The Art of Research: A Divergent/Convergent Framework and Opportunities for Science-Based Approaches
Publication Date
11-13-2018
Document Type
Contribution to a Book
Publication Title
Engineering a Better Future: Interplay Between Engineering, Social Sciences, and Innovation
Editor
Dr. Eswaran Subrahmanian, Toluwalogo Odumosu, and Jeffrey Y. Tsao
DOI
10.1007/978-3-319-91134-2_14
First Page
167
Last Page
186
Abstract
Applying science to the current art of producing engineering and research knowledge has proven difficult, in large part because of its seeming complexity. We posit that the microscopic processes underlying research are not so complex, but instead are iterative and interacting cycles of divergent (generation of ideas) and convergent (testing and selecting of ideas) thinking processes. This reductionist framework coherently organizes a wide range of previously disparate microscopic mechanisms which inhibit these processes. We give examples of such inhibitory mechanisms and discuss how deeper scientific understanding of these mechanisms might lead to dis-inhibitory interventions for individuals, networks and institutional levels.
Keywords
Divergent thinking, Convergent thinking, Science of science, Research teams, Research ecosystem
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Glory E. Aviña, Christian D. Schunn, Austin R. Silva, Travis L. Bauer, George W. Crabtree, Curtis M. Johnson, Toluwalogo Odumosu, S. Thomas Picraux, R. Keith Sawyer, Richard P. Schneider, Rickson Sun, Gregory J. Feist, Venkatesh Narayanamurti, and Jeffrey Y. Tsao. "The Art of Research: A Divergent/Convergent Framework and Opportunities for Science-Based Approaches" Engineering a Better Future: Interplay Between Engineering, Social Sciences, and Innovation (2018): 167-186. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91134-2_14
