To view contemporary Science as an industry is a very apt and timely stance. Ghassib's (2010) historical analysis of knowledge production, which he terms "A Productivist Industrial Model of Knowledge Production," is an interesting one. It is important, however, to observe that the outline of this model is based entirely on the production of…

It was refreshing to read Hisham Ghassib's (2010) article outlining his model of scientific knowledge production. Too few scholarly writings in creative studies and gifted education deal with issues at the large-scale, panoramic level of analysis. Ghassib (2010) would not disappoint Albert Einstein who lamented that "I have little patience with…

The claim that professional social work should be based on scientific knowledge is many decades old with knowledge transfer usually moving in the direction from science to practice. The authors critique this model of knowledge transfer and support a hybrid one that places more of an emphasis on professional knowledge and action occurring in the…

This article presents the authors' response to Hisham B. Ghassib's article entitled "Where Does Creativity Fit into a Productivist Industrial Model of Knowledge Production?" The authors focus on one aspect of Ghassib's (2010) analysis of creativity and knowledge production in the sciences--specifically, the influence of technology on changing…

The new paradigm in ecology emphasizes dynamic change, disturbance, and nonequilibrium in natural systems, and it presents some challenges for contemporary environmental aesthetics, one of which has to do with the thesis known as "scientific cognitivism." Scientific cognitivism holds that appropriate aesthetic appreciation of nature must be…

Presents a discussion of three areas of philosophy that serve as foundations for the construction of scientific theory, a critical analysis of the new epistemologies, a logical structure for scientific family therapy theory, and minimum requirements for a scientific theory of family therapy. (Author/ABB)

Responds to Shields' paper (1986) on the structure of new epistemologies in family therapy. Contends that Shields is being reductionistic in his criticism and obscures the importance of epistemology in family therapy. Also sees problems in Shields' assumptions of objectivity and veracity. (Author/ABB)

Although one role of computers in science education is to help students learn specific science concepts, computers are especially intriguing as a vehicle for fostering the development of epistemological knowledge about the nature of scientific knowledge--what it means to "know" in a scientific sense (diSessa, 1985). In this vein, the…

This paper presents a critical analysis of Wolfensberger's formulation of normalization as both a valid human service ideology and also a "research-anchored" scientific theory. It finds that the core statement of the model is tautologous, and thus cannot be considered a scientific statement. The empirical status of two major auxiliary…

Two basic concepts of the social sciences--society and culture--are analyzed and new definitions are proposed. Concepts are the basic building blocks of scientific theory. A science with poor concepts will, therefore, be incapable of producing powerful scientific theory. When commonly used social science definitions of society and culture are…

The logic of an educational subject does not necessarily follow the logic of science. The natural order of a science curriculum need not be the best pedagogical order. The same course content can be realized via several isomorphous structures of equal value and consistent with the existing logic of science. (SM)

Seeks to identify some of the issues associated with the role of models in scientific explanations. Discusses factors which may influence the way that those explanations are understood and the judgment of their appropriateness by the various audiences involved. Contains 55 references. (DDR)

Acceptance of a paradigm in the scientific community depends upon persuasion, upon the supplying of "good reasons" for supporting one paradigm over another. When one paradigm gains long-term acceptance and becomes the standard for scientific thought, scientists defer to such an authority in their thinking, and such established paradigms…

The changes which occurred in man's view of the solar system from the time of Ptolemy to that of Galileo are presented. Contained is a brief review of the chain of events which resulted in the acceptance of a heliocentric system. Ptolomy's theory is described and a diagram illustrates the paths of the epicycle of Mars according to his geocentric…

Discusses the naive usage of models in science, particularly in physics. Historical perspectives are presented, as well as some educational aspects of models. (SA)