Social Influences on Science

Scientists do not conduct their research in isolation*, they work with people, for other people and within their culture. Thus they are influenced by their team, their boss, their colleagues from different institutions, the media they read or watch and their government.

The interests and concerns of the society within which a scientist works influences both the direction of his or her scientific research and how they go about collecting the data itself.

* but there was a French caver Michel Siffre, who stayed underground in cave for more than 8 weeks as part of an psychological experiment to find out what effect this would have on his natural body rhythm! (Editor).