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Creative accomplishments in science: definition, theoretical considerations, examples from science history, and bibliometric findings

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  • Thomas Heinze

    (University of Wuppertal)

Abstract

Science studies have not yet provided a conceptual scheme that distinguishes creative accomplishments from other research contributions. Likewise, there is no commonly agreed typology capturing all important manifestations of innovative science. This article takes up these two desiderata. We argue that scientific creativity springs from the fundamental tension between originality and scientific relevance. Based on this consideration, we introduce a conceptual scheme that singles out creative research accomplishments from other contributions in science. Furthermore, this paper shows that creative contributions are not only advances in theory but also new methods, new empirical phenomena, and the development of new research instrumentation. For illustrative purposes, the article introduces examples from science history and presents results from bibliometric studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Heinze, 2013. "Creative accomplishments in science: definition, theoretical considerations, examples from science history, and bibliometric findings," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 95(3), pages 927-940, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:95:y:2013:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-012-0848-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-012-0848-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Lutz Bornmann & Julian N. Marewski, 2019. "Heuristics as conceptual lens for understanding and studying the usage of bibliometrics in research evaluation," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 120(2), pages 419-459, August.
    2. Kristofer Rolf Söderström, 2023. "The structure and dynamics of instrument collaboration networks," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(6), pages 3581-3600, June.
    3. Werner Marx & Lutz Bornmann, 2016. "Change of perspective: bibliometrics from the point of view of cited references—a literature overview on approaches to the evaluation of cited references in bibliometrics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 109(2), pages 1397-1415, November.
    4. Boris Forthmann & Mark A. Runco, 2020. "An Empirical Test of the Inter-Relationships between Various Bibliometric Creative Scholarship Indicators," Publications, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-16, June.

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