Final Entry - Advice to emerging scientists

First off, I should hope that anyone wanting to get into the same field as Rebecca Saxe would already be a successful student of the sciences! Saxe’s work covered such an array of disciplines that I was able to explore resources that would be beneficial for a variety of emerging scientists.
To find ideas that could spark the composition of new theories I would suggest participating in a network at a workplace or university such as MIT’s http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/index.html which is also their source for campus news. Popular national and international networks such as Twitter could also serve as an uncanny place for the exchange of ideas.
Explore facets of your theory through general reference books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, and textbooks.

Secondly, books on the specific topic would give the researcher an idea of where other scientists have taken their related theories. If your theory is unique- like Saxe’s- you may have to study a variety of disciplines to understand all of the approaches and intertwining subjects.

Seeking guidance from colleagues and teachers is another way to refine a theory. Speaking with other people familiar with the areas of science you wish to explore will often offer references to popular and little known publications in the field. I know from experience in the History Department at IUP, the professors are always suggesting articles for their colleagues to check out leading to discussions, debates, and further research.

After reading current literature that deals with your proposed theory you may study the historiography of the debate by searching journals, either in print or online for the evolution of the debate. ISI Web of Science would be beneficial in determining which articles have garnered the most attention. Again, if the proposed theory was as far reaching across the disciplines as Saxe’s, numerous publications would have to be explored.

In studying Saxe’s information seeking habits, it is clear that she’ll use whatever information she can find that is conducive to her purposes. The information could come from a well-known, reputable source, or a lesser known, but groundbreaking source or even a source completely out of her normal area of study such as a popular magazine like Parents. Researchers should be prepared to always keep an eye out for new material and be open to nontraditional means of communication- open access, networking- as well as traditional printed materials.

Isolated Disciplines...

As I was hoping, I have a great friend who dug into his science knowledge for me-- throughout his experience in medical school / residency he's run into only a few isolated disciplines-Geology / Geosciences, Astronomy, and he's thinking a few of the social sciences, but has minimal experience with those. In his words, "Everybody has biology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry."

In applying this information to Saxe's areas of expertise, she obviously is not involved in the Geosciences or Astronomy, but she definitely is involved in the social sciences. As for disciplines within the social sciences, I would argue that Psychology and Sociology are the most directly related.

Saxe's study of the development of infants is quite unique from what I can tell from her publications and the attention the press has given her. Perhaps her study could be considered a field studied in isolation merely for its uniqueness.