This is http://www.essayz.com/a9302082.htm         
Previous-Essay      <== This-Essay ==>     Following-Essay
Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words.
{Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.}
==========================================================
  %STRUCTURE BIAS EXPERIMENT EXPERIENCE OBSERVATION 930208

     It  is  often  thought  that  scientists  engage   in
unbiased observations by being scientific. It is closer to
the truth to say that scientists succeed in what  they  do
by  engaging in highly structured,   formalized,   planned
experimentation      and     observation.       Scientific
experimentation  and  observations are  not  unstructured,
random, and/or without preconception. There is much in the
way   of  preconception,   expectation,   planning,    and
structuring  of  the observational experiences  which  are
central to scientific work.

     In  scientific  work only certain kinds of  questions
are  asked.   Other  kinds  of  questions  are  considered
unimportant  and  unlikely  to  advance  the  progress  of
scientific work in  the traditional directions. Scientific
work  is  based  upon  a  certain  set   of preconceptions
regarding what is important and what is not important.

     Each  specialty has different senses  of what is most
important  and  what is least important.  Each  specialist
constructs experimental procedures,  protocols for  taking
data,   and  formulas  for analysis of  data.   With  rare
exceptions  observations which do not fit nicely into such
procedures,  protocols and formulas are observations which
are attended to with less care than are those which do fit
in nicely.

     Only rarely do scientists work hard  at  transcending
their  paradigm.   Only  rarely do  scientists  engage  in
research  and analysis of  data  which  does transcend the
dominant  paradigm of their area of specialization.  Their
dominant  paradigm dominate  most  of  their  efforts  and
guides them to stay within their paradigm.  In some  cases
their  dominant paradigm is in fact  part  of  a collusion
which keeps  them from recognizing the truths which  might
help  them cope  more meaningfully  with  the dilemmas and
tragedies of their lives.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
==========================================================