At 10:53 PM 7/18/2007, you wrote:
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Ron;
You have  made a number of valued points in your reply.

Having searched unknown areas over the past 60 years I have tried to 
use every possible resource I could think of to investigate the 
challenge BEFORE starting to do any physical work on a project. This 
included my chemistry and biology teaching fields. (Taught High 
School Bio and Chem for 10 years) I am afraid that students, today, 
taking Methods courses in Universities  are not being taught the 
in-depth pre-work research methods that must be completed before 
actual field work begins. I blame most of this upon the shoddy 
Federal, State and local requirements developed by  people with NO 
knowledge, or lack there of, of the discipline. Most are not aware of 
the "Scientific Theory" or its ramifications. Another problem is 
"Methods Courses" are being taught (no, no, instructed. There is a 
difference!) by TA's that usually cannot speak let alone understand English.
Classes of 100-300, What a travesty in Education.

But then I could be wrong.......
DTP