DEBATE
In an age of
spin, how
can we ever
know?
where I would slightly differ from Carmen and
John as well as agree with them.
They say consequent to this imagined
research an NLP researcher would review the
video tapes independently of which group
they were in, focussing attention on those who
spelled words correctly. They go on to say
“ideally, she would discover that, indeed, all provide us evidence the spelling strategy is only NLP Research Conference with the
individuals who spelled all the words correctly supported according to the weaker version, and University of Surrey in the Summer of
used the V----K
i
-----A
d
NLP spelling strategy. strong claims for it’s effectiveness cannot be 2008, and the second NLP Research
(Op Cit p89) professionally or ethically voiced. Paul Tosey Conference is being held at Cardiff
For me this does in fact set up the strong and Jane Mathison make the point in their University in the Summer of 2010. In
possibility the researcher could begin to fall foul excellent book Neuro-Linguistic Programming these arenas qualitative and quantitative
of the Rosenthal experimenter effect which is that this type of propositional knowledge is not NLP research can be peer reviewed and
something Carmen and John correctly say a superior to more qualitative ways of knowing developed. NLPers know more than any
well trained psychologist would actively avoid. (2009:120), and other forms of research one we can distort our sensory experience,
(p87 op cit). In looking for evidence to support emphasise exploration rather than “proving”, however it has been said science is a way of
the hypothesis after the research has been however propositional knowledge often forms preventing us from fooling ourselves in this
conducted is to invite experimental distortion, a sub set even in more dialectical forms of important area of practical knowledge.
albeit at an unconscious level. knowing. (McNiff 2000:229)
Where I do agree with Carmen and John I think many psychologists and academics
is to focus the attention on those in the NLP do see the benefit NLP can bring to
References:
group who did not follow the NLP pattern, as coaching, psychotherapy, and Organizational Bostic St Clair,C and Grinder,J (2001) Whispering in
this clearly would demonstrate a deficiency in Development, to name a few. The equivalence
the Wind J&C Enterprises.
the NLP model. A characteristic of an NLP paradox would suggest all 400 odd “therapies”
Dilts,R (1998) Modeling with NLP Meta Publications.
pattern and modelling project is that it can be are approximately equivalent in their efficacy
McNiff, J with Whitehead,J (2000) Action Research
coded in such a way so it can be transferred despite being fundamentally different. However
in Organisations Routledge.
to others, so participants can achieve similar without randomised controlled studies as
Tosey,P and Mathison,J (2009) Neuro-Linguistic
excellence in a similar time frame when those alluded to above we have no evidence
Programming; A critical Appreciation for Managers
compared with the original exemplar….. to suggest NLP is anything special. Andrew and Developers. Palgrave Macmillan.
“The meaning of your communication is the Samuels I recall, did say at Roehampton
response you receive”, comes to mind. Dilts University (November 2008) words to the effect
calls this designing of a context and procedure of we know randomized controlled studies
Bruce is an ANLP accredited NLP trainer and a
Chartered occupational psychologist. He presently
the Design phase of modelling. (1998:57) are no longer the gold standard in research,
is a PhD student at Surrey University and has
So the original material in this hypothetical however in my opinion they certainly do go
contributed chapters on NLP coaching to several
NLP spelling model could be refined so NLP a long way to providing evidence for the current publications. He is a registered NLPtCA
training which is about the transfer of NLP obvious, something either consