The Art of Research: Opportunities for a Science-Based Approach

• Published in: Foundations of Augmented Cognition: Neuroergonomics and Operational Neuroscience pp. 431 - 441
• Main Authors: Silva, Austin R., Aviña, Glory E., Tsao, Jeffrey Y.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.01.2016
• Series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science
• Subjects: Analogical distance; Convergent thinking; Creativity; Data analytics; Divergent thinking; Research ecosystem; Research narrative; Research teams; Science of science; Scientometrics
• ISBN: 3319399519; 9783319399515
• ISSN: 0302-9743; 1611-3349
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-39952-2_42

Research, the manufacture of knowledge, is currently practiced largely as an “art,” not a “science.” Just as science (understanding) and technology (tools) have revolutionized the manufacture of other goods and services, it is natural, perhaps inevitable, that they will ultimately also be applied to the manufacture of knowledge. In this article, we present an emerging perspective on opportunities for such application, at three different levels of the research enterprise. At the cognitive science level of the individual researcher, opportunities include: overcoming idea fixation and sloppy thinking, and balancing divergent and convergent thinking. At the social network level of the research team, opportunities include: overcoming strong links and groupthink, and optimally distributing divergent and convergent thinking between individuals and teams. At the research ecosystem level of the research institution and the larger national and international community of researchers, opportunities include: overcoming performance fixation, overcoming narrow measures of research impact, and overcoming (or harnessing) existential/social stress.