis.
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Introduction to Bioinformatics
Rohan Mehta · Elmhurst University
In the contents: 1.06: Gene Expression Analysis
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Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
Jennifer Ounjian · Contra Costa College
With an eye on social justice and intersectionality, the text provides an analysis of the history, demographics, and contemporary experiences of the following racial-ethnic groups: African Americans, Asian American Pacific Islanders, Euro Americans, Latinx, Native Americans, and Middle Eastern Americans. This text is suitable for a sociology course on race and ethnic relations, introduction to ethnic studies, or a social justice studies introductory course.
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Essentials of Exemplary Public Speaking
Nichole Ary · Citrus College
In the contents: 05: Audience Analysis · 5.02: What is Audience Analysis and Why is it Important · 5.03: Three Types of Audience Analysis
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CHM 223 Chemistry III: Organic Chemistry (2025)
LibreTexts
Material builds on introductory organic chemistry topics covered in CHM 222 and focuses more heavily on retrosynthetic analysis and multistep synthetic planning. Specific topics include reactions of alkyl halides, alcohols and ethers; aromaticity and reactions of benzene; and cycloaddition reactions including the Diels-Alder reaction.
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Tasty Bits of Several Complex Variables
Jiří Lebl · Oklahoma State University
Graduate level mathematics textbook on Several Complex Variables (complex analysis in several variables). A free online textbook based on class notes for the graduate course at Oklahoma State University.
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Genetics, Agriculture, and Biotechnology
Walter Suza and Donald Lee · University of Iowa
This textbook provides an introduction to plant genetics and biotechnology for the advancement of agriculture. A clear and structured introduction to the topic for learners new to the field of genetics, the book includes: an introduction to the life cycle of the cell, DNA and how it relates to genes and chromosomes, DNA analysis, recombinant DNA, biotechnology, and transmission genetics.
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Advanced General Chemistry
Brooke Johnson · Smith College
This course is for students with a very strong background in chemistry. The elementary theories of stoichiometry, atomic structure, bonding, structure, energetics and reactions are quickly reviewed. The major portions of the course involve a detailed analysis of atomic theory and bonding from an orbital concept, an examination of the concepts behind thermodynamic arguments in chemical systems, and an investigation of chemical reactions.
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Fotografía: Light, Science, and the History of Photography
James William Moore · Gavilan College
Fotographía: Light, Science, and the History of Photography traces the evolution of photography from its scientific origins to its role in today's digital and networked world. Combining historical context, visual analysis, and cultural interpretation, the text examines how photography has shaped—and been shaped by—art, science, technology, politics, journalism, identity, and everyday life.
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Exploring Public Speaking 3e
Kris Barton and Barbara G. Tucker · Florida State University and University of Georgia
In the contents: 02: Audience Analysis and Listening · 2.01: The Importance of Audience Analysis · 2.04: Contextual Factors of Audience Analysis
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Global Femicide: Indigenous Women and Girls Torn from Our Midst
Brenda Anderson, Shauneen Pete, Wendee Kubik, and Mary Rucklos-Hampton · University of Regina
This book underscores the common, interlocking effects of racism and sexism on Indigenous women. Family members, scholars and researchers, artists, activists and policy-makers provide their decade-long perspectives, providing testimony and evidence that sexualized and racialized violence is not only a product of historic colonization but continues to manifest in entrenched systems of colonization and global femicide. The analysis and the heart of all the authors is generously shared.
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The Delft Method for System Dynamics
Willem Auping; Floortje d’Hont; Merla Kubli; Jill Slinger · TU Delft Open · 2024
The Delft Method for System Dynamics (SD) is a proven method for learning basic SD. The method focuses on learning by doing: first you try to work through an exercise, and if you do not understand something, then you can look up the theory. The book contains exercises on topics such as causal loop diagrams, delays, and when SD is an appropriate methodology. It also contains modelling exercises that show students how to build low to medium complexity models, and how to use these models for policy analysis. The theory chapters cover all phases of the modelling cycle: problem articulation, conceptualisation, formulation, evaluation (including validation and scenario analysis), and policy analysis. This book is intended for students and teachers in large or small System Dynamics courses, and for motivated students that want to learn SD at their own pace.
