Physicists' conceptions about the nature of theoretical physics

Abstract

Scientists' conceptions of their discipline give interesting insights in authentic scientific practice. The existing studies about scientists' view of nature of science are rare. Schwartz & Ledermann (2008) were not able to identify clear differences between the conceptions from scientists from several disciplines. Only the ones from theoretical physicists differ from the ones from other scientists. The aim of the current study is the reconstruction of conceptions from researchers in the field of physics about the nature of physics. Here the comparison between experimentally and theoretically working physicists is particularly interesting.