"There is Nothing so Theoretical as a Good Method" Anthony G. Greenwald Department of Psychology Citation of article for which this is a supplement: University of Washington Greenwald, A. G. (2012). There is nothing so theoretical as a good Direct questions to: [email protected] method. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7 , 99–108. Analysis details are on the following sheets Numbers of Nobel Prize Awards Given for Theory versus Method, 1991-2011 Physiology Medicine Chemistry Physics Total theory 2 4 8 14 9% 15% 29% 18% method 21 22 20 63 91% 85% 71% 82% 1. In each discipline, the explanation of there being more than 21 total awards for the 21 years is the occasional practice of dividing Nobel Prizes between two distinct contributions. 2. For the Physiology-Medicine awards it is sometimes difficult to judge method versus theory from the press releases (two were classified as jointly for method and theory, counting 0.5 toward each. 3. For awards categorized as being for method, a large majority (71%) were classified as having been given for methods that were newly created by the awardee(s). The remaining 29% used existing methods, which often included methods for which the creators had previously received Nobel awards. Of the method awards that were judged to have relied on already-existing methods, 3 (16%) were in Physics, 4 (22%) were in Chemistry, and 11.33 (62%) were in Physiology-Medicine (one of three co-recipients of the 2000 award relied on existing methods). NOBEL PRIZES FOR PHYSICS 1991-2011 Type of URL for Nobel For method-coded contributions, Laureate Year Contribution Citation Contribu- Supporting Material from Press Release Foundation press indications that method was new vs. Name tion release old or new use of old method "for discovering that methods developed for "has described mathematically how e.g. magnetic studying order phenomena dipoles, long molecules or molecule chains can under http://nobelprize.org/no Pierre-Gilles in simple systems can be 1991 theory certain conditions form ordered states, and what bel_prizes/physics/laure de Gennes generalized to more happens when they pass from an ordered to a ates/1991/press.html complex forms of matter, in disordered state." particular to liquid crystals and polymers" "for his invention and method "due to his work particle physicists have been able to development of particle http://www.nobel.se/phy "for his invention and development Georges (which focus their interest on very rare particle interactions, 1992 detectors, in particular the sics/laureates/1992/pre of particle detectors, in particular the Charpak stimulated which often reveal the secrets of the inner parts of multiwire proportional ss.html multiwire proportional chamber" theory) matter" chamber" "for the discovery of a Russell A. method "revolutionary "space laboratory" has been obtained new type of pulsar, a http://www.nobel.se/phy "discovery": new use of an existing Hulse & (which for testing Einstein's general theory of relativity and 1993 discovery that has opened sics/laureates/1993/pre method (clear method-theory Joseph H. stimulated alternative theories of gravity. So far, Einstein's up new possibilities for the ss.html synergy_ Taylor, Jr theory) theory has passed the tests with flying colours." study of gravitation" "the technique … is contributing actively to the method elucidation of the forces that bind atoms to one http://www.nobel.se/phy Bertram N. "for the development of (which for the development of neutron 1994 another in solid bodies and that determine, for sics/laureates/1994/pre Brockhouse neutron spectroscopy" stimulated spectroscopy instance, the transition from the solid state to the fluid ss.html theory) state" "for the development of http://www.nobel.se/phy Clifford G. "He has shown how neutrons may be used to "for the development of the neutron 1994 the neutron diffraction method sics/laureates/1994/pre Shull determine the atomic structure of a material" diffraction technique" technique" ss.html contributions to the development of method http://www.nobel.se/phy neutron scattering techniques for "for the discovery of the (which "discovery of the tau was the first sign that a third 1995 Martin L. Perl sics/laureates/1995/pre studies of condensed matter tau lepton" stimulated "family" of fundamental building blocks existed" ss.html for the development of neutron theory) spectroscopy http://www.nobel.se/phy Frederick "for the detection of the "a pioneering contribution that opened the doors to 1995 method sics/laureates/1995/pre discovery: use of existing method Reines neutrino" the region of "impossible" neutrino experiments" ss.html David M. Lee, "The discovery heralded the start of intensive method Douglas D. research on the new quantum liquid. A particularly