In any field of inquiry, the beginner is more likely than the expert to make important contributions.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.
Early in his career, Thomas Edison was said to have said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” This decision by Edison exemplifies a common belief held by the beginner. Beginners are often seen as having nothing to lose and everything to gain. By making mistakes, they can explore unknown territory and, as a result, may discover previously unknown solutions to complex problems. However, there is a flip side to this example. While beginners often make the best discoveries and contributions, they often lack the experience and context to make valid suggestions. This lack of knowledge may lead them to contribute ineffective ideas, thereby wasting precious time.
Beginners, by definition, are learning something new. When a beginner asks a question, they have learned something about the subject in question. For example, the beginner may wonder why the magnets in some old toys do not seem to work. The beginner may try again and discover that the magnets do work but are misused. This lesson is an invaluable one, as it opens the beginner’s mind to new possibilities. However, beginners are usually not in a position to provide solutions to complex problems. The beginner’s lack of knowledge prevents them from offering helpful advice, even if they learn something new. For example, the beginner may be so excited about discovering that magnets work that they try to make magnets work faster. This beginner’s enthusiasm may lead them to devise a scheme that squanders energy when no improvement is needed. In addition to lacking context, beginners often make choices based on personal desires and biases. When Edison was asked why he didn’t pursue his current invention, the incandescent light bulb, his response was, “I’ve already invented the light bulb, so why would I continue working on something that has already been done?” Thus, while beginners may often be the most outstanding innovators, they often lack the depth and context to make valid suggestions and, therefore, are unable to make significant contributions.
Beginners often make the most significant contributions when working alone. In school, most teachers assign group projects. Because beginners are less experienced, they may struggle while working with others, and this inexperience may prevent them from making significant contributions. In addition, beginners may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available. When working with a group, the beginner may be distracted by the opinions and preferences of others, thereby causing them to lose focus on the task at hand. The beginner’s lack of knowledge may also lead to communication problems, inhibiting the group’s progress.
If the beginner should join a research team, they may be more likely to make significant contributions. This is because the beginner becomes part of a team, which can provide much-needed support. In addition, the beginner may benefit from gaining experience by working alongside others. For example, the beginner may learn from their co-workers how to improve their skills. However, the beginner’s lack of context and knowledge may inhibit them from making valuable contributions. This lack of context may make the beginner feel uncomfortable when they realize that their contribution is inadequate. For example, the beginner may interpret constructive criticism as criticism, thereby undermining their confidence. In some cases, the beginner may completely avoid the subject altogether, thereby wasting valuable time.
The beginner’s lack of context and knowledge may also impede their contributions if they enter a professional field, such as medicine, law, engineering, or academia. In their eagerness to make significant contributions, many beginners enter these fields, only to realize they lack the necessary experience. For example, the beginner may decide to work in the field of medicine. However, they discover that this is a highly specialized field that requires years of school and training. As a result, the beginner may give up their dream of making a difference in medicine. When the beginner enters a field that requires years of training, they may find that they cannot make significant contributions. For example, the beginner may be too intimidated by the experts in the field to contribute in a meaningful way.
Even when beginners work in a supportive environment, they may find it challenging to make significant contributions. For example, the beginner may decide to become a teacher. However, they discover that the classroom is a fast-paced environment. The beginner may find that to keep the students’ attention; they must constantly be in motion. As a result, the beginner may spend all day planning lessons instead of teaching. The beginner may find that they cannot escape the fast-paced environment, thereby hindering their ability to make significant contributions.
The ability to make substantial contributions is influenced by several factors, including the type and complexity of the problem. For example, the beginner will have more incredible difficulty making significant contributions in fields with many variables, such as biology or chemistry. If the beginner enters an area with fewer variables, they may have more success. For example, the beginner may decide to enter the field of physics. Because the physics equations are relatively simple, the beginner may find it easier to make significant contributions. In addition, the beginner will find that there are fewer variables, which will help them focus on the problem at hand. If the beginner enters a field that requires them to make significant contributions in a short amount of time, they will have difficulty making substantial contributions. For example, the beginner may decide to pursue a career in medicine. Because their initial training is lengthy, the beginner will find that they cannot make significant contributions until they complete the training. Unfortunately, beginners often make substantial contributions in fields where they lack the necessary experience. However, the beginner’s lack of context is usually an asset.