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Transportation Land Use Modeling and Policy (TLUMP)
Qisheng Pan; Soheil Sharifi-Asl · Mavs Open Press · 2024
Transportation Land Use Modeling and Policy is an open educational resource (OER) that offers a thorough exploration of various approaches and frameworks for modeling the complex relationship between land use and transportation, with a focus on scenario-based analysis for issues such as equity, environmental impact, and other critical transportation policies. The textbook begins by providing an overview of the current urban transportation landscape, highlighting ongoing challenges like transportation equity. It then introduces foundational theories related to land use and transportation, setting the stage for an in-depth examination of different modeling approaches. Using case studies and real-world examples, primarily from North America, the book demonstrates how these models explain and predict the relationship between land use (residential, economic, industrial activities) and transportation (accessibility). After reviewing existing integrated land use and transportation models and discussing the future direction of integrated land use and transportation planning, the latter part of the book delves deeper into travel demand modeling (TDM) practices. It highlights traditional methods like the four-step model and provides a brief overview of newer techniques such as activity- based and agent-based models. This textbook is part of a six-volume series produced under the grant OERTransport: Enabling Transportation Planning Professional Advancement awarded to the University of Texas-Arlington (UTA) in consortium with California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and the University of South Florida (USF). It was developed under an Open Textbooks Pilot grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education. However, its contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and no endorsement by the Federal Government should be assumed.
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Introduction to Statistics in the Psychological Sciences
Linda Cote; Rupa Gordon; Chrislyn Randell; Judy Schmitt · University of Missouri - St. Louis · 2021
Introduction to Statistics in the Psychological Sciences provides an accessible introduction to the fundamentals of statistics, and hypothesis testing as need for psychology students. The textbook introduces the fundamentals of statistics, an introduction to hypothesis testing, and t Tests. Related samples, independent samples, analysis of variance, correlations, linear regressions and chi-squares are all covered along with expanded appendices with z, t, F correlation, and a Chi-Square table. The text includes key terms and exercises with answers to odd-numbered exercises. Psychology students often find statistics courses to be different from their other psychology classes. There are some distinct differences, especially involving study strategies for class success. The first difference is learning a new vocabulary—it is similar to learning a new language. Knowing the meaning of certain words will help as you are reading the material and working through the problems. Secondly, practice is critical for success; reading over the material is not enough. Statistics is a subject learned by doing, so make sure you work through any homework questions, chapter questions, and practice problems available. Statistical knowledge gives you a set of skills employable in graduate school and the workplace. Data science is a burgeoning field, and there is practical significance in learning this material. The statistics presented in this book are some of the most common ones used in research articles, and we hope by the end of this OER you’ll feel comfortable reading (and not skipping!) the results section of an article. This work is broken into 14 chapters, covering the fundamentals of statistics, and hypothesis testing.
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Introduction to Political Science Research Methods
Josh Franco; Charlotte Lee; Kau Vue · Academic Senate for California Community Colleges · 2020
Introduction to Political Science Research Methods, authored by Dr. Josh Franco, Dr. Charlotte Lee, Kau Vue, Dr. Dino Bozonelos, Dr. Masahiro Omae, and Dr. Steven Cauchon, is an Open Education Resource textbook licensed CC BY-NC that surveys the research methods employed in political science. The textbook includes chapters that cover: history and development of the empirical study of politics; the scientific method; theories, hypotheses, variables, and units; conceptualization, operationalization and measurement of political concepts; elements of research design including the logic of sampling; qualitative and quantitative research methods and means of analysis; and research ethics.
