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Volume 3 Issue 1 July 2005
Towards a
Second Order Research Methodology, pp 25-36
Jim
Brown1 and Petia Sice2
1Draeger
Safety UK Ltd, Blyth, Northumberland, UK
2Northumbria
University, School of Informatics, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
jim.brown@draeger.com,
petia.sice@unn.ac.uk
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This
paper addresses the need for re-examining the cognitive perspective on the
role of language in social research. From the autopoietic perspective,
language is not a tool to reveal an objective world; rather language is a
venue for action, coupling the cognitive domains of two or more agents.
Responsible research enquiry would seek to create systemic communication
practices that allow the co-existence of differing understandings within.
Creating a dialogue for exploring and emerging meaning is essential in
developing understanding and validating the research results.
The
application of any research methodology without reflection on the
underpinning assumptions is flawed. What is more, such an approach is
bound to lead us to an incomplete understanding of the situation under
consideration, since it places ‘restrictions’ on the ways we question the
validity of the knowledge unearthed in the application of the methods.
Thus, creative interpretation becomes limited. The paper considers this
problem. It emphasises the importance of theoretical reflection and an
epistemological perspective in exploring the assumptions underlying
research designs. The discussion focuses in more detail onto the role of
language in the research process, developing a generic second order
research process to assist in the understanding of the underlying
assumptions held by individuals within research projects.
The
intention is to go beyond simple answers and explore epistemological and
other theoretical perspectives, based on a rigorous understanding of the
human condition (that is, our way of being human) in both its biological
and social embodiments focusing on an autopoietic perspective on knowing,
the role of language, and the systems approach.
Keywords:
autopoiesis, social systems, language, dialogue, research method, systems
thinking,
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