Skip to main content

On Being a Scientist Responsible Conduct in Research, Second Edition (1995) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

The Social Foundations of Science
Pages 3-4

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 3...
... It inevitably takes place within a broad social and historical context, which gives substance, direction, and ultimately meaning to the work of individual scientists. The object of research is to extend human knowledge of the physical, biological, or social world beyond what is already known.
Read the entire page →
From page 4...
... When the experimental techniques became widely known and were replicated, belief in cold fusion quickly faded. In some cases the methods used to arrive at scientific knowledge are not very well defined.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • cold fusion
  • individual knowledge
  • individual scientists
  • independently judge
  • proper phrasing

  • social world
  • scientific consensus
  • sometimes contradictory
  • human knowledge
  • properly enters

  • analyze data
  • statistical tests
  • critically influence
  • researchers collect
  • develop hypotheses

  • individual bias
  • historical context
  • circumstances experimental
  • extend earlier
  • complicating descriptions

  • science grew
  • scientific process
  • inevitably takes
  • reporting research
  • easily reproduce

  • produce results
  • extend human
  • societal forces
  • error abound
  • help generate


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.