WORKS ON BEHAVIORAL FOUNDATIONS OF EFFECTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
This is an open-ended file, subject to further additions, for several reasons. Most obviously because it is not yet finished. And that because of the nature of the enterprise. It follows a line of personal development that began with a concern for communication effectiveness in a journalistic context. Frustration there led to work in behavioral research, then, still frustrated, now by lack of applicability of behavioral theory and methods, on to theoretical work on the Nature of Things.
BFPS represents the long trip back through behavior to communication. To put the best possible face on all this, Boltzmann’s point about mathematical theorizing should be kept in mind, that sometimes we should follow through on an idea to see where its composition takes us, testing it only then for applicability. This approach yields a typically complex product, which used as a pointed question (X), as with a predictive research hypothesis, can then be tested by trial.
Kaplan’s point that the simplest notion is not always the best accounting seems supportive too. When we assume an underlying order of things as the Nature of Things, simplicity of account seems a reasonable expectation. (The general would be in a redundant, not a dynamic, relationship with particulars [XI].) Here, however, the Nature of Things is seen to be that of partial order, comprising orderings but also other conditions of consequence, and thus demanding of some complexity of account.
The initial set of 13 topics outlining BFPS are followed by sections on applications and commentary which explore the potential of the idea as a question.
The relationship between topics, applications and comments can be viewed by clicking on the links below or in the sidebar:
BFPS represents the long trip back through behavior to communication. To put the best possible face on all this, Boltzmann’s point about mathematical theorizing should be kept in mind, that sometimes we should follow through on an idea to see where its composition takes us, testing it only then for applicability. This approach yields a typically complex product, which used as a pointed question (X), as with a predictive research hypothesis, can then be tested by trial.
Kaplan’s point that the simplest notion is not always the best accounting seems supportive too. When we assume an underlying order of things as the Nature of Things, simplicity of account seems a reasonable expectation. (The general would be in a redundant, not a dynamic, relationship with particulars [XI].) Here, however, the Nature of Things is seen to be that of partial order, comprising orderings but also other conditions of consequence, and thus demanding of some complexity of account.
The initial set of 13 topics outlining BFPS are followed by sections on applications and commentary which explore the potential of the idea as a question.
The relationship between topics, applications and comments can be viewed by clicking on the links below or in the sidebar:
- The relationship of each Topic to applications and comments
- The relationship of each Application to topics and comments
- The relationship of each Comment to topics and applications
May BFPS be as helpful to you in your life and work as it has become for me.
Professor Richard Fremont Carter