Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2007
Abstract
Theorists such as Simon (1973), Popper (1959) and Kuhn (1962) have commented on the tendency to view scientific discovery as a "revolution" with a focus on an end result. In history, we "date" scientific discoveries as if they were events instead of the final outcome of a lengthy experimentation process. But, as Kuhn (1962:7) observed nearly a half-century ago, scientific revolution is, in fact, a "process rarely completed by a single man and never overnight". Rather, discovery most often occurs as a result of collaboration and interaction between researchers over protracted periods of time. Surprisingly, there is a paucity of research detailing the exchange and collaboration between scientists in the process of discovery despite the assumption that understanding this process might catalyze future scientific endeavor. Brown and Duguid (1991) argue that interaction with others requires access to an overarching network, a "Community of Practice" that facilitates interaction among insiders by providing formal and informal venues for exchange. In this space, new configurations of knowledge networks emerge (Boland & Tenkasi, 1995). Geographical dispersion of researchers in laboratories minimizes opportunities for interaction with scientists outside the home institution. To compensate, scientists very often belong to professional communities that provide focused forums for exchange of information. Therein individuals form networks in which they can share ideas about common pursuits of discovery. Professional scientific organizations collect and archive the artifacts of discovery and further disseminate the information to the communities they serve. They also sponsor scientific meetings that provide a unique opportunity to interact with fellow scientists presenting a wide array of associated and/or complementary knowledge. In effect, professional research associations serve as social networks that offer a unique opportunity for interaction with those outside the home lab. This paper reports the results of qualitative research involving professionally networked scientists about their understandings of the process of scientific discovery and how it is facilitated by collegial interaction (i.e. within "networks of discovery"). Kuhn (1962) acknowledged the rendering scientific revolutions 'invisible' by truncating the work of scientists to the moment of outcome. This study sought to illuminate emergent revolutions by revealing the often fragmented and circuitous "routes" of discovery Most of the existing literature on organizations and social networks provide a static view, concentrating on "...monitoring the obligatory passage points of networks" (Lee & Brown, 1994, p. 787) and, in doing so, maintaining a focus on endpoints but not the steps that led there. This research assumes, however, that networks of discovery may be Complex Adaptive Systems (Holland, 1995); self-organizing, made up of heterogeneous actors that maintain a high degree of connectivity, both inside the system and in the external environment with diversity as an important aspect of the structure (Holland, 1995; Chiva-Gomez, 2003; Dooley, 1997; Ashmos et al, 2002). Allowing scientists to relate their own experiences is hoped to enrich understanding about the process and product of social interaction that leads to discovery. The research suggests the need for design and development of additional navigational tools to catalyze the flow of useful information between scientists to resolve obstacles encountered during experimentation.
Keywords
management
Rights
© The Author(s). Kelvin Smith Library provides access for non-commercial, personal, or research use only. All other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication or transmission, whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Minnillo, Rebecca, "Discovery: An Incremental Revolution" (2007). Student Scholarship. 167.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/167
