The Scientist as Problem Solver
Abstract
The thesis of this paper is that the scientist is a problem solver. If this thesis is true, then we can dispense with a separate theory of scientific discovery -- the processes of discovery are just applications of the processes of problem solving. However, since the thesis is not obvious to everyone, and since the topic of scientific discovery has interest in its own right, perhaps it is worth while saying a little more about it. In particular, I shall use this opportunity to think aloud, albeit retrospectively, about some of may own scientific work, and to see whether it, too, fits the problem solving mold. Keywords: Scientific discovery, Cognitive psychology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 29, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA204681
Entities
People
- Herbert Simon
Organizations
- Carnegie Mellon University