Posted by Mitchell on January 20, 2003, at 21:13:22
In reply to Research--Mitchell, posted by shar on January 20, 2003, at 20:37:24
> To be sure, there are generally accepted standards for doing research, but none of them ban experiments where personal preferences exist, nor do they ban experiments without control groups (the social science community would be up shit creek if they always had to have a control group; the basis of most psychology was formed without one).
>
> So, I think that while you may disagree with Dr. Bob's choices about handling matters of manners on the board, that in itself isn't sufficient to invalidate his research or findings.
>
> Shar
In the design of an experiment, it is acceptable to examine one hypothesis that is not supported by prior research, unless human subjects are involved. When human subjects are involved, it is still okay, if subjects are not harmed and the research is overseen by an IRB.In published findings, the evidence should support the conclusions. A title should accurately summarize content. "Best" in the title of any scientific publication smacks of promotionalism rather than professionalism. A research paper that concludes something is the best can be expected to qualitatively examine the other side of the comparison. Hsuing explained in a research paper his opinion and his reasoning why banishment is part of the best world, but did not offer evidence that alternative methods had proven unworkable in other settings, nor that anything other than his opinion informed his conclusion.
My discussion of meta-review is a related by separate matter. I have not suggested he should consult meta-reviews for guidance on how he should run the board. I suggested he rely on meta-review of literature about therapeutic conversational techniques to learn which might best help members of his group learn to help each other. Science-based training in conversational therapeutic techniques, available free, on-line and without registration, would probably be more effective if techniques identified in meta-analysis as best practices were not mixed in with techniques for which is available less evidence of efficacy.
BTW, my preference would be that bob use a machine to delete words like "shit" from his board. My experience is that introduction of vulgar metaphor in open conversation can degrade the quality of interaction. I think use of the word "shit" in published dialogue requires one to reject the preferences of many adults who would rather words like that not be used in conversations children might join.
poster:Mitchell
thread:8860
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20021128/msgs/8915.html