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Spherical Horses and Shared Toothbrushes: Lessons Learned from a Workshop on Scientific and Technological Thinking

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Discovery Science (DS 2001)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 2226))

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Abstract

We briefly summarize some of the lessons learned in a workshop on cognitive studies of science and technology. Our purpose was to assemble a diverse group of practitioners to discuss the latest research, identify the stumbling blocks to advancement in this field, and brainstorm about directions for the future. Two questions became central themes. First, how can we combine artificial studies involving ‘spherical horses’ with fine-grained case studies of actual practice? Results obtained in the laboratory may have low applicability to real world situations. Second, how can we deal with academics’ attachments to their theoretical frameworks? Academics often like to develop unique ‘toothbrushes’ and are reluctant to use anyone else’s. The workshop illustrated that toothbrushes can be shared and that spherical horses and fine-grained case studies can complement one another. Theories need to deal rigorously with the distributed character of scientific and technological problem solving. We hope this workshop will suggest directions more sophisticated theories might take.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technology, Culture & Communications, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400744, 22904-4744, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Michael E. Gorman & Matthew M. Mehalik

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400400, 22904-4400, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Alexandra Kincannon

Authors
  1. Michael E. Gorman
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  2. Alexandra Kincannon
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  3. Matthew M. Mehalik
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. DFKI GmbH Saarbrücken, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany

    Klaus P. Jantke

  2. Department of Informatics, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, 812-8581, Fukuoka, Japan

    Ayumi Shinohara

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Gorman, M.E., Kincannon, A., Mehalik, M.M. (2001). Spherical Horses and Shared Toothbrushes: Lessons Learned from a Workshop on Scientific and Technological Thinking. In: Jantke, K.P., Shinohara, A. (eds) Discovery Science. DS 2001. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 2226. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45650-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45650-3_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-42956-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-45650-6

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