Does Education Induced Fear Contribute to a Lack of Scientific Progress?

Original scientific research is on a downswing. Scholarly journals continue to publish new articles, but how much of the information is really new? Scientists seem afraid to do original research sticking to topics in which they are relatively sure of the outcome.

No one wants to fail or to look stupid, but this increasing reluctance to go out on a limb in the scientific community is a somewhat new phenomenon. In the past, every science student dreamed of making a big discovery and pushed limits where ever he could hoping for a big break. Now students look for slight tangents of their professors' research, asking for lots of advice and guidance before they will state their own opinion if they are able to formulate a clear independent opinion at all.

Where does this fear come from? One hypothesis is that graduate students are afraid of not getting jobs and that professors fear losing theirs if their research doesn't pan out in a positive direction. This is not a well supported hypothesis though. Universities strongly encourage all of their educators to conduct research and publish. It almost doesn't seem to matter what is being studied as long as professors are active in their fields. Another theory is that the scientific community as a whole is less educated than in the past resulting is scientists incapable of doing advanced research into new areas. This also does not seem to be the case. Although the quality of education in our country can be debated, those advancing through doctorate programs at the top universities have certainly acquired enough knowledge to seek out new avenues of study.

A third cause is more likely. Students in our education system are judged starting in preschool. Everyone knows that A's are good and F's are bad. Students are told to do what the teacher says, and then they will do well in school. By the time children reach high school, the best students have been well indoctrinated. They have learned to follow the leader dotting their i's and crossing their t's. They have been told repeatedly that in order to succeed in life they must get good grades. You don't get good grades by stepping outside the box. That is a risk you take if you do something original. Students do not want to risk their futures by taking unnecessary risks. This fear carries over to college. At orientation, students are told how many of them won't succeed. Parents pressure students reminding them how much this Ivy League education costs. By the time one is in a position to do original research, one has been ingrained with the idea that there is too much risked involved in being original.

Obviously, not all scientists are afraid to try new things. It would be to the advantage of our society though, if educators would judge less and encourage creativity more. It would be wonderful if college students displayed the courage to share their independent thoughts and if scientific journals in the future are full of interesting original research increasing our store of knowledge and perhaps improving the world.