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This brief sets out on a course to distinguish three main kinds of thought that underlie scientific thinking. Current science has not agreed on an understanding of what exactly the aim of science actually is, how to understand scientific knowledge, and how such knowledge can be achieved. Furthermore, no science today also explicitly admits the fact that knowledge can be constructed in different ways and therefore every scientist should be able to recognize the form of thought that under-girds their understanding of scientific theory. In response to this, this texts seeks to answer the questions: What is science? What is (scientific) explanation? What is causality and why it matters? Science is a way to find new knowledge. The way we think about the world constrains the aspects of it we can understand. Scientists, the author suggests, should engage in a metacognitive perspective on scientific theory that reflects not only what exists in the world, but also the way the scientist thinks about the world.
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SPRINGER BRIEFS IN PSYCHOLOGY THEORETICAL ADVANCES IN PSYCHOLOGY
Aaro Toomela
The Psychology of Scientific Inquiry
123
SpringerBriefs in Psychology SpringerBriefs in Theoretical Advances in Psychology Series Editors Jaan Valsiner Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark Carlos Cornejo Escuela de Psicologia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Macul, Chile
SpringerBriefs in Theoretical Advances in Psychology will be an extension from the currently renovated Annals of Theoretical Psychology in the direction of bringing short, single (or multiple) authored theoretical advancements across all areas of psychology to the international audience. The focus is on the development of innovative theoretical approaches and their discussion. The Series will have a clearly defined international and interdisciplinary focus—even if it remains within the discipline of psychology. Featuring compact volumes of 100–115 pages, each Brief in the Series is meant to provide a clear, visible, and multi-sided recognition of the theoretical efforts of scholars around the world. It is targeted to researchers, graduate students, and professionals in Post-BA level psychology, education, anthropology, and sociology. Briefs are published as part of the Springer’s eBook collection, with millions of users worldwide. In addition, Briefs are available for individual print and electronic purchase. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/14346
Aaro Toomela
The Psychology of Scientific Inquiry
Aaro Toomela Institute of Natural Sciences and Health Tallinn University Tallinn, Estonia
ISSN 2192-8363 ISSN 2192-8371 (electronic) SpringerBriefs in Psychology ISSN 2511-395X ISSN 2511-3968 (electronic) SpringerBriefs in Theoretical Advances in Psychology ISBN 978-3-030-31448-4 ISBN 978-3-030-31449-1 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31449-1 © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice