scholarly journals A Critical Realist Approach on Autism: Ontological and Epistemological Implications for Knowledge Production in Autism Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianthi Kourti
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Social Constructions ◽  
Autism Research ◽  
Structure And Agency ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
Behavioural Characteristics ◽  
The One ◽  
Relations Of Power

The ontological status of autism has been a subject of considerable debate and philosophical approaches of it have been recent and sparse. On the one hand, from its conception, autism has been historically heavily located in the fields of psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience, which often assume access to an “objective,” neutral and infallible reality that is external to the research process and is based on the autistic person’s biology and behavioural characteristics, which can be scientifically observed and studied. On the other, proponents of the neurodiversity movement argue against medicalised and pathologising approaches to autism and toward approaches that consider social constructions of autism and relations of power. The Critical Realist philosophy can help reconcile the two positions. Critical Realism conceptualises objectivity as a statement about an object, rather than a neutral and infallible reality. Consequently, Critical Realism suggests that access to reality can only occur through fallible theories. It also suggests that effective theorising goes beyond appearances and phenomena and may even contradict them, which can help challenge dominant behaviourist approaches on autism. I then explore how the tenets of Critical Realism can help strengthen autistic-led theories of autism, the arguments they make, as well as how they support the importance of community autism knowledge. Finally, I present how Critical Realism’s approach to knowledge itself as well as the process of knowledge creation can strengthen autistic theorising, autistic participation in autism research and autistic emancipation. In the last part of the article, I explore how the concepts of Critical Realism apply to autistic sociability. I start with the debate between structure and agency, how Critical Realism reconciles this debate and the implications for autistic emancipation and autism research. I then present Critical Realism’s process of critique and explanation, how they connect to human emancipation and how they can lead to impactful change in autism research by requiring clear links from research to practice, enhancing practices with strong theoretical underpinnings and thus aiding the aims of emancipatory autism research.

Making the Case for Critical Realism

2010 ◽  
pp. 329-344
Author(s):  
Phillip Dobson ◽  
John Myles ◽  
Paul Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Critical Realism ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Enterprise Information ◽  
Enterprise Information Systems ◽  
Measurement Systems ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
Manual Intervention ◽  
Performance Measurement Systems ◽  
Operational Data

This article seeks to address the dearth of practical examples of research in the area by proposing that critical realism be adopted as the underlying research philosophy for enterprise systems evaluation. We address some of the implications of adopting such an approach by discussing the evaluation and implementation of a number of automated performance measurement systems (APMS). Such systems are a recent evolution within the context of enterprise information systems. They collect operational data from integrated systems to generate values for key performance indicators, which are delivered directly to senior management. The creation and delivery of these data are fully automated, precluding manual intervention by middle or line management. Whilst these systems appear to be a logical progression in the exploitation of the available rich, real-time data, the statistics for APMS projects are disappointing. An understanding of the reasons is elusive and little researched. We describe how critical realism can provide a useful “underlabourer” for such research, by “clearing the ground a little ... removing some of the rubbish that lies in the way of knowledge” (Locke, 1894, p. 14). The implications of such an underlabouring role are investigated. Whilst the research is still underway, the article indicates how a critical realist foundation is assisting the research process.

The Gentle Art of Retroduction: Critical Realism, Cultural Political Economy and Critical Grounded Theory

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claes Belfrage ◽  
Felix Hauf
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Organization Studies ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
Critical Methodology ◽  
Cultural Political Economy

This article, first, proposes critical grounded theory (CGT) as a way to develop systematically an array of methods and theoretical propositions into a coherent critical methodology for organization studies (and beyond). Second, it demonstrates CGT’s usefulness through a case study of competing recovery projects from the Icelandic financial crisis. CGT is developed in engagement with the emerging paradigm of cultural political economy (CPE) and its preferred method of critical discourse analysis (CDA). CPE analyses the evolution of ‘economic imaginaries’ in both their structural/material and semiotic/discursive dimensions. This requires a critical realist, multi-dimensional research strategy which emphasizes ethnographic methods and substantial theoretical and historical work. The proposed methodology of CGT enables a retroductive research process that combines deductive theoretical deskwork with inductive fieldwork enabled by grounded theory tools to analyse organizational process, stability and change.

