Chapter 6 on the four stages of dialectical transformative change involves concepts of: absence as well as presence; difference versus actual transformative change; emergence of higher order things from lower order ones; immanent critique. With the four stages, the acronym MELD stands for first Moment, second Edge, third Level and fourth Dimension. The stages are considered in their benign/effective, malign/ineffective and mini versions. It is vital to start research with 1M’s intense in-depth study before intervening at 2E, then at 3L looking at the larger scene, and at 4D working on personal change. There is an overview of research from past to future, local to global. The detailed example applies MELD to research on improving care for children with allergies.
