Abstract

LAMA GARCIA, Alfredo de la. ¿Existen reglas implícitas dentro de la investigación científica?. Rev. educ. sup [online]. 2011, vol.40, n.160, pp.73-93. ISSN 0185-2760.

This paper presents an exploration of the rules of engagement for scientific research, which usually remain hidden to the uninitiated. To reveal their existence, an exploratory field work was undertaken using a technique called spontaneous recollection. The results exceeded our expectations, because although most scientists interviewed (basic and engineering sciences, life and health sciences, and social sciences) recognized the existence of such rules (88%), only a minority (9%) was able to recall any spontaneously. While, when four of these agreed upon rules -associated to specific types of attitudes- were mentioned, between 91 and up to 97% of scientists recognized them as ground rules for scientific activity. This discovery represents a step towards understanding the systems of inquiry.

Keywords : Social agreements; Scientific research; Science; Methodology.

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