Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T04:41:55.715Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Design Rules: Industrial Research and Epistemic Merit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Torsten Wilholt
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A common complaint against the increasing privatization of research is that research that is conducted with the immediate purpose of producing applicable knowledge will not yield knowledge as valuable as that generated in more curiosity-driven, academic settings. In this paper, I make this concern precise and reconstruct the rationale behind it. Subsequently, I examine the case of industry research on the giant magnetoresistance effect in the 1990s as a characteristic example of research undertaken under considerable pressure to produce applicable results. The example permits one to arrive at a more optimistic assessment of the epistemic merits of private, application-driven research. I attempt to specify the conditions that, in this case, advanced the production of interesting and reliable knowledge.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 73 , Issue 1 , January 2006 , pp. 66 - 89
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adam, Matthias (2005), “Integrating Research and Development: The Emergence of Rational Drug Design in the Pharmaceutical Industry”, Integrating Research and Development: The Emergence of Rational Drug Design in the Pharmaceutical Industry 36:513–537.Google ScholarPubMed
Åkerman, Johan (2005), “Toward a Universal Memory”, Toward a Universal Memory 308:508–510.Google Scholar
Banhart, John, Ebert, Hubert, and Vernes, Andras (1997), “Applicability of the Two-Current Model for Systems with Strongly Spin-Dependent Disorder”, Applicability of the Two-Current Model for Systems with Strongly Spin-Dependent Disorder 56:10165–10171.Google Scholar
Barthélémy, Agnès, Fert, Albert, and Petroff, Frédéric (1999), “Giant Magnetoresistance in Magnetic Multilayers”, in Buschow, K. H. J. (ed.), Handbook of Magnetic Materials, Vol. 12. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1–96.Google Scholar
Bauer, Gerrit E. W., Kees, M., Schep, Ke Xia, and Kelly, Paul J. (2002), “Scattering Theory of Interface Resistance in Magnetic Multilayers”, Scattering Theory of Interface Resistance in Magnetic Multilayers 35:2410–2414.Google Scholar
Blumenthal, David, Causino, Nancyanne, Campbell, Eric G., and Louis, Karen Seashore (1996), “Relationships between Academic Institutions and Industry in the Life Sciences: An Industry Survey”, Relationships between Academic Institutions and Industry in the Life Sciences: An Industry Survey 334:368–373.Google Scholar
Braun, Ernest (1992), “Selected Topics from the History of Semiconductor Physics and Its Applications”, in Hoddeson, Lillian, Braun, Ernest, Teichmann, Jürgen, and Weart, Spencer (eds.), Out of the Crystal Maze: Chapters from the History of Solid-State Physics. New York: Oxford University Press, 443–488.Google Scholar
Broad, William, and Wade, Nicholas (1982), Betrayers of the Truth. New York: Simon and Schuster.Google Scholar
Camley, Robert E., and Barnas, Jozef (1989), “Theory of Giant Magnetoresistance Effects in Magnetic Layered Structures with Antiferromagnetic Coupling”, Theory of Giant Magnetoresistance Effects in Magnetic Layered Structures with Antiferromagnetic Coupling 63:664–667.Google ScholarPubMed
Carrier, Martin (2004), “Knowledge Gain and Practical Use: Models in Pure and Applied Research”, in Gillies, Donald (ed.), Laws and Models in Science. London: King’s College Publications, 1–17.Google Scholar
Chesbrough, Henry W. (2003), Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.Google Scholar
Churchman, C. West (1948), Theory of Experimental Inference. New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Coehoorn, Reinder (2003), “Giant Magnetoresistance and Magnetic Interactions in Exchange-Biased Spin Valves”, in Buschow, K. H. J. (ed.), Handbook of Magnetic Materials, Vol. 15. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1–197.Google Scholar
Dasgupta, Partha, and David, Paul A. (1994), “Toward a New Economics of Science”, Toward a New Economics of Science 23:487–521.Google Scholar
Dieny, Bernard, Speriosu, Virgil S., Metin, Serhat, Parkin, Stuart S. P., Gurney, Bruce A., Baumgart, Peter, and Wilhoit, Dennis R. (1991a), “Magnetotransport Properties of Magnetically Soft Spin-Valve Structures”, Magnetotransport Properties of Magnetically Soft Spin-Valve Structures 69:4774–4779.Google Scholar
Dieny, Bernard, Speriosu, Virgil S., Parkin, Stuart S. P., Gurney, Bruce A., Wilhoit, Dennis R., and Mauri, Daniele (1991b), “Giant Magnetoresistance in Soft Ferromagnetic Multilayers”, Giant Magnetoresistance in Soft Ferromagnetic Multilayers 43:1297–1300.Google Scholar