scholarly journals ThinkPiece: A Critical Realist’s Reflections on Coupling the Hydrological and Social Systems during a Global Crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Critical Realism ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Water Structure ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Personal Agency ◽  
Field Of Study ◽  
Global Crisis ◽  
Realist Approach ◽  
Structure And Agency ◽  
Critical Realist

Hydro-sociology is a recent field of study that aims to couple the human and water systems. It appears to be a response to dualistic thinking within hydrology and sociology that is also reflected in theoretical debates about structure and agency. Reflections about how specific rivers have ignited personal agency and define some of our political and economic structures are shared. Critical realists like Margaret Archer argue that reflexivity is a mediating tool between structure and agency. But what mediating tool is/can be used to mediate between the hydrological and sociological fields and related thinking? This think piece is a reflection on how a critical realist approach to structure and agency may deepen the connection and understanding of hydro-sociology. Keywords: critical realism, hydro-sociology, duality, water, structure and agency

Structure and agency: making connections

2021 ◽  
pp. 65-94
Author(s):  
Priscilla Alderson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Realist Evaluation ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Injury Rehabilitation ◽  
Structure And Agency ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
Health And Illness

This chapter continues to summarise different theories and methods in mainstream health and illness research in order to compare them to critical realism and show what it might add. Positivist, interpretive and postmodern approaches to human agency within structures are considered. There are also sections on: six features of critical realism; structure, agency and culture; four types of social structures; a comparison of realist evaluation and critical realism theories of structure and agency; the structure-agency dialectic, and Archer’s theory of internal conversations. The detailed examples of applying critical realist concepts are of prison leavers with mental health problems, and nurses working on traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Throughout, the chapter critically considers problems posed for health researchers, to see how critical realist research theories of structure and agency can serve their work.

Critical Realism for Health and Illness Research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla Alderson
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Structure And Agency ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
The World ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
University College London ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Research To Policy

Critical realism, a toolkit of practical ideas, helps researchers to extend, clarify and validate their work. Critical realism resolves problems and contradictions between quantitative factual research and qualitative interpretive approaches. It draws on their strengths, overcomes their limitations, and helps to connect research to policy and practice. To meet growing demand from researchers and students, the book shows how versatile critical realism can be in research across the life course and around the world, from small studies to large trials. Healthcare, health promotion and heath inequalities are all addressed. This book is based on the course at University College London, first taught by Roy Bhaskar the founder of critical realism, and later convened by the author. The aim is to help readers who are new to critical realism, or are in the fairly early stages, with their research across the whole range of health and illness disciplines and professions. Chapters consider relations between structure and agency, facts and values, and between visible evidence and mainly unseen powerful influences on health and illness. Using clear definitions, diagrams and examples, this book enables readers to understand and apply valuable critical realist concepts to health and illness research.

Making the Case for Critical Realism

2010 ◽  
pp. 55-70
Author(s):  
Phillip Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Critical Realism ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Enterprise Information ◽  
Enterprise Information Systems ◽  
Measurement Systems ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
Manual Intervention ◽  
Performance Measurement Systems ◽  
Operational Data

This chapter seeks to address the dearth of practical examples of research in the area by proposing that critical realism be adopted as the underlying research philosophy for enterprise systems evaluation. We address some of the implications of adopting such an approach by discussing the evaluation and implementation of a number of automated performance measurement systems (APMS). Such systems are a recent evolution within the context of enterprise information systems. They collect operational data from integrated systems to generate values for key performance indicators, which are delivered directly to senior management. The creation and delivery of these data are fully automated, precluding manual intervention by middle or line management. Whilst these systems appear to be a logical progression in the exploitation of the available rich, real-time data, the statistics for APMS projects are disappointing. An understanding of the reasons is elusive and little researched. We describe how critical realism can provide a useful “underlabourer” for such research, by “clearing the ground a little ... removing some of the rubbish that lies in the way of knowledge” (Locke, 1894, p. 14). The implications of such an underlabouring role are investigated. Whilst the research is still underway, the article indicates how a critical realist foundation is assisting the research process.

