Replicating Replication? Aspects of the Social Construction of Learning in Planarian Worms

Abstract

This paper examines some of the social processes involved in the replication of experiments on planarian worms. In conformity with the results of a previous study by Collins, scientists are shown to be conducting negotiations over the characteristics of the expenmental phenomenon in question. Evidence is also presented to show that explanations and arguments that would normally be thought of as part of the philosophy or sociology of science became issues In the scientific debate.