Lists references that focus on the empirical research related to the nature of science as an educational goal along with a few influential philosophical works. The list proves useful to educators and scholars in other fields interested in the nature of science and how understanding can be realized as a goal of science instruction. (Author/SAH)

Focuses on the selection, classification, and comparative presentation of various proposals concerning the contribution of the history of physics in physics education that have been designed and/or carried out as part of either research or curriculum development during the last century. (Author/SAH)

Provides author comments in response to the papers of Professors Lederman and Ohlsson in "Science and Education," Vol. 4, No. 4, 1995. These papers were in response to the paper "On the Nature of Scientific Thought" ("Science and Education," Vol. 4, No. 1). Includes 19 references. (DDR)

Describes scientific thought as a type of goal-directed behavior and its product and discusses its nature in terms of that goal and means appropriate for achieving it. Discusses the Galilean-Newtonian paradigm, empiricism, the idea that scientific thought has philosophical foundations, and the scientific status of human sciences. (Author/JRH)

Suggests that the motivation for Hungarian scientist Lorand Eotvos' research into gravitation was a desire to popularize university education and science. (MM)

For much of the past century, the discipline of history of science defended Western rationality and provided a justification for Western expansion. George Sarton, however, advocated a discipline where the thought of all the world's peoples would find a place. (Author)

Elucidates some aspects of Newton's theory of light and colors, specifically as presented in his first optical paper in 1672. Analyzes Newton's main experiments intended to show that light is a mixture of rays with different refrangibilities. (SAH)

Describes the life and accomplishments of Georg von Bekesy. Discusses his educational background and research career, and describes his extensive work on the ear, particularly the inner ear or cochlea. (SAH)

Describes a seminar course using Galileo's book "Two New Sciences" as an instructional tool to give students insight into the Greek's achievement in science. Includes references. (Author/YDS)

Argues that history and philosophy of science can investigate scientific questions that are excluded from science itself by working as a shadow discipline, complementing the specialist science in the production of knowledge about nature. Contains 16 references. (Author/WRM)

Part of a larger work on the history, philosophy, and utilization of pendulum motion studies, addresses the fate of Christiaan Huygens' 1673 proposal to use the length of a seconds pendulum as a universal, natural, and objective standard of length. (SAH)

Attempts to ascertain whether the presence of biasing values in the practice of science is an inbuilt feature of an idealized institution, Science, and judges that those values inbuilt to Science are not a source of bias. (Author/MM)

Argues that science students should be taught to acknowledge the parallel structure of knowledge and belief, and recognize that science requires a presuppositional foundation that is itself not verifiable in order to reintroduce a valuable discussion on the meaning of science and its impact on life. (Contains 87 references.) (Author/WRM)

Introduces the Golden Age of Hungarian science and highlights the educational achievements of Hungarians. Traces the contributions of Hungarian scientists to the progress of science. (JRH)

Traces the evolution of physics research methods in Finland from passive observations to planned experiments. Presents examples of planned experiments designed to solve particular problems with the goal of establishing a theory of the phenomenon under study. Contains 16 references. (JRH)