Hi Terry,
On 21/05/2007, at 3:39 PM, Terence Love wrote:
> I was asking about what the details
> of these underlying processes are and how they function to result in
> 'clarity'. What you have told me is superficial and I'm trying to
> identify
> the underlying processes. You say there is empirical confirmation
> of the
> effectiveness of your methods and techniques. Empirical validation
> provides
> association between methods and outcomes but does not necessarily say
> anything about causal explanations or underlying entities on which
> these
> mid-level theories and methods depend. My question was asking for more
> detail about the underlying concepts, assumptions and processes and
> the
> detail of the causal relations that allow deduction of the methods and
> techniques you describe.
I think we are interested in quite different things and I don't think
I can help you in your quest for 'causal explanations or underlying
entities'. I think we are working within wholly incommensurate frames
of reference.
I happily confess, from your point of view I probably work at an
entirely superficial level. Never looked under the bonnet, but the
pedals seem to keep working! I am beyond redemption.
From my point of view lifting the bonnet would not help. There is
nothing under the bonnet that would be useful to me in trying to
solve the problems I'm face with.
To use a complexity theory analogy. Some things occur on the surface
and the none predictable outcomes from them are emergent properties
that are generated by those surface phenomena. Knowing the antecedent
or staring conditions doesn't help determine the outcomes.
My frame of reference is action: what I do, what other people do, and
what we might do jointly, like have a conversation.
Your frame seems to be concerned with trying to find out causes: what
causes me or somebody else to behave in a particular way. Good luck,
not my department.
David
--
blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog
web: http://www.communication.org.au
Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA
CEO • Communication Research Institute •
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