copyright, 1995-2002 1 invitation to research alternatives to science roger clarke, xamax...
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Copyright,1995-2002
1
Invitation to Research
ALTERNATIVES TO SCIENCE
Roger Clarke, Xamax Consultancy, CanberraVisiting Professor, CSIS, Uni of Hong Kong
Visiting Fellow, Australian National University
http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/......Res /30-AltAppr.ppt
ebs, 16-20 January 2003
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The Baseline
Alternative Approaches
• Conventional Scientific Research
• ‘Contemplative’ Research• ‘Interpretivist’ Research• ‘Critical Theory’-Informed Research• ‘Engineering’ Research
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Contemplative Research
• ‘Idealistic’, i.e. if concerned with the Real World at all, then at best indirectly
• Focussed on new ideas, or on interpretationof old ideas or information in new ways
• Non-empirical, in the senses of:• not being directly based on real-world
data• not being tested against the real world
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Conventional Scientific Research
Meta-Physical Assumptions
• There is a Real World• The phenomena in that Real World are stable• Data gathered by observing the Real World are
factual, truthful and unambiguous• The domain of study is not affected by either
the research, or the researcher• The language in which Theory is expressed is
unambiguous, and contains no value judgements
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Interpretivist ResearchMeta-Physical Assumptions
• The Observer's Perspective is a Factor:• in the selection and formulation of
Theory• in the formulation of Hypotheses• in choices made in the Research Design
process• in the selectiveness of observation • in the process of observation
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Conventional Scientific Research
Data Assumptions
• Data must be Objective• Objective means relatively proximate to Truth• Subjective means relatively distant from
Truth• The notion of Objectivity presumes:
• the existence of Truth• its accessibility by humans
• Objective Data is Quantified Data,i.e. expressed in terms that place it on a scale
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Interpretivist ResearchData Assumptions
• Objectivity, in the sense in which it is used in Scientific Research, is meaningless, because:
• it presumes the existence of a unitary Truth• it presumes that Truth to be accessible by humans• it overlooks the fact that entities within the domain
think they can exercise free will• An Alternative Interpretation:
• Try to identify Researcher Biases• Try to avoid or allow for Researcher Biases• Enable evaluators to assess Researcher Biasses
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‘Critical Theory’-Informed Research
• A More Extreme Reaction against Positivism• Examines Phenomena within Context,
rather than artificially isolating them• Study of Social Life with the intentions of:
• demystifying technological imperatives• challenging managerial rationalism• revealing hidden agendas, the exercise
of power, and manipulation• Attempts Disciplined Reflection
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‘Engineering’ Research
• Make ArtefactsTo enable effective interventions to be undertaken in a particular domain
• Break ArtefactsTo identify the limits of their applicability, effectiveness or usefulness