Changing Order: Replication and Induction in Scientific PracticeThis fascinating study in the sociology of science explores the way scientists conduct, and draw conclusions from, their experiments. The book is organized around three case studies: replication of the TEA-laser, detecting gravitational rotation, and some experiments in the paranormal. "In his superb book, Collins shows why the quest for certainty is disappointed. He shows that standards of replication are, of course, social, and that there is consequently no outside standard, no Archimedean point beyond society from which we can lever the intellects of our fellows."—Donald M. McCloskey, Journal of Economic Psychology "Collins is one of the genuine innovators of the sociology of scientific knowledge. . . . Changing Order is a rich and entertaining book."—Isis "The book gives a vivid sense of the contingent nature of research and is generally a good read."—Augustine Brannigan, Nature "This provocative book is a review of [Collins's] work, and an attempt to explain how scientists fit experimental results into pictures of the world. . . . A promising start for new explorations of our image of science, too often presented as infallibly authoritative."—Jon Turney, New Scientist |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Mystery of Perception and Order | 5 |
The Idea of Replication | 29 |
Replicating the TEALaser Maintaining Scientific Knowledge | 51 |
Detecting Gravitational Radiation The Experimenters Regress | 79 |
Some Experiments in the Paranormal The Experimenters Regress Revisited | 113 |
The Scientist in the Network A Sociological Revolution of the Problem of Inductive Inference | 129 |
Science as Expertise | 159 |
Methodological Appendix | 169 |
References Cited | 175 |
Afterword | 183 |
| 195 | |
| 197 | |
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Common terms and phrases
algorithm antenna apparatus argon argued argument artificial intelligence attempts Backster believe Bob Harrison bottom electrode capacitor Changing Order Chapter claim Cleve Backster Collins colour competent components concepts controversy core set critics culture debate detected detector developed discharge discovery discussed effect electrode emeralds entrenched example existence expected experimental explained fact gravitational radiation gravity waves green grue high fluxes human idea inductive institutions interesting Jumbo laboratory laser building Latour look machine nature neutrinos outcome paranormal parapsychology perception phenomena phenomenology phenomenon philosophical philosophy of science physicists physics plant problem problem of induction programme Proposition psychokinesis pulse regress repeatability replication reported rules scientific knowledge scientists seems seen Shapin signals significant Social Studies sociology of scientific sort spark gap statistical Studies of Science tacit knowledge TEA-laser theory things trigger wires tubes University voltage Weber