1. Going critical: inquiry as a power-full process Stockholm seminar October 2004 Dian Marie Hosking USBO, University of Utrecht

2. overview Received View of Science (RVS) & –Inquiry, Intervention, Evaluation –Implicit view of: processes & relations thought style Constructivism & –Evaluation (eg 4th generation) Constructionism & –Evaluation (eg responsive, appreciative)

3. Inquiry & the RVS Sc as detached observer producing ‘data’ & objective knowledge oriented towards theory 1 story dominates – the RVS key discourses –Representation & Control

4. Intervention/change work & the RVS separate from inquiry uses results from inquiry act of ‘change agent(s)’ who is –more knowing, the expert –designs the intervention & decides what counts as data

5. Evaluation & the RVS “product evaluation” feedback over ‘treatment’ effects pre & post ideal statistics, validity & reliability…objective knowledge –that is technical, politically neutral responsive to the voice of science

6. RVS: Implicit view of processes & relations sequential, linear with feedback input – process – outcome can be designed, & design reflects objective knowledge/expertise Sc has responsibility for quality & –reflexivity is an individual act of the Sc Subject-Object relations

7. Implicit ‘thought style’ (realist or) critical realist independently existing entities knowable from an ‘outside’ standpoint –but only imperfectly –plausible hypotheses language: for representation root metaphor: mechanism

8. constructivism Emphasizes the constructive power of mind knowledge = imperfect representation individual entities: –cognitive processes (intra-indiv) –social processes (inter-indiv) thought style = as before focus: the sense making of others

9. Evaluation & constructivism eg “Fourth generation evaluation” of Guba & Lincoln multiple voices of multiple stakeholders discuss & negotiate differences correct these & produce a consensus view change agent’s job: –Scientist (RVS), facilitator & mediator

10. relational constructionism reality: –(re)constructed in inter-action processes –co-constructed neither subjective nor objective but relational –multiple, local, historical realities –ontology given to processes language: –is action, is performative –a local-cultural practice or ‘form of life’ scientific interests: –what & how of reality construction processes

11. Assuming relational processes de- centers –entities & relations between entities –processes within & between entities centers processes of relating –languages - words, pictures, actions, symbols... –to other languages- words, pictures, actions, symbols... relational processes make –Self-Other (persons & worlds) as relational unities ‘becoming realism’

12. Inquiry, intervention and evaluation as relational processes the RVS & critical realism is just one way of constructing relations self & other & relationship –can be (re)constructed in S-O relations –but do not have to be other possible ways of relating? other possible interests & power relations?

13. Not S-O relations but… Processes that are: open to possibilities open to multiple local realities (as ontologies); Reflexive & developmental creating ‘power to’ (x power over)

14. Constructing ‘power to’ open and appreciative of multiplicity performative –not ‘just talk’ focuses on how we participate including multiloging –who gets to participate and how? –how is multiplicity appreciated?

15. Evaluation as an ongoing multi-voiced process evaluation –‘design’emerges, is ongoing –evaluation activities create reality all voices – equal - all experts in local processes reflexive dialogues about relations, power & voice, accepting difference, ethics… interests: –not just instrumental but also learning & appreciation –how participants experienced the process (not in ‘how things really are’)