THE BEHAVIOR OF THE SCIENTIST: EPISTEMOLOGICAL TOOLS SCIENCE-MAKERS USE AND GAMES THEY PLAY

ABSTRACT: Because making science is inescapably a special class of behaviors by people thereby called scientists, then a science of science inevitably will involve behaviorism. Behaviorism advises us always to look for the relevant reinforcers; and science behaviors apparently are often reinforced by the discovery of truthas scientists define it, and often by the accomplishment of usefulnessas society defines it. This paper discusses some responses that scientists have in common, and some contingencies which control the behavior of scientists. Key words: Behavior of scientists; behavior analysis; experimental proof; knowledge; unification of technology; unification of science; language of scientists; diversity and evolutionary niches; economics. To talk carelessly of the behavior of the scientist is to assume that there is just one way to do science, and that we should all do it alike. Presumably, behavior analysts would never make that assumption: We call ourselves scientists, and know our own behavior; and we know the behavior of other people who also call themselves scientists. They do their science differently from us. Either we agree that there are various ways to do science, or we declare our way definitive and tel