The role of the amateur in science
This thesis is primarily an empirical investigation into the current role of the amateur scientist in the United Kingdom. The local and national organisations of amateur science are explored by means of questionnaire and interview surveys. In order to place the modern amateur in perspective, sections on the history and sociology of professions precede an examination of the professionalisation of science. For the local organisation of amateurs, the surveys concentrate on Leicester, placing amateur science in its relationship to adult education and to the popularisation of science via the mass media. Evidence is presented which suggests that amateurs not only increase their own scientific knowledge, but are active in disseminating information to a wider population. Estimates are made of the number of local amateur scientific societies currently existing in the United Kingdom, as well as of the total number of amateur scientists. Those scientific disciplines and sub-fields that are of particular concern to amateurs are identified. Professional scientific papers are compared with their amateur equivalents in terms of readability, terminology and patterns of citation. The investigation is focussed oh the United
Fisher, Timothy
Philosophy
The role of the amateur in science. This thesis is primarily an empirical investigation into the current role of the amateur scientist in the United Kingdom. The local and national organisations of amateur science are explored by means of questionnaire and interview surveys. In order to place the modern amateur in perspective, sections on the history and sociology of professions precede an examination of the professionalisation of science. For the local organisation of amateurs, the surveys concentrate on Leicester, placing amateur science in its relationship to adult education and to the popularisation of science via the mass media. Evidence is presented which suggests that amateurs not only increase their own scientific knowledge, but are active in disseminating information to a wider population. Estimates are made of the number of local amateur scientific societies currently existing in the United Kingdom, as well as of the total number of amateur scientists. Those scientific disciplines and sub-fields that are of particular concern to amateurs are identified. Professional scientific papers are compared with their amateur equivalents in terms of readability, terminology and patterns of citation. The investigation is focussed oh the United
role amateur science primarily empirical_investigation current role amateur scientist united_kingdom local_national organisation amateur science explore mean_questionnaire interview survey order_place modern amateur perspective section history sociology profession precede examination professionalisation science local organisation amateur survey concentrate leicester place amateur science relationship adult_education popularisation science via mass_medium evidence_present suggests amateurs increase scientific_knowledge active disseminate information wider population make number local amateur scientific society currently exist united_kingdom well total number amateur scientist scientific_discipline sub fields particular concern amateur identify professional scientific paper compare amateur equivalent term readability terminology pattern citation investigation focus united