Folkerts, Wiep, and Kools, Jacques C. S. (1998), “Experimental Study of the Validity of Simple Design Rules for the Biasing of Spin-Valve-Type GMR Heads”, Experimental Study of the Validity of Simple Design Rules for the Biasing of Spin-Valve-Type GMR Heads 64:237–240.Google Scholar
Friedman, Michael (1974), “Explanation and Scientific Understanding”, Explanation and Scientific Understanding 71:5–19.Google Scholar
Funtowicz, Silvio O., and Ravetz, Jerry R. (1993), “The Emergence of Post-normal Science”, in von Schomberg, René (ed.), Science, Politics and Morality: Scientific Uncertainty and Decision Making. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 85–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibbons, Michael, Limoges, Camille, Nowotny, Helga, Schwartzman, Simon, Scott, Peter, and Trow, Martin (1994), The New Production of Knowledge: The Dynamics of Science and Research in Contemporary Societies. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Gijs, Martijn A. M., and Bauer, Gerrit E. W. (1997), “Perpendicular Giant Magnetoresistance of Magnetic Multilayers”, Perpendicular Giant Magnetoresistance of Magnetic Multilayers 46:285–445.Google Scholar
Gijs, Martijn A. M., Lenczowski, Staszek K. J., and Giesbers, J. B. (1993), “Perpendicular Giant Magnetoresistance of Microstructured Fe/Cr Magnetic Multilayers from 4.2 to 300 K”, Perpendicular Giant Magnetoresistance of Microstructured Fe/Cr Magnetic Multilayers from 4.2 to 300 K 70:3343–3346.Google ScholarPubMed
Goldman, Alvin (1999), Knowledge in a Social World. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grochowski, Edward, and Halem, Robert D. (2003), “Technological Impact of Magnetic Hard Disk Drives on Storage Systems”, Technological Impact of Magnetic Hard Disk Drives on Storage Systems 42:338–345.Google Scholar
Grünberg, Peter (2001), “Layered Magnetic Structures: History, Highlights, Applications”, Layered Magnetic Structures: History, Highlights, Applications 54:31–37.Google Scholar
Hull, David L. (1988), Science as a Process: An Evolutionary Account of the Social and Conceptual Development of Science. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenney, Martin (1986), Biotechnology: The University-Industrial Complex. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kitcher, Philip (1981), “Explanatory Unification”, Explanatory Unification 48:507–531.Google Scholar
Kitcher, Philip (1992), “The Naturalists Return”, The Naturalists Return 101:53–114.Google Scholar
Kitcher, Philip (1993), The Advancement of Science. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Kitcher, Philip (2001), Science, Truth and Democracy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Longino, Helen (2002), The Fate of Knowledge. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nelkin, Dorothy (1984), Science as Intellectual Property: Who Controls Research? New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Nowotny, Helga, Scott, Peter, and Gibbons, Michael (2001), Re-thinking Science: Knowledge and the Public in an Age of Uncertainty. Cambridge: Polity.Google Scholar
Parkin, Stuart S. P. (1991), “Systematic Variation of the Strength and Oscillation Period of Indirect Magnetic Exchange Coupling through the 3d, 4d, and 5d Transition Metals”, Systematic Variation of the Strength and Oscillation Period of Indirect Magnetic Exchange Coupling through the 3d, 4d, and 5d Transition Metals 67:3598–3601.Google ScholarPubMed
Parkin, Stuart S. P. (2002), “Applications of Magnetic Nanostructures”, in Maekawa, Sadamichi and Shinjo, Teruya (eds.), Spin Dependent Transport in Magnetic Nanostructures. Advances in Condensed Matter Science, vol. 3. London: Taylor and Francis, 237–271.Google Scholar
Resnik, David (2000), “Financial Interests and Research Bias”, Financial Interests and Research Bias 8:255–285.Google Scholar
Rosenberg, Nathan (1990), “Why Do Firms Do Basic Research (with Their Own Money)?”, Why Do Firms Do Basic Research (with Their Own Money)? 19:165–174.Google Scholar
Schmitt, Frederick F., ed. (1994), Socializing Epistemology: The Social Dimensions of Knowledge. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.Google Scholar
Shrader-Frechette, Kristin (1994), Ethics of Scientific Research. London: Rowman and Littlefield.Google Scholar
Tsang, Ching, Fontana, Robert E., Lin, Tsann, Heim, David E., Speriosu, Virgil S., Gurney, Bruce A., and Williams, Mason L. (1994), “Design, Fabrication and Testing of Spin Valve Read Heads for High Density Recording”, Design, Fabrication and Testing of Spin Valve Read Heads for High Density Recording 30:3801–3806.Google Scholar
Ziman, John (2002), “The Continuing Need for Disinterested Research”, The Continuing Need for Disinterested Research 8:397–399.Google ScholarPubMed
Ziman, John (2003), “Non-instrumental Roles of Science”, Non-instrumental Roles of Science 9:17–27.Google ScholarPubMed