Taxonomy of serendipity
| What type of solution did the discovery lead to? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Is there a targeted line of enquiry? | Yes: Searching with a defined problem in mind | A solution for the given problem | Solution for a different problem |
| Mertonian serendipity | Walpolian serendipity | ||
| No: Searching with no particular problem in mind | A solution for a pre-existing problem | A solution waiting for a problem | |
| Bushian serendipity | Stephanian serendipity | ||
| What type of solution did the discovery lead to? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Is there a targeted line of enquiry? | Yes: | A solution for the given problem | Solution for a different problem |
| No: | A solution for a pre-existing problem | A solution waiting for a problem | |
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