Introduction to Critical Inquiry
By D. L. Coomer
Glossary Terms
Two aims of Habernas’ work:
Three main areas of human activity:
Production – instrumental action to meet the needs and wants of people (Coomer, 19, pg. 170)
Socialization – human beings themselves interact with society through communicative action (Coomer, 19, pg. 170)
System management and development – changes in the society’s power to maintain itself. Society’s steering and growth capacity. (Coomer, 19, pg. 170)
Emancipation – uses self-reflection that is designed to enlighten and build communicative competence and to free from technical control. (Coomer, 19, pg. 171)
Communicative Competence – the ability to communicate with other’s and to see their point of view or to be able to express your point of view to others to develop and understanding.
Bridging principles – function as rules of argumentation and they serve as a way of allowing the judgment a form of impartiality. (Coomer, 19, pg. 174)
Quotes
“The interest in society’s maintenance and development is achieved through removal of distortions in communication that hinder development toward and agreed-upon ideal.” (Coomer, 19, pg. 176)
To avoid assumptions we need to agree upon and ideal in order to achieve it. Without this agreement there is no way to change society’s thought. However, at some point it is likely that ideals will change as society changes. At one time it was the ideal for women to stay home, this is no longer the case but many people are not able to agree upon what the ideal should be. Who decides? Many countries have ideals that other countries do not agree with, who are we to decide what is good for those in other countries.
“…a single practice cannot be significantly changed unless corresponding changes are introduced in other parts to which the practice is linked.” (Coomer, 19, pg. 177)
I found that the best way for me to associate this is with drafting a piece of clothing. When changes are made to a piece of the pattern, often there are many other changes that need to be made to other pieces in order for the pattern to continue to fit together properly and to function as it should.
“the researcher become an observer and a participant in the educational process.” (Coomer, 19, pg. 177)
In this case the researcher must be aware that there is likely to be a bias within their work.
“The critical reflection leads thinking to deeper levels; it organizes thinking. Critical reflection focuses on the situation as it exists, how it came to be, the consequences of the current situation, what might be better, and how one might go about achieving the improved state of affairs.” (Coomer, 19, pg. 179)
I found this to be the best and most comprehensive description of critical reflection. A great help in my overall understanding of the concept.
“the goal of critical research is to emancipate individuals and foster human development, an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect is essential.” (Coomer, 19, pg. 180)
Growth of a society is not possible without cooperation and in order for cooperation to work we need to be able to trust and respect each other. Not always easy.
References
Coomer, D.L. (1989). Introduction to critical inquiry. In F. H. Hultgren & D. L. Coomer (Eds.), Alternate modes of inquiry in home economics research. Yearbook 9, American Home Economics Association, (pp. 167-184). Peoria, IL: Glencoe Publishing Company
Two aims of Habernas’ work:
- Fostering non-exploitive relations among people
- Discovering the central place of morally responsible people in the development of society (Coomer, 19, pg. 169)
Three main areas of human activity:
- Production
- Socialization
- System management and development(Coomer, 19, pg. 169)
Production – instrumental action to meet the needs and wants of people (Coomer, 19, pg. 170)
Socialization – human beings themselves interact with society through communicative action (Coomer, 19, pg. 170)
System management and development – changes in the society’s power to maintain itself. Society’s steering and growth capacity. (Coomer, 19, pg. 170)
Emancipation – uses self-reflection that is designed to enlighten and build communicative competence and to free from technical control. (Coomer, 19, pg. 171)
Communicative Competence – the ability to communicate with other’s and to see their point of view or to be able to express your point of view to others to develop and understanding.
Bridging principles – function as rules of argumentation and they serve as a way of allowing the judgment a form of impartiality. (Coomer, 19, pg. 174)
Quotes
“The interest in society’s maintenance and development is achieved through removal of distortions in communication that hinder development toward and agreed-upon ideal.” (Coomer, 19, pg. 176)
To avoid assumptions we need to agree upon and ideal in order to achieve it. Without this agreement there is no way to change society’s thought. However, at some point it is likely that ideals will change as society changes. At one time it was the ideal for women to stay home, this is no longer the case but many people are not able to agree upon what the ideal should be. Who decides? Many countries have ideals that other countries do not agree with, who are we to decide what is good for those in other countries.
“…a single practice cannot be significantly changed unless corresponding changes are introduced in other parts to which the practice is linked.” (Coomer, 19, pg. 177)
I found that the best way for me to associate this is with drafting a piece of clothing. When changes are made to a piece of the pattern, often there are many other changes that need to be made to other pieces in order for the pattern to continue to fit together properly and to function as it should.
“the researcher become an observer and a participant in the educational process.” (Coomer, 19, pg. 177)
In this case the researcher must be aware that there is likely to be a bias within their work.
“The critical reflection leads thinking to deeper levels; it organizes thinking. Critical reflection focuses on the situation as it exists, how it came to be, the consequences of the current situation, what might be better, and how one might go about achieving the improved state of affairs.” (Coomer, 19, pg. 179)
I found this to be the best and most comprehensive description of critical reflection. A great help in my overall understanding of the concept.
“the goal of critical research is to emancipate individuals and foster human development, an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect is essential.” (Coomer, 19, pg. 180)
Growth of a society is not possible without cooperation and in order for cooperation to work we need to be able to trust and respect each other. Not always easy.
References
Coomer, D.L. (1989). Introduction to critical inquiry. In F. H. Hultgren & D. L. Coomer (Eds.), Alternate modes of inquiry in home economics research. Yearbook 9, American Home Economics Association, (pp. 167-184). Peoria, IL: Glencoe Publishing Company