Scientific Investigation is Benefited by the Familiar
More discoveries have arisen from intense observation of very limited material than from statistics applied to large groups. The value of the latter lies mainly in testing hypotheses arising from the former. While observing one should cultivate a speculative, contemplative attitude of mind and search for clues to be followed up. Training in observation follows the same principles as training in any activity. At first one must do things consciously and laboriously, but with practice the activities gradually become automatic and unconscious and a habit is established. Effective scientific observation also requires a good background, for only by being familiar with the usual can we notice something as being unusual or unexplained.
Notes:
When the investigation involves a small area of knowledge, the scientist's familiarization with it makes discovery easier because they will notice something unusual or unexplained.
Folksonomies: science discovery experimentation
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Scientific method (0.985737): dbpedia | freebase
Observation (0.746742): dbpedia | freebase | opencyc
Hypothesis (0.522771): dbpedia | freebase
Science (0.484025): dbpedia | freebase | opencyc
Theory (0.481800): dbpedia | freebase
Knowledge (0.468490): dbpedia | freebase
Mind (0.394815): dbpedia | freebase | opencyc
Philosophy of science (0.392569): dbpedia | freebase
The art of scientific investigation