Research in crisis : blueprint to overhaul the broken knowledge factory / Les Coleman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Coleman, Les, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Business/Management, General Works/Reference, Social Science.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (175 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London, England : Taylor & Francis Group, 2020.

Summary:

This book explores the weak explanatory and predictive power of theories across disciplines, explains reasons for limited expertise after centuries of scientific effort, and sets forth strategies to accelerate knowledge and manage a future we can only dimly comprehend. Gaps in knowledge arose because common, natural and artificial phenomena are fundamentally hard to understand, and in expertise persists because research is unproductive. This book argues that weak research comes with huge opportunity cost because it stymies optimum decision making by government, corporations and individuals. Research needs restructuring which must come from governments' top down requirement that funding bodies foster applied research with real-world impact, and that universities influence scientific publishers to improve their publications' integrity. This book seeks to catalyse extinction events for theories in most disciplines, which would clear a path for solving multiple crises in research. The author cautions that this process would be disruptive, unpopular and painful.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations

Quotations that Motivate the Book

1 What this Book is About

2 The Fundamentals of Research

Evolution of Natural and Social Sciences Research

Ontology, Epistemology and Research Strategy

The Nature of Paradigms

Structural Difficulties in Developing Good Theory

Researchers' Expertise

A Taxonomy of Inexpertise

Conclusion

3 What has Gone Wrong?

Structure of the Research Sector

Conduct of Research

Instinctive Reach for the Dark Matter Solution

Are Researchers up to the Job?

Mistrust of Scientists

Summary and Conclusion

4 Strategies to Accelerate Knowledge

Promoting Heterodoxy and Interdisciplinary Research

Harnessing Economic Forces

Improving Research Methodology

Improving Research Journals' Quality and Integrity

Making Research a Profession

Personal Traits of the Best Researchers

Conclusion: Practical Steps to Accelerate More Productive Research

5 Strategies to Manage an Uncertain Future

Decision Techniques

Making Best Use of Experts and Expertise

Honesty in Error Bars

Conclusion: Implications of Weak Theory for Policy and Practice

6 Summary and Blueprint For Better Research

The Nub of the Problem

Agenda for Reform of Research by Governments

Agenda for Reform of Research by Funding Bodies

Agenda for Reform by Universities

Agenda for Reform by Publishers

Agenda for Reform by Researchers

Agenda for Reform by Research Consumers

Where to Now?

References

Index.

Notes:

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-00-305771-3

1-003-05771-3

1-000-17212-0

9781003057710

OCLC:

1178945850