Experiment as rhetoric in the cold fusion controversy

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dc.contributor.authorCurfs, Garrit Thomasen
dc.contributor.committeechairPitt, Joseph C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberBarker, Peteren
dc.contributor.committeememberFuller, Steven W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberFuhrman, Ellsworth R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPaterson, Robert A.en
dc.contributor.departmentScience and Technology Studiesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:31:40Zen
dc.date.adate2009-03-14en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:31:40Zen
dc.date.issued1990-04-05en
dc.date.rdate2009-03-14en
dc.date.sdate2009-03-14en
dc.description.abstractAn examination of the role of experiment in the cold fusion controversy is offered. It is argued that experimental results served as rhetorical tools in the service of actors in the controversy. Discourse analysis informed by actor network theory is employed to analyze the verbal and textual discourse of scientists involved in the construction of experimentally-based scientific knowledge. The practices actors employed to structure their discourse for rhetorical effectiveness are investigated. I conclude that if experiments are to retain their traditional role as arbiters of knowledge claims, the unit of analysis pertaining to "experiment" must be broadened to include not only experimental practices within the laboratory, but also the multitude of practices scientists perform outside the laboratory walls in order to increase the likelihood that their knowledge claims will be adopted by their disciplinary matrix.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.extentv, 100 leavesen
dc.format.mediumBTDen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-03142009-040600en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-03142009-040600/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/41605en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartLD5655.V855_1990.C875.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 22392046en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V855 1990.C875en
dc.subject.lcshFusion -- Controversial literatureen
dc.subject.lcshFusion -- Researchen
dc.titleExperiment as rhetoric in the cold fusion controversyen
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineScience and Technology Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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