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Editorial
Scientific temper - Nature or nurture
Sridevi Padmanabhan
“Scientific temper” is an intriguing term first used by Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946.[1] While this phrase might seem
like an exclusive prerequisite of the ivory towered scientists,
Jawaharlal N later explained it as “a scientific approach, the
adventurous and yet critical temper of science, the search for
truth and new knowledge, the refusal to accept anything without
testing and trial, the capacity to change previous conclusions
in the face of new evidence, the reliance on observed fact and
not on preconceived theory, the hard discipline of the mind –
all this is necessary, not merely for the application of science
but for life itself and the solution of its many problems.”[2]
Scientific temper is a way of life, an attitude that involves
the application of logic. So do we all possess the “Scientific
temper?” Certainly!… for the human mind is naturally
inquisitive and blessed with the spirit of inquiry, logic and
reasoning. All the more when one is a professional in a highly
sought after field with intensive training. However, as creatures
of habit do we find it more comfortable to fall into complacent,
established patterns of behavior in life and thereby also the
way we practice our craft?
“It works well in my hands” or “this is the way we have always
done it” are popular refrains that might reflect a reluctance to
move out of our comfort zones. This might apply to methods
employed in clinical practice and percolates down to systems
used in teaching and even evaluation.
This is the age of evidence-based health care and with increased
accountability placed on health care providers, never has it
been more important to keep the “scientific temper” alive.
While knowledge transfer is vast due to the technology boom,
a lesser known phrase “knowledge translation” or “KT” has
often been used in recent times and reflects an underlying
Access this article online
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DOI:
10.4103/0301-5742.158625
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Prof. and Head
Department of Orthodontics, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Address for correspondence: Dr. Sridevi Padmanabhan, Department of Orthodontics, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
E-mail: sridevipadu@gmail.com
Received: 02‑05‑2015, Accepted: 02‑05‑2015
Journal of Indian Orthodontic Society | Vol 49 | Issue 1 | Jan-Mar 2015 1
concern.[3] The underutilization of evidence in patient care.[4]
It is an umbrella term which refers to a spectrum of activities
which would move the research from the laboratory, the
research journal and academic conference into the hands of
people and organizations who would put it to practical use.
It has been described as a dynamic and iterative process that
includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange and ethically
sound application of knowledge to provide more effective
health care.[5]
In this milieu of “publish or perish” where research and
publishing becomes a compulsion, one often forgets that the
primary purpose of research is to enhance the quality of patient
care. To quote Albert Einstein “We can’t solve problems using
the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
The execution of the scientific method is not flawless for we
know that except in exact sciences, it is impossible to verify
a hypothesis, we merely fail to refute it. Over time, research
has progressed from a state of mellow inquiry that was
probably well-served with inspiration and inherent common
sense. Research today has become a regimental process with
a structured protocol that is applied right from conception to
the dissemination of findings. It requires constant learning and
quite often “unlearning.” Another pitfall is that researchers
being human are not without bias and predisposition toward
their research. This is where the scientific temper becomes
crucial for both researcher and peer reviewer with vital
elements of objectivity, healthy skepticism, rationality and
additional qualities of fairness and democracy.
Other key players in the “KT” cycle are the target audience
and beneficiaries of this research - clinicians, policy makers
and patients. The orthodontic community has always been
sensitive to the need for bridging the gap between research and
clinical practice.[6] The “evidence iceberg,” an extension of the
evidence pyramid used in medicine is a guide to the discerning
end user and represents the hierarchy of investigations and their
clinical applications in orthodontics.[7] Systematic reviews and
randomized clinical trials are at the top of the iceberg. Ideas,
expert opinions and editorials are right at the bottom.
For those of you still reading this, allow me to express my
gratitude to all esteemed members of the Indian Orthodontic
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Padmanabhan: Scientific temper

Society for giving me an opportunity to be a minute cog in a
small wheel of the “KT” machine. I also thank Dr. Gurkeerat
Singh and his team for their contributions to this issue of the
JIOS.
I thank in advance authors, editors, reviewers and readers
for their thoughtful contributions. I hope their incisive and
evocative inputs will help keep us all in good scientific temper.
References
1. Mahanti S. A perspective of scientific temper in India. J Sci Temper
2013;1:46-62.
2. Jawaharlal N. The Discovery of India. (Centenary Edition). Oxford:
University Press; 1989. p. 513.
3. Johnson LS. From knowledge transfer to knowledge translation:
Applying research to practice. Occup Ther Now 2005:11-4.
4. Grimshaw JM, Eccles MP, Lavis JN, Hill SJ, Squires JE. Knowledge
translation of research findings. Implement Sci 2012;7:50.
5. Government of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research about
Knowledge Translation. Available from: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
[Last Retrieved on 2015 Apr].
6. Angelieri F. Evidence-based orthodontics: Has it something to do with
your patient? Dental Press J Orthod 2013;18:11-3.
7. Voudouris JC. An evidence iceberg. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop
2014;145:127-8.
How to cite this article: Padmanabhan S. Scientific temper - Nature or
nurture. J Indian Orthod Soc 2015;49:1-2.
Source of Support: Nil. Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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