Just to be clear(er). The original complimentery e about the ACP issue commented on not liking abstruse/techno papers and questioned whether, if people wanted to be understood, they should write this way. BUT I have edited two journals for 20+ years. One, JCPCP, is often marked by its ease of understanding. My own criterion is "Could my mum, who left school at 14, understand this?" I have done my best to write this way. The other, Clinical Psychology Forum, is marked by numerous papers using far too many words and references - to say nothing at all. But the motivation is NOT to communicate.The motivation is to add a reference to a CV, show off, impress one's supervisor etc etc. This same has always been true at BPS conferences where speakers, often psychologists, use impenetrable statistics or tiny overheads to illustrate a talk that lasts 15 minutes. Their motivation? A freebie at a conference, showing off, copying a supervisor, money, adding to the CV. These are perfectly valid motivations but don't generally come under the heading "comprehensibility of communication." What is being communicated is "I'm right, I proved it with statistics." As the family therapists would have it, "All communication has two elements - command and content." Too often, psychology is all command, no content.
Craig
----- Original Message -----
From: Gopfert, Michael
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 7:21 AM
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] ACP new issue
No, Craig. Unlike you I am not yet retired and need some of the input from such lists to sustain my responsible professional practice. Amusement helps and is essential but not of the essence. Sorry to be so gallingly serious and humourless.
Michael.
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Craig Newnes
Sent: 16 June 2008 22:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ACP new issue
Or are we just writing for each other's amusement?
Yes
Craig
----- Original Message -----
From: Valeska Matziol
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 7:37 PM
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] ACP new issue
And what exactly is that comment meant to achieve?!
From following the discussions (or indeed lack thereof) for the last year I find it striking that every positive comment on this list seems to be automatically criticised and put down (and funnily enough always by the same handful of people). And here's silly little me thinking that community psychology is about being inclusive and supportive, valueing diversity, etc.... Maybe this list could do with a bit more of that?
And just ot be clear: That doesn't mean that I'm advocating uncritical thinking, just that I don't like the general tone of interaction.
With regards to the issue of accessible writing, I'm firmly with Dawn on the matter as I, too, don't quite understand why so many academics need to hide their often quite simple arguments in masses of jargon and generally inaccessible vocabulary. After all, the (supposed) 'knowledge' or 'insight' being disseminated should be acessible to the general public, shouldn't it?! Or are we just writing for each other's amusement?
Anyway... I await your inevitable criticisms with eager anticipation :)
--- Craig Newnes <[log in to unmask]> schrieb am Mo, 16.6.2008:
Von: Craig Newnes <[log in to unmask]>
Betreff: Re: ACP new issue
An: [log in to unmask]
Datum: Montag, 16. Juni 2008, 12:01
one of our pet peaves is the arrogant tone of some journals that make it so hard to understand exactly what is being said!!!!
Don't know why this irritates you - all that's being said is "I'm right" At least that's clear. It's why the Daily Telegraph is so easy to read.
Craig
----- Original Message -----
From: Dawn Darlaston-Jones
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 4:43 AM
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] ACP new issue
Dear Jacqui
Thank you for such a lovely e-mail. I’m really pleased to hear that you find the journal accessible – one of our pet peaves is the arrogant tone of some journals that make it so hard to understand exactly what is being said!!!!
We would welcome a submission from you – what areas do you work in?
Dawn
____________________________________________
Dawn Darlaston-Jones, PhD
Lecturer, Behavioural Science
School of Arts & Sciences
University of Notre Dame
19 Mouat Street ( PO Box 1225 )
FREMANTLE
Western Australia WA 6160
Tel: +61 8 9433 0567
Fax: +61 8 9433 6073
e-mail [log in to unmask]
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IMPORTANT: This e-mail and any attachments may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient you should not disclose, copy, disseminate or otherwise use the information contained in it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete or destroy the document. Confidential and legal privilege are not waived or lost by reason of mistaken delivery to you. The University of Notre Dame Australia is not responsible for any changes made to a document other than those made by the University. Before opening or using attachments please check them for viruses and defects. Our liability is limited to re-supplying any affected attachments.
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From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of jacqui lovell
Sent: 15 June 2008 19:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] ACP new issue
Thank you for this Dawn,
I have found a number of articles in both the new and back issues, both interesting, thought provoking and informative and in some cases they have reflected back to me issues that I have experienced especially the article by Guerin and Guerin re methodological issues with refugee communities, it has been enlightening to learn that others have similar concerns and experiences to my own!
I may even be brave enough to submit for publication myself in this journal in the near future, as the language order is one that can be readily understood and all the articles I have read to date appear grounded in people's experiences with a level of honest self reflection that I both aspire to and admire in others.
Thanks again
Jacqui
----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:38:27 +0800
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: ACP new issue
To: [log in to unmask]
Dear Colleagues
The latest issue of Australian Community Psychologist has now been published on-line
see http://www.groups.psychology.org.au/GroupContent.aspx?ID=883#vol20-1-08.
This is a special issue on place based practice and contains some interesting reading from a specific programme in Victoria but also has examples from the US & UK
As always I would like to extend my thanks to our production editor Ms Anne Sibbel who spends several weeks formatting the papers and making it print ready. I also would like to thank the team of associate editors (Anne Sibbel, Lauren breen and Sharon McCarthy) as well as the special guest editor for this issue Colleen Turner
Happy reading
Dawn
____________________________________________
Dawn Darlaston-Jones, PhD
Lecturer, Behavioural Science
School of Arts & Sciences
University of Notre Dame
19 Mouat Street (PO Box 1225)
FREMANTLE
Western Australia WA 6160
Tel: +61 8 9433 0567
Fax: +61 8 9433 6073
e-mail [log in to unmask]
CRICOS Code 01032F
IMPORTANT: This e-mail and any attachments may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient you should not disclose, copy, disseminate or otherwise use the information contained in it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete or destroy the document. Confidential and legal privilege are not waived or lost by reason of mistaken delivery to you. The University of Notre Dame Australia is not responsible for any changes made to a document other than those made by the University. Before opening or using attachments please check them for viruses and defects. Our liability is limited to re-supplying any affected attachments.
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