The Development of Expertise in Scientific Research
Title
The Development of Expertise in Scientific Research
Author
Feldon, David F.
Research Area
Special Areas of Interdisciplinary Study
Topic
Applications of Social Science Knowledge to Policy
Abstract
Scientific research is a fundamental mechanism for both advancing human knowledge about the natural world and facilitating technological innovations that fuel economic development. As such, understanding and optimizing the pathways to expertise and professional success in this endeavor is vital to ensure sustained intellectual and financial benefits of scientific research. This essay summarizes the research on the development of expertise in the sciences from the psychology of science and research on graduate education. Examining new research trends that present an emerging picture of a specific trajectory for the development of research skills and frame the development of scientific research skills as direct outcomes of specific training practices, new directions for research that bridge the cognitive and socialization lenses are identified.