Social Control in Science

Abstract

‘At the root of the sociological theory of the development of science is the strategic fact of the multiple and independent appearance of the same scientific discovery’ (Merton, 1961, p. 475). In the paper from which this quotation is taken, Merton distinguishes discoveries which are made once (singletons) from those which are made several times by independent researchers (multiples). He goes on to argue that multiples occur more often than singletons in science, although this fact is obscured by the practice of recognising only that claimant who first submits his information to the research community. Merton does not succeed in showing conclusively that multiples predominate in science He does demonstrate, however, that they occur frequently and that their occurrence is a distinctive feature of scientific development. This evidence adds support to the argument put forward in the previous section. For if the members of any given research community conform to certain cognitive and technical norms, we would expect them to choose closely related problems, use the same research techniques and, consequently, produce similar results. This line of argument may seem to conflict with the very evident demand for originality which exists within science (Merton, 1957).