RM>The methodology can be neither qualitative nor
RM>quantitative, only the data and conclusions can be...
DT>Yeah....Im trying to get this straight in my head.......
DT>Sometimes have to think so much it hurts.....
My students sometimes say the same thing!    ;-)
DT>Generally speaking the seven conditions that Cambourne
DT>identified  are all important and necessary.
RM>Based upon what test?  Simply because they show up over and
RM>over? 
DT>Because I said so......(I hated hearing that when I was a kid.....)
Heh.... It's nice to "see" you operating in such a good 
mood; you're obviously not one of those who gets depressed
during this season.....
RM>On this basis, one might conclude that the 
RM>development of civilization requires the wholesale slaughter
RM>of large numbers of people periodically.  Now I don't happen
RM>to believe that, and I don't suggest we try an experiment
RM>with controls, but the inference is "reasonable" based on
RM>multiple observations over long time intervals.  It's also
RM>"reliable"...  Is it valid?
DT>This is a silly comparison Ron.
RM>It certainly is not... This is exactly the process about 
RM>which we are talking: Observations of data and inferential
RM>conclusion.  That this particular conclusion is unacceptable
RM>to you does not alter the fact that the process is exactly
RM>that which you wish to consider "equal" to the scientific
RM>process - It isn't and never will be....
DT>I think it is silly because it is such an extreme example.
Taking a train of thought and extending it to an absurdity or
contradiction is a time-honored process known as a negative
proof....   ;-)
DT>There must be a logical fallacy to your argument but I can't think 
DT>of what it could be offhand.  Hey I know....it's the Quantum Leap 
DT>fallacy....
Nice try!    ;-)
Actually, there are a number of people who sort of subscribe
to this philosophy - That civilization and humankind must be
tempered as with a sword in flame.  Survival of the fittest
and all that.  I'm sure Nietsche would (or did) embrace the 
concept, and the idea of a "master race" is a natural 
outgrowth of this type of thinking.  The idea of adversity
strengthening an individual - What doesn't kill me makes me
stronger - follows from this line of thinking as well.....
Clearly, some do not consider this as being an absurd view..
RM>It makes me a skeptic; which is a very healthy thing to be,
RM>in general.  I try not to get "wed" to the rantings of 
RM>others......    ;-)
DT>You aren't suggesting I'm a ranter are you?
Heavens no!  
DT>Upon what are you basing your pedagogical beliefs?  
RM>Ah... My ACTIONS are based upon the collection of data; 
RM>which includes educational literature, personal observation,
RM>commonsense, logical deduction.  As a human, I am forced to
RM>ACT in this fashion.  As a scientist, I weigh the import of
RM>the data, and that factors into my decisionmaking process.
RM>The necessity that I act forces me to consider even suspect
RM>conclusions when determining my course of action, but I 
RM>would never give them the weight I do to scientifically
RM>derived conclusions.... 
DT>This makes a lot of sense and really clarifies for me you thinking 
DT>about some of the matters we have discussed.
Good.... We're often discussing IDEALS here, or an idea as
an independent concept, but the reality is that we seldom
get to deal with ideals in our everyday life, and ideas are
seldom independent of other considerations.  We have to ACT
in a more subjective manner...
DT>I suppose in many ways we operate similarly
All humans HAVE to; it's in our nature to process and act
in accordance with either inductive reasoning or blind

.
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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