The Role of Researchers’ Expectations in the Process of Scientific Cognition

Аннотация

The study of the role of researchers’ expectations in the process of scientific cognition is presented. Expectations are usually considered as a threat to research objectivity and to its relevance to cognitive laws. However the choice of research direction and of research methods also depends on the scientists’ expectations. Theoretical foundation of the research is the conception of expectations as a social phenomenon of Aleksey Nechaev. The scientific discoveries of the planet Neptune and the elementary particle neutrino are analysed; it is shown that in case of the lack of scientific knowledge expectations can become the basis for hypothesizing (theoretical level of knowledge) or observing and constructing an experiment (empirical level of knowledge). The functions of researchers’ expectations in the process of scientific cognition are revealed.