Situational Research
In considering the power of knowledge in the service of mankind, recent experiences, particularly since World War II, have moderated the optimism and confidence that typified the scientific and technical expansion of the past two hundred years. Societies are now concerned with maximizing the positive impacts and mitigating the negative impacts of “progress.” Against a background description of some very negative impacts of well-intentioned changes to the Navajo economy, a conceptual framework is presented which may facilitate the synthesis of various disciplines into more realistic and effective designs for research and planning. A situational or “cross-disciplinary” orientation enhances the broadest possible perspective of a particular situation—a perspective which might help prevent similar unintended and unwanted consequences of development in the future. Any shift to a situational perspective in the clinical, social and behavioural sciences will require conscious and concerted efforts on the part of all professionals and academics involved.