SOCI 325 Lecture 3: Scientific Research is Social
11 Apr 2020
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Document Summary
Scientists" personalities, goals, history, ego, and ideology alter scientific practice. The questions one asks, the methods one uses, and the answers one comes up with are influenced by individual traits. The respect of colleagues, the power of certain positions, gendered expectations, and "star" power change the course of science. Creating images, making and tuning equipment, refining techniques, . Scientists must learn to, e. g. , make visualizations for publication. They may keep methods secret to maintain a competitive edge. Scientists must construct a narrative to turn data into a finding. Narrative is often resolved through interaction of multiple scientists. Different members of the same lab, or different research groups, may advocate for competing interpretations. Prestige of publication venue influences impact of findings. High-profile journals have incentive to make a "splash" Credit within scientific institutions awarded to first recognized finding. Broadly: incentive to hide messiness of scientific process.
