Normal Science and Paradigm Shift

Abstract

The concept of paradigms emerged from Thomas Kuhn's (1970) Structure of Scientific Revolutions . In this theory of science, Kuhn posited that mature sciences operate within a scientific paradigm. A paradigm emerges out of the classic research exemplars within a research domain. These exemplars operate as models for how to do science within that paradigm. The culture (or paradigm) that emerges from the basic exemplars reflect the rules for doing science. Normal science is the day‐to‐day research that scientists conduct in order to fill in the gaps in scientific knowledge that are found within the dominant paradigm. Kuhn argued that paradigms always have intractable problems that result in research anomalies. Findings will emerge that the paradigm cannot explain and decrease the scientific community's confidence in the paradigm. At some point, scientists will begin operating outside of the dominant paradigm in an attempt to resolve these anomalous results and alternative paradigms will be developed. One day, the dominant paradigm may shift to a new paradigm in what is referred to by Kuhn as a scientific revolution. Popper proposed instead that all science should be considered revolutionary because it attempts to progress through attempts at falsifying theories.