1. ‘So what’ so far: reflections Liz Sharp April 1 st 2011

2. About.. 1. Why use the language of ‘positivism’ and ‘interpretism’? 2.How does our interpretism vary? 3.Are we having impact and could we have more?

3. WHY USE THE LANGUAGE OF ‘POSITIVISM’ AND ‘INTERPRETISM’?

4. Science More Positivist More Constructionist Interpretive science Physical and social things: exist independently of the observer are stable enough to make predictions about the future Physical & social things are constructed by meaning & language therefore: need to understand people’s different subjective understandings Researcher cannot step outside own subjective position Source of explanations: Connelly & Anderson, 2009

5. Science More Positivist More Constructionist Interpretive science Physical & natural sciences including physical geography Social sciences including human geography

6. Science More Positivist More Constructionist Interpretive science Quantitative methods Qualitative methods

7. Science More Positivist More Constructionist Interpretive science The major faultlines between paradigms do not lie conveniently between the natural and social sciences but rather cut across them, dividing even those working on apparently the same problem from within the same discipline. The principal relevant distinction is between positivist approaches on the one hand, characterised by a belief in an independent and objectively accessible world and by the pursuit of explanation through general laws describing regularities in nature and/or society; and a range of challenges to different philosophical and methodological elements of this position from within the social and physical sciences (Connelly and Anderson, 2007: 213) Source of explanations: Connelly & Anderson, 2009

8. HOW DOES OUR INTERPRETISM VARY?

9. Variations of interpretism Instrumentalist versus critical (disruptive?) (liz) Managerial versus radical marxist (Sonja) Consensus building versus recognition of otherness (Andy) Emancipatory versus (??) descriptive (Bee) Others (Raph?) Impactful versus non impactful?

10. ARE WE HAVING IMPACT AND COULD WE HAVE MORE?

11. Sometimes.... Margo... The queen of impact Others... Small impacts Right place, right time, right language (Bob). Questions to ponder today Is impact just about local context (therefore ponder right place, right time, right language)? Is the positivist nature of our policy and practice culture a structural constraint on us having impact? How do we have impact (arts?)? Can we do more together?

12. Susan Owens 2005 “If... we acknowledge the potential for subtle effects, and pay attention to the processes through which ideas come into good currency, knowledge ‘creeps’ into policy, and what is thinkable begins to change, we see that academic endeavour, alongside other factors, can indeed ‘make a difference”.