You say:
>I do not want to suggest that either Martin or Habermas what to impose a
>new methodology on the field. But sometimes the discourse about
>methodological alternatives turns or sounds about how to do research (the
>best way).
Wouldn't you agree with me that there's a large and important gap between
talking about the best way to do something, and "forcing" someone to do
things that way? I'm in no position to force anyone to do research a
specific way, and I don't believe I would do so if I had that power. But I
carry out interpretive research because I *do* believe it is the "best way"
to conduct research, at least for the kinds of problems and questions that
we typically discuss here on XMCA. For rational reasons: not because I'm
too lazy to do 'real' science, or from a simple aesthetic preference.
I didn't invent interpretive research. Already in the late 1970s there
were two edited collections representing the arguments people have made for
such an approach to social science. (I'm refering to Rabinow & Sullivan,
1977 (I think), Interpretive Social Science, A Reader, and Dallmayr &
McCarthy, 1977, Understanding and Social Inquiry.) I would hope that every
researcher would be interested to know something about the approach,
whether or not they agree.
To me it is part of the character of scientific inquiry, and a very
important part, that people engage in rational debate about the best way to
proceeed. There's always the problem that someone might be unable to
listen, or unwilling to respond, or attack the person instead of responding
to their ideas. I may not be as polite or as politic in the presentation of
my reasons as I could be. But neither of these, surely, is cause to stop.
The day I stop trying to explain why I do the kind of work I do, and
arguing for its merits, will be the day I quit research and teaching. And
if there's a day I start forcing people to do what they don't want to do,
may you all lock me up!
What do you think? :)
Martin
===========
Martin Packer
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
office: (412) 396-4852
department: (412) 396-6520
packer who-is-at duq3.cc.duq.edu
http://www.duq.edu/liberalarts/gradpsych/packer.html