This document summarizes and compares different spectrum sensing methods for cognitive radio networks. It discusses periodogram and multitaper methods (MTM) for power spectrum estimation. MTM addresses problems with periodogram like bias and variance. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are used to compare detection performance of different methods. MTM performance depends on number of tapers and time-bandwidth product. The paper evaluates MTM in terms of these and other parameters. It also provides background on cognitive radio, IEEE 802.22 networks, and the cognitive cycle of spectrum sensing, analysis and decision making. Experimental results comparing periodogram and MTM methods are presented.