Looking for Ideas

I think that Saxe may systematically scan publications focusing on her area of cognitive study; specifically the Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience journal from Oxford University. I think that Saxe would be especially partial to this journal since she attended Oxford herself. Another example is Social Neuroscience from Psychology Press. Through my research I discovered that much like the History discipline, Neuroscience also publishes compendiums of selected readings that have contributed to the field. The website for Social Neuroscience offers a list of suggested reading- the first suggestion being Social Neuroscience: Key Readings edited by John T. Cacioppo and Gary G. Berntson. (http://www.psypress.com/socialneuroscience/books.asp )


Earlier this week I mentioned that Saxe may reference common magazines for observations of children, but as my research of her area of expertise grows I have realized that her research has encompassed far more than the Popular Science brief mentioned. It seems that research in the field of Social Cognitive Neuroscience has been ongoing for quite some time (as compared to something like nanotechnology I’m sure) so Saxe has a plethora of information to examine, but it would be interesting to know- with the aid of a well –educated scientist- how much of the older research has been disproved.

You found that information where???

I find it hard to believe that a scientist of Saxe's level would serendipitously scan for ideas, but isn't it the way that the best ideas come at the strangest times. Think of the eureka moment that occurs in the shower or in the middle of the night. I would think that Saxe, the the perusal of published material, may come across something that would spark an epiphany, but I doubt that she goes in search of new ideas by reading the work of others.

The journals in which her own work is published such as Annual Review of Psychology, Psychological Science, and Brain Research would offer the most fitting articles for comparison to her own work, but it could be argued that common magazines such as Parents would offer insight into her study of infants. The observations of parents of infants on a daily basis offer valuable insight into the behaviors of their children in familiar environments. Although Saxe does maintain the play lab, I can't help but think that children would behave differently at home as they would from the lab. Only with regular visits to the lab would the infants become familiar with the atmosphere. I'll admit that I'm not a scientist, but am drawing these conclusions based on my experience with my own extended family. Much like an infant will cry when held by someone who is a stranger to them, I'm struggling to accept that the children in Saxe's study are completely at ease in the play lab and that is why I would consider common parenting magazines appropriate resources for Saxe in her research.