Final answer:
The process in which research ideas compete and the strongest are selected for further development is known as selection, paralleling the biological process of natural selection in evolution. Convergent evolution is a prime example of this, where unrelated species independently develop similar adaptations due to environmental pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which research ideas compete with other ideas, and the strongest ones are selected and built upon, is referred to as selection. This concept is akin to natural selection, also known as 'survival of the fittest', where organisms with favorable traits that better allow them to adapt to environmental changes will reproduce more prolifically, leading to evolutionary change. This concept is embedded in the theory of evolution, which describes the process by which species evolve over time through the adaptation and selection of advantageous traits.
Convergent evolution is a perfect example of this process in action. It occurs when unrelated species develop similar traits independently due to adapting to similar environments or ecological niches—like the development of streamlined bodies in both aquatic mammals and fish for better swimming efficiency. The appearance of these traits is a result of the selective pressures exerted on the species by their environments.
In the realm of ideas and scientific theories, similar selection processes take place, where theories are tested, challenged, and refined over time. Theories that best withstand scrutiny and have the greatest explanatory power are 'selected' in the communal understanding of scientific truth, exemplified by concepts such as the theory of evolution.