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Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies: A Cross-Disciplinary Approach
Deborah Amory; Sean Massey; Jennifer Miller; Allison Brown · State University of New York Press · 2022
Designed for an introductory course, this textbook takes a cross-disciplinary approach to the study of LGBTQ+ issues that helps students grasp core concepts through a variety of different perspectives. Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies offers accessible, academically sound information on a wide range of topics, including history, culture, and Queer Theory; an exploration of LGBTQ+ relationships, families, parenting, health, and education; and how to conduct research on LGBTQ+ topics. The book explores LGBTQ+ issues from the ancient world to contemporary global perspectives. Employing an intersectional analysis, the textbook highlights how sexuality and gender are simultaneously experienced and constructed through other structures of inequality and privilege, such as race and class. The text supports multiple learning styles by integrating visual elements, multimedia resources, discussion and project prompts, and resources for further research throughout the textbook.
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Research Methods for Criminal Justice Students
Monica Williams · Monica Williams · 2022
This book is based on two open-access textbooks: Bhattacherjee’s (2012) Social science research: Principles, methods, and practices and Blackstone’s (2012) Principles of sociological inquiry: Qualitative and quantitative methods. I first used Bhattacherjee’s book in a graduate-level criminal justice research methods course. I chose the book because it was an open educational resource that covered the major topics of my course. While I found the book adequate for my purposes, the business school perspective did not always fit with my criminal justice focus. I decided to rewrite the textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in my criminal justice research methods courses. As I researched other open- educational resources for teaching social science research methods, I found Blackstone’s book, which covered more of the social science and qualitative methods perspectives that I wanted to incorporate into my book. As a result, this open-access textbook includes some content from both previous works along with my own additions based on my extensive experience and expertise in conducting qualitative and quantitative research in social science settings and in mentoring students through the research process. My Ph.D. is in Sociology, and I currently teach undergraduates and graduate students in a criminal justice program at Weber State University. Throughout my career, I have conducted and published the results of research projects using a variety of methods, including surveys, case studies, in-depth interviews, participant observation, content analysis, and secondary analysis of quantitative data. I have also mentored undergraduates in conducting community-based research projects using many of these same methods with the addition of focus groups and program evaluations.
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Quantitative Research Methods for Political Science, Public Policy and Public Administration (With Applications in R)
Hank Jenkins-Smith; Joseph Ripberger · University of Oklahoma Libraries · 2017
The focus of this book is on using quantitative research methods to test hypotheses and build theory in political science, public policy and public administration. It is designed for advanced undergraduate courses, or introductory and intermediate graduate-level courses. The first part of the book introduces the scientific method, then covers research design, measurement, descriptive statistics, probability, inference, and basic measures of association. The second part of the book covers bivariate and multiple linear regression using the ordinary least squares, the calculus and matrix algebra that are necessary for understanding bivariate and multiple linear regression, the assumptions that underlie these methods, and then provides a short introduction to generalized linear models.The book fully embraces the open access and open source philosophies. The book is freely available in the SHAREOK repository; it is written in R Markdown files that are available in a public GitHub repository; it uses and teaches R and RStudio for data analysis, visualization and data management; and it uses publically available survey data (from the Meso-Scale Integrated Socio-geographic Network) to illustrate important concepts and methods. We encourage students to download the data, replicate the examples, and explore further! We also encourage instructors to download the R Markdown files and modify the text for use in different courses.
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Quantitative Methods for Plant Breeding
Walter Suza; Kendall Lamkey · Iowa State University Digital Press · 2023
This open textbook covers common statistics used in agriculture research, including experimental design in plant breeding and genetics, as well as the analysis of variance, regression, and correlation.
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Concept Development Studies in Chemistry
John Hutchinson · OpenStax CNX · 2013
This collection of Concept Development Studies in Chemistry is presented to redirect the focus of learning. In each concept development study, a major chemical concept is developed and refined by analysis of experimental observations and careful reasoning. Each study begins with the definition of an initial Foundation of assumed knowledge, followed by a statement of questions which arise from the Foundation. Analysis of these questions is presented as a series of observations and logical deductions, followed by further questions. This detailed process is followed until the conceptual development of a model provides a reasonable answer to the stated questions.