Trappes, Rose and Leonelli, Sabina (2025) Conceptualising Research Environments Using Biological Niche Concepts. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Several philosophers of science have taken inspiration from biological research on niches to conceptualise scientific practice. We systematise and extend three niche-based theories of scientific practice: conceptual ecology, cognitive niche construction, and scientific niche construction. We argue that research niches are a promising conceptual tool for understanding complex and dynamic research environments, which helps to investigate relevant forms of agency and material and social interdependencies, while also highlighting their historical and dynamic nature. To illustrate this, we develop a six-point framework for conceptualising research niches. Within this framework, research niches incorporate multiple and heterogenous material, social and conceptual factors (multi-dimensionality); research outputs arise, persist and differentiate through interactions between researchers and research niches (processes); researchers actively respond to and construct research niches (agency); research niches enable certain interactions and processes and not others (capability); and research niches are defined in relation to particular entities, such as individual researchers, disciplines, or concepts (relationality), and in relation to goals, such as understanding, solving problems, intervention, or the persistence of concepts or instruments (normativity).

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Trappes, Rose r.g.trappes@exeter.ac.uk 0000-0002-6398-5404 Leonelli, Sabina s.leonelli@exeter.ac.uk 0000-0002-7815-6609
Additional Information:	Forthcoming in the Topical Collection “The Nature of Research Environments”, European Journal for Philosophy of Science, https://link.springer.com/collections/ciccfaifcj
Keywords:	niche construction; cognitive niche; epistemic niche; scientific change; conceptual ecology; Nersessian, Nancy; Rouse, Joseph
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Social Epistemology of Science
Depositing User:	Dr Rose Trappes
Date Deposited:	04 Feb 2025 15:50
Last Modified:	04 Feb 2025 15:50
Item ID:	24675
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Social Epistemology of Science
Date:	4 February 2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24675

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