EXPERIMENTAL NEUTRALITY
Charles François (2004). EXPERIMENTAL NEUTRALITY, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 1223.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1223 ▶ |
| Object type | General information |
Such a kind of neutrality is advocated by P. CHECKLAND and his followers. The neutral researcher is supposed to enter the field without preconceived theories or models, i.e. with a totally open mind.
While this is obviously an excellent proposal, it is however quite difficult to practice. Our more deeply engrained preconceptions (or prejudices) are precisely the most difficult for ourselves to become conscious of (de ZEEUW's “invisibility”) and to take care of in our interaction with the problem we tackle. There exists thus no such thing as a neutral observer-actor and a healthy beginning should probably include a kind of “declaration of personal prejudices”… if we become ever capable to do that.