Core Research Principles

Exposition

The Research Methods are each based in a fundamental process that is taken to be intrinsically valid and essential for justifying the value of findings. The diagram at right uses an imperative formulation for each.

Notice of Error:  The methods assigned to L'2 and L'6 in the original Systems Research publications have been exchanged.

Schema of Characteristics

Primacy: Research methods reveal their origin in the significance (primacy) given to the corresponding level in the Primary Hierarchy of Inquiry (PH2). (Recently developed verbs are included.)

Activity: The inquiry process is characterized by a particular activity that is repeated in study after study to develop a body of knowledge.

Focus: An essential psychosocial object intrinsic to the activity.

Rationale: The goal of the research principle.

Means: The process guiding the activity.

Generalization: The scientific output of the research principle.

Assessment: The question that the researcher wants to answer and expects colleagues to ask.

Philosophical Position: The great division and perennial debate amongst philosophers in regard to grasping reality is idealism v realism. This oscillating duality is explained and explored further here.

► Jump to the page-end for a matrix summary aiding comparison.

L'1: Accumulate Facts

Primacy: PH2-L1 Collect Data

Activity: Obtaining, organising and correlating ever more data.

Focus: Facts extracted from data which are regarded as valid and reliable.

Rationale: To remain fully grounded in tangible reality.

Means: Induction.

Generalization: Associations—ideally, a regularity that is a law.

Assessment: Is the association/law verified?
i.e. have others repeated the data collection and confirmed the findings?

Philosophical Position: Realist.

L'2: Ratiocinate Systematically

Primacy: PH2-L2 Define Concepts

Activity: Arguing on the basis of defined concepts and using available evidence. The result is a sustained systematic flow of consistent coherent reasoning.

Focus: Common important ideas or findings that require clarification and organisation.

Rationale: To offer a logical, consistent and coherent framework for thinking that removes confusions.

Means: Conventional rules of rational discourse and persuasion.

Generalization: Conclusions.

Assessment: Is the conclusion reasonable? i.e. would another person assent to its validity based on the concepts used and the flow of argument?

Philosophical Position: Idealist.

L'3: Test Hypotheses

Primacy: PH2-L3 Arrange Comparisons

Activity: Comparing a variety of alternative hypothesized possibilities.

Focus: Conjecturing different explanations for a particular set of data or an accepted regularity.

Rationale: To establish causal relations.

Means: Indicators and controls.

Generalization: Theories.

Assessment: Is the theory falsifiable? i.e. can a further alternative hypothesis be developed that might explain the phenomena in a better or more precise way?

Philosophical Position: Realist.

L'4: Address Polarization

Primacy: PH2-L4 Agree Measurements

Activity: Articulating opposing, often paradoxical, valued perspectives to foster their reconciliation.

Focus: Opposites may be findings, positions, values, theories, assumptions &c.

Rationale: To unite inquirers and ultimately unify existing knowledge in the field.

Means: Develop a synthesis which includes and combines the thesis and its antithesis.

Generalization: Principles.

Assessment: Does the principle resolve the value conflict?

Philosophical Position: Idealist.

L'5: Model Completely

Primacy: PH2-L5 Construct Relations

Activity: Inter-relating factors within a defined bounded system that is agreed as the object of study.

Focus: Pattern of interactions, both physical and psychosocial, within the system and between the system and its environment.

Rationale: To facilitate deliberate change.

Means: Distinguishing content and context, hierarchies, influences (forces) between factors, dualities.

Generalization: Models.

Assessment: Does the model represent the reality? i.e. can it be used to operate within or on that reality and does it predict features not originally assumed or included in the modelling?

Philosophical Position: Realist.

L'6: Reason Mathematico-Logically

Primacy: PH2-L6 Justify Judgements

Activity: Judging specific foundational propositions to be essential and irrefutable.
Mathematics is... "the art of making choices so you can discover their consequences."

Focus: Axioms, which are the basic assumptions, not necessarily self-evident, but always to be taken as true.

Rationale: To get certainty and absolute precision.

Means: Deduction.

Generalization: Theorems.

Assessment: Is the theorem proven? i.e. can the deductive steps from initial axioms be checked and confirmed beyond any doubt?

Philosophical Position: Idealist.

L'7: Speculate Insightfully

Primacy: PH2-L7 Channel Wonder

Activity: Deliberate but unforced contemplation of something that is mysterious or provokes curiosity.

Focus: Relevant reality.

Rationale: To alter a belief system within the current consensus.

Means: Images, symbols and ideas that emerge spontaneously from the unconscious while the person identifies with and opens up to an unbounded universe.

Generalization: Insight (that is unexpected) or revelation.

Assessment: Is the insight inspired? i.e. do previous paradoxes or anomalies vanish in a way that illuminates, fertilizes, expands and/or unifies the field?

Philosophical Position: Realist.

Matrix

Features are extracted here to facilitate comparisons.

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• Develop the different method paradigms.
• Examine the Realist v Idealist duality.

Originally drafted: 17-Apr-2015. Last amended 21-Feb-2022