Postgraduate science research skills: the role of creativity, tacit knowledge, thought styles and language

This paper analyses three crucial research skills: problem identification, data collection and hypothesis formation. It concludes that science research students should be taught about the creative process as they are under pressures that can inhibit creative thought. They should also be taught the importance of tacit knowledge for learning how to do research, as this will aid the process. Styles of thought and language allow researchers to identify and solve problems and limit what the latter can be. Students may benefit from further knowledge of these, so they can understand why their interpretations differ from others and how to create truly original hypotheses. The paper calls for further research into the relationship between language and hypothesis formation.