Multiple Levels of Heuristic Reasoning Processes in Scientific Model Construction.

ABSTRACT: Science historians have recognized the importance of heuristic reasoning strategies for constructing theories, but their extent and degree of organization are still poorly understood. This paper first consolidates a set of important heuristic strategies for constructing scientific models from three books, including studies in the history of genetics and electromagnetism, and an expert think-aloud study in the field of mechanics. The books focus on qualitative reasoning strategies (processes) involved in creative model construction, scientific breakthroughs, and conceptual change. Twenty four processes are examined, most of which are field-general, but all are heuristic in not being guaranteed to work. An organizing framework is then proposed as a four-level hierarchy of nested reasoning pr

SUBMITTER: Clement JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9127582 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature