The inability to observe without participating

• Ericksonian Research by Tony Floda, 10/27/98
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    • (No title) by Ellen Dornelas, 11/10/98
      
      

Yes, you make some wonderful points about research and more. And, too, thanks for contributing. The benefit of research as it is conceived is that it does indeed keep us from totally foolish pursuits much of the time. This is very very important. The down-side come when the tool of research is applied to too large a range of events (you might say). That is, it is a useful tool within a limited range of events -- like all tools. We, as scientists all want to have a research tool to answers all questions that can be asked, but alas, that can't happen with the those tools suited for the traditional scientific methodology. They fail in quantum worlds like particle physics, macro-astronomy, and subtle human-systems behavior (and perhaps others). For instance, you pointed out that we could discover a "__% noted a reduction in symptoms" and that would help us all to know. But the same subjects (if serial order could be controlled) when asked about the "__% noted a reduction in symptoms" and then asked about "__% noted a reduction in comfort" would display answers that demonstrate an important flaw in the epistemology of research born from the current philosophy of science. That is, research is not merely observing. One influences and participates and does/can not simply observe a truth. So, the Ericksonian influence in one area reminds us that asking "how is your comfort today" and "how is your pain today" helps co-create the answer we get. And then (AND THEN!) the problem becomes, how do we measure the THAT. So, my larger point is that we can't in that measurement is influence and mere measurement from this world view. While it might become possible for make meaningful equivalents of what is now common research, these research paradigms either don't exist or are WIDELY unknown (and unknown to me). However, everything changes...

Thanks again for your writing. Please continue.

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