Concezioni di scienza. La dimensione cognitiva dell'impresa scientifica

The article analyses assumptions relating to features, tasks and meanings of scientific activity which influence the scientist's work. It is first suggested a tridimensional model as a possible mean for the analysis of the social construction of scientific knowledge; secondly, it is emphasized the role of scientist's ideas about science in this process of construction. Results of research recently carried out give the possibility of studying the content and the inner structure of the Italian physicists', biologists' and economists' ideas about science.