Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 13:29:42 +1000
From: Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan-AT-qut.edu.au>
Subject: Re: BHA: research methods- CR


Bwanika,

This is very interesting and may I say extremely useful. The methodology 
question is the bane of all researchers in the humanities, and it would be 
great if we could make a contribution here.

I am currently locked in something of a guerrilla war around the relevance 
of DCR for post graduate research. The inaccessibility of Bhaskar's 
work  has been used as a reason for not exposing students to CR methodologies.

In my own field I have attacked the established documentary theorists for 
not utilising Bhaskar's work on truth and objectivity. For me the starting 
point is the argument for a depth reality using Collier's metaphor of 
digging for the truth rather thank picking up surface facts etc as in 
empiricism or inventing the truth as in pomo discourse

I am also currently working on hermeneutics for my conference paper.  Part 
of that is trying to work out the original model of Hermeneutics 
(Schleiermacher/Dilthey), the Heidegger's changes to this and finally an 
account of what a Critical Realist version of hermeneutics would be like 
using Bhaskar's critique of Winch in PON. The final outcome of all this 
torturous thought is supposed to be applied to a number of texts. Oh Joy!

regards

Gary




At 02:29  12/06/00 +0200, you wrote:
>Dear Listers
>
>Critical realism should be developing officially a small and accessible
>methodology in social science research. Such methodology should replace or
>augment the hermeneutic cycle and enhance present narrow research methods
>in both qualitative and quantative methods.
>
>The methodology should include at least three stages: -
>
>1. Intransitive / Transitive dimensions as the basic explanation of the
>object of study.
>
>2. In both social and physical sciences a researcher should apply the
>SOCIAL CUBE and subsisting illustration of the 'Nexus of antagonistic
>ideology' as an epistemological back up (where neccessary).
>
>3. Establishing the object of study as an event, actual or real, emergent
>causal and show its generative mechanisms. Etc
>
>Such methods could help students/ researcher /teachers in both social/
>physical sciences to get a quicker assess to CR and enhance their
>familiarity with D (CR).
>
>
>Bwanika.
>
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>__________________
>
>Bwanika
>
>Uganda  Home Pages Ltd.
>
>url: http://www.uganda.co.ug
>tel:     +256 (0) 41 235  910
>e-mail   uhpl-AT-starcom.co.ug
>              Bwanika-AT-nero.oru.se
>
>
>
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