How Scientists Build Models: InVivo Science as a Window on the Scientific Mind
K. Dunbar 1999 Plenum Press in Magnani, L., Nersessian, N., and Thagard, P.: Model-based reasoning in scientific discovery, p. 89-98.

How do scientists think, reason and generate new models and theories? How do scientists represent their knowledge? Answers to these questions are of paramount importance not only in understanding what science is, but also in assessing different theories of science. The author has studied what scientists actually do in their research, what types of thinking and reasoning strategies they use, and how they change their knowledge. He has observed scientists in their own labs and conducted experiments on scientific thinking and model building in his own laboratory. He finds that one place where much reasoning occurs and new discoveries are made is at weekly lab meetings. Extensive
cognitive analyses of these meetings has identified some of the key components of contemporary scientific thinking that are important in generating new models, modifying old models and solving difficult problems. This paper outlines four activities that are important in model building: Analogical Reasoning, Attention to Unexpected Findings, Experimental Design, and Distributed Reasoning.

Subject: Biology:Molecular Biology
Resource Type: Scientific Resources:Research Results, Book Section
Research on Learning: Ways Of Learning, Cognitive Domain:How information is organized:Mental models