Well Martin, let me qualify my general observations ( but then they would
not be as general you realize). First, I did not mean to insult you. Surely
there are multiple scenarios. I still think that it is true (often enough)
that those whose minds are socialized by a set of means/methods, world
view, and attain expertise, tend to stick to what they know and elaborate
on it in their academic careers. At least that is my general take with many
APA (Psych) types and from the experimental community of practice, and
others with whom I shared graduate "training" (soc. educ. researchers..).
Of course, there are exceptions, you and I for instance. I think we have
traveled another road, from the quant, logical pos. to a more open ground.
The interesting thing is how related these types of identities are to the
mediational means and goals we have...
My hunch is that "it" is the road less traveled but we might have to do
some stratified sampling etc. to find out, would not we?
I see the necessity of developing various means, adding rather than
abandoning tools; the important issue is perhaps the purpose for which
these are used, the questions, the synthesis.
Also, please keep in mind that my purpose what to add a couple of (broad)
strokes to this canvas we are doing on the topic so I do understand how
picking apart any one proposition would not be difficult. I was trying to
paint developmental journeys, and I am sure these are not the only ones.
With Celia's recent post, it seems that some journeys are longer than
others, and the ideological pressures formidable.
By the way, what is the New School? I had a hard enough time with the
misleading chestnut.
pedro
P. R. Portes
Professor
Educational & Counseling
Psychology Dept. 310
University of Louisville
KY 40292
Fax- 502-852-0629
Of. Tel. 502-852-0630