What are paradigms and why do they shift?

Bernadette Longo

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper provides a background to the concept of "paradigm" and "paradigm shift," based on Thomas Kuhn's description of scientific discourse communities in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn set out a model of scientific communication that included scientists primarily doing "normal science" based on a worldview-or paradigm-that has consensual agreement within the discourse community. When this paradigm fails to explain a number of new phenomena or concepts, however, Kuhn argues that science is in a time of crisis. To return the discourse community to a steady state, the crisis is often overcome by changing-or shifting-the paradigm.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages207-211
Number of pages5
StatePublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes
EventIEEE Professional Communication Society International Professional Conference - Portland, OR, United States
Duration: Sep 17 2002Sep 20 2002

Other

OtherIEEE Professional Communication Society International Professional Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPortland, OR
Period9/17/029/20/02

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Communication
  • General Engineering

Keywords

  • International communication
  • Paradigms
  • Technical communication

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