Explanation Reconstruction through Reinterpretation of Key Facts

Reconstructing explanations is crucial for the progress of science. We focused on the transition of interest in a key fact that contradicts the preceding explanation and has a central role in its reconstruction. We used a short story as an experimental material in which the participants first constructed a naı̈ve explanation and reconstructed it. First, when the naı̈ve explanation was rejected, a new explanation was required, after interest in the key fact was inhibited. Second, hypothesized premises not inconsistent with the naı̈ve explanation were sought to protect the naı̈ve explanation. Third, interest in the key fact was recovered through the process of the explanation reconstruction. Last, we facilitated the explanation reconstruction by having the participants focus on the key fact.