Hej Marianne
Thank you for your reply. I apologise for being imprecise and my English.
In my master I am examining: How knowledge is produced/ developed within
the RCT using the Breech Term Trial as an example.
RCT is considered the golden standard (the scientific process) when a
question concerning treatments effect is asked. Latour suggest that to
understand the scientific process, you should not only look to the "ready
made science" (here the article on the term breech trial) but also to the
scientific practice- science in action - How can you describe the
(scientific) practice in the Term Breech Trial? An example: In the article
you can read that there should be a trained clinician attending the birth.
How was a trained clinician defined? The study states that it is "someone
who consider himself/herself as experienced and this is confirmed with the
head of the department"....now....... How has this been done in practice in
real live situations? In a hospital in Denmark they did it this very
pragmatic way. The argument was this: In our hospital women are having baby
born in the breech position, this births are attended by the "bagvagt" (I
do not know the word in English, but it is the doctor who is in charge) ".
We therefore define all the doctors who are a "bagvagt" to be considered a
trained clinician in this study. So all "bagvagt" can conduct labours in
the TBT study. I am looking for examples as the last one - because such an
example gives insight into the scientific process in practice. The term
"trained clinician" can be understood as a blackbox,,,,it has no meaning
before you get into it, and understand how this labelling was in practise
..........opening black boxes often show that science is also practical
work/ it can open for controversies/and it can show that (clinical)
judgment is also a part of science
I hope this made it clearer?
Sincerly
Jette
Marianne Mead <[log in to unmask]> on 23-09-2002 15:24:58
Please respond to "A forum for discussion on midwifery and reproductive
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cc: (bcc: Jette Aaroe Clausen/JMD/CVUOERE/MVU)
Subject: Re: the term breech trial and production of knowledge
Hi Jette,
I have read your message. I was not involved in the trial, but even if I
had been I am not sure of the question you are asking. Could you be a
little more precise? Are you trying to examine how knowledge is developed
or are you trying to examine the possible similarities or contradictions
between RCT and Latour's position. I have to admit to not understanding
the black boxes and cybernetics in the context of a breech trial. If you
could explain, we might be more able to help you.
Marianne Mead
____________________________________________________________
Dr Marianne Mead
Principal Lecturer and Research Leader
Department of Midwifery and Child
University of Hertfordshire
Tel 01707 285286
Fax 01707 285299
____________________________________________________________
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