PREPARATION 



thinking, and if that information is sufficient for the particular 

 problem, a solution may be obtained. But if that information is 

 not sufficient — and this is usually so in research — then that mass 

 of information makes it more difficult for the mind to conjure 

 up original ideas, for reasons which will be discussed later. 

 Further, some of that information may be actually false, in which 

 case it presents an even more serious barrier to new and pro- 

 ductive ideas. 



Thus in subjects in which knowledge is still growing, or where 

 the particular problem is a new one, or a new version of one 

 already solved, all the advantage is with the expert, but where 

 knowledge is no longer growing and the field has been worked 

 out, a revolutionary new approach is required and this is more 

 Hkely to come from the outsider. The scepticism with which the 

 experts nearly always greet these revolutionary ideas confirms 

 that the available knowledge has been a handicap. 



The best way of meeting this dilemma is to read critically, 

 striving to maintain independence of mind and avoid becoming 

 conventionalised. Too much reading is a handicap mainly to 

 people who have the wrong attitude of mind. Freshness of outlook 

 and originality need not suffer greatly if reading is used as a 

 stimulus to thinking and if the scientist is at the same time engaged 

 in active research. In any case, most scientists consider that it is 

 a more serious handicap to investigate a problem in ignorance 

 of what is already known about it. 



One of the most common mistakes of the young scientist start- 

 ing research is that he believes all he reads and does not distinguish 

 between the results of the experiments reported and the author's 

 interpretation of them. Francis Bacon said : 



" Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take 

 for granted . . . but to weigh and consider." ^ 



The man with the right outlook for research develops a habit 

 of correlating what is read with his knowledge and experience, 

 looking for significant analogies and generalisations. This method 

 of study is one way in which hypotheses are developed, for 

 instance it is how the idea of survival of the fittest in evolution 

 came to Darwin and to Wallace. 



Successful scientists have often been people with wide interests. 



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