Virtue and the Scientific Researcher: Understanding the Personality and Character of Scientists

• In Event: Poster Session 16
  In Poster Session: Education and Assessment in the Professions Poster Session

Abstract

There is increasing interest in the role of virtue in the development of scientists. This paper draws on recent scholarship from virtue epistemology, educational psychology, and science studies to inform a survey of study of virtue among scientists. A panel survey of 300 research scientists was conducted, using a number of personality measures, including a novel measure of ideal virtues in the practice of science. A factor analysis of this novel measure is presented, along with descriptive statistics of scale scores on all measures. In addition, correlations between factors of the novel measure with existing measure are presented. Three factors emerge from the new measure, with meaningful correlations to well-validated personality measures. Limitations and future directions are considered.

Authors

• Timothy S. Reilly, University of Notre Dame

• Darcia F. Narvaez, University of Notre Dame