DISCOVERY AS A PROCESS

The study of the discovery process in science is inhibited by the assu mption that discovery is an event of short duration, not subject to in ternal scrutiny, and by the focus on empirical studies as being the mo st scientific. The argument is made that discoveries are often made by a pattern recognition process. The discovery process, however, also i ncludes the elaboration of a perceived pattern so that it may be commu nicated and tested. The elaboration process includes development of a descriptive vocabulary, elucidation of mathematical relations and meas ures, development of instruments and techniques for measurement, and d eduction of testable hypotheses. Thus discovery as a process can be ve ry elaborate and prolonged and should be amenable to explicit study. I mplications of this analysis for the practice of science and for scien ce policy are also discussed.