http://www.nobel.se/phy The researchers at Cornell University "for their discovery of (which 1996 Osheroff, & important contribution was made by the theoretician sics/laureates/1996/pre were low-temperature specialists and superfluidity in helium-3" stimulated Robert C. Anthony Leggett, who assisted in the interpretation of ss.html had built their apparatus themselves. theory) Richardson the discovery." NOBEL PRIZES FOR PHYSICS 1991-2011 Type of URL for Nobel For method-coded contributions, Laureate Year Contribution Citation Contribu- Supporting Material from Press Release Foundation press indications that method was new vs. Name tion release old or new use of old method Steven Chu, Claude " … have developed methods of using laser light to "for development of http://www.nobel.se/phy Cohen- cool gases to the µK temperature range and keeping "for development of methods to cool 1997 methods to cool and trap method sics/laureates/1997/pre Tannoudji, & the chilled atoms floating or captured in different and trap atoms with laser light." atoms with laser light." ss.html William D. kinds of 'atom traps'." Phillips Robert B. "In their refined experimental studies "for their discovery of a method Störmer and Tsui "made the discovery in 1982 in an Laughlin, http://www.nobel.se/phy of the quantum Hall effect, using new form of quantum (which experiment using extremely powerful magnetic fields 1998 Horst L. sics/laureates/1998/pre among other things lower fluid with fractionally stimulated and low temperatures. Within a year of the discovery Störmer, & ss.html temperatures and more powerful charged excitations." theory) … Laughlin had succeeded in explaining their result." Daniel C. Tsui magnetic fields," Gerardus 't "for elucidating the "...having placed particle physics theory on a http://www.nobel.se/phy Hooft & quantum structure of firmer mathematical foundation. Experiments at 1999 theory sics/laureates/1999/pre Martinus J. G. electroweak interactions in accelerator laboratories … have recently confirmed ss.html Veltman physics" many of the calculated results." "for developing " … have invented and developed Zhores I. " … have invented and developed fast opto- and semiconductor http://www.nobel.se/phy fast opto- and microelectronic Alferov & microelectronic components based on layered 2000 heterostructures used in method sics/laureates/2000/pre components based on layered Herbert semiconductor structures, termed semiconductor high-speed- and opto- ss.html semiconductor structures, termed Kroemer heterostructures" electronics" semiconductor heterostructures" "for his part in the http://www.nobel.se/phy " ...invention and development of the integrated " ...invention and development of the 2000 Jack S. Kilby invention of the method sics/laureates/2000/pre circuit, the chip" integrated circuit, the chip" integrated circuit" ss.html "for the achievement of Eric A. Bose-Einstein "for the achievement of Bose- Cornell, condensation in dilute " ... have caused atoms to "sing in unison" – thus http://www.nobel.se/phy Einstein condensation in dilute Wolfgang 2001 gases of alkali atoms, and method discovering a new state of matter, the Bose- sics/laureates/2001/pre gases of alkali atoms, and for early Ketterle, & for early fundamental Einstein condensate (BEC)" ss.html fundamental studies of the Carl E. studies of the properties of Wieman properties of the condensates" the condensates" " ... constructed a completely new " ... constructed a completely new detector, a detector, a gigantic tank filled with "for pioneering Raymond gigantic tank filled with 600 tonnes of fluid, which 600 tonnes of fluid, which was contributions to http://www.nobel.se/phy Davis Jr. & was placed in a mine. ... The work of Davis and placed in a mine. ... The work of 2002 astrophysics, in particular method sics/laureates/2002/pre Masatoshi Koshiba has led to unexpected discoveries and a Davis and Koshiba has led to for the detection of ss.html Koshiba new, intensive field of research, neutrino- cosmic neutrinos" unexpected discoveries and a new, astronomy." intensive field of research, neutrino- astronomy." NOBEL PRIZES FOR PHYSICS 1991-2011 Type of URL for Nobel For method-coded contributions, Laureate Year Contribution Citation Contribu- Supporting Material from Press Release Foundation press indications that method was new vs. Name tion release old or new use of old method In order to investigate cosmic X-ray "for pioneering In order to investigate cosmic X-ray radiation, ... it is radiation, ... it is necessary to place contributions to necessary to place instruments in space. Riccardo http://www.nobel.se/phy Riccardo instruments in space. Riccardo 2002 astrophysics, which have method Giacconi has constructed such instruments. ... His sics/laureates/2002/pre