Making the Case for Critical Realism

2010 ◽  
pp. 1894-1909
Author(s):  
Phillip Dobson ◽  
John Myles ◽  
Paul Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Critical Realism ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Enterprise Information ◽  
Enterprise Information Systems ◽  
Measurement Systems ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
Manual Intervention ◽  
Performance Measurement Systems ◽  
Operational Data

This article seeks to address the dearth of practical examples of research in the area by proposing that critical realism be adopted as the underlying research philosophy for enterprise systems evaluation. We address some of the implications of adopting such an approach by discussing the evaluation and implementation of a number of automated performance measurement systems (APMS). Such systems are a recent evolution within the context of enterprise information systems. They collect operational data from integrated systems to generate values for key performance indicators, which are delivered directly to senior management. The creation and delivery of these data are fully automated, precluding manual intervention by middle or line management. Whilst these systems appear to be a logical progression in the exploitation of the available rich, real-time data, the statistics for APMS projects are disappointing. An understanding of the reasons is elusive and little researched. We describe how critical realism can provide a useful “underlabourer” for such research, by “clearing the ground a little ... removing some of the rubbish that lies in the way of knowledge” (Locke, 1894, p. 14). The implications of such an underlabouring role are investigated. Whilst the research is still underway, the article indicates how a critical realist foundation is assisting the research process.

scholarly journals A Critical Humanist Intervention: Agency, Structure and Values

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 293-310
Author(s):  
Vanesa Amaris
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
The Other ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Moral Dimension ◽  
Structure And Agency ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship

The main aim of the article is to suggest what and how a contemporary, revised version of humanism, inflected with critical realism and Marxism, can contribute to sociology. I focus primarily on two areas in which sociology is often found lacking today: theorizing the relationship between structure and agency, and deciding what to do with moral evaluations in sociological analyses. I argue that the solution to both lies in attempting to finally transcend the traditionally hostile and mutually exclusive paradigms of “humanist” or “cultural” Marxism on the one side and “anti-humanist” or “scientific” Marxism on the other. This enables us to carefully reinstate the agency of human subjects and the moral dimension, both of which were and still are dismissed by anti- or post-humanist social science, without neglecting the objective and causally relevant existence of social structures at the same time.

A study of practice based design research models from knowledge integration perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Honghai LI ◽  
Jun CAI
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Design Innovation

The transformation of China's design innovation industry has highlighted the importance of design research. The design research process in practice can be regarded as the process of knowledge production. The design 3.0 mode based on knowledge production MODE2 has been shown in the Chinese design innovation industry. On this cognition, this paper establishes a map with two dimensions of how knowledge integration occurs in practice based design research, which are the design knowledge transfer and contextual transformation of design knowledge. We use this map to carry out the analysis of design research cases. Through the analysis, we define four typical practice based design research models from the viewpoint of knowledge integration. This method and the proposed model can provide a theoretical basis and a path for better management design research projects.

Muslim Women and the Politics of Representation

2002 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmin Zine
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Production ◽  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Muslim Women ◽  
Muslim Woman ◽  
Literary Traditions ◽  
Feminist Literature ◽  
Production Of Knowledge ◽  
Feminist Writing ◽  
Textual Representation ◽  
Relations Of Power

This paper examines the politics of knowledge production as it relates to Muslim women in western literary traditions and con­temporary feminist writing, with a view to understanding the political, ideological, and economic mediations that have histor­ically framed these representations. The meta-narrative of the Muslim woman has shifted from the bold queens of medieval lit­erature to colonial images of the seraglio's veiled, secluded, and oppressed women. Contemporary feminist writing and popular culture have reproduced the colonial motifs of Muslim women, and these have regained currency in the aftermath of9/1 l. Drawing upon the work of Mohja Kahf, this paper begins by mapping the evolution of the Muslim woman archetype in western literary traditions. The paper then examines how some contemporary feminist literature has reproduced in new ways the discursive tropes that have had historical currency in Muslim women's textual representation. The analysis is atten­tive to the ways in which the cultural production of knowledge about Muslim women has been implicated historically by the relations of power between the Muslim world and the West ...

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