Operational definitions

["Aidan Ward" <aidan_ward@antelopes.com>]

Dear all,

There have not been a lot of contributions on the subject of "operational
definitions" and those on the subject of system and process have almost all
lacked enough context. It is as though we think words and concepts can have
meaning in and of themselves.

Let me take an example from the debate about education and "gold stars".
Contributors have given some excellent and sage descriptions of how internal
and external motivation can affect outcomes. But it matters where you are
and who you are when you speak. A missing objective in all the education
debate has been to develop people's capability to act from their own power
to change the world. Once you ask whether you really want a student to
become powerful (and possibly more powerful than you are) the issue of where
and who cannot be dodged. Happiness is a bit vaguer.

The point about operational definitions is that they give a context within
which the meaning of the speaker can be understood.

Aidan

Antelope Projects Ltd
19, Fawkham Road, Longfield, Kent, DA3 7QP, UK
Phone +44-1474-702259   Fax  +44-1474-704671
www.antelopes.com <http://www.antelopes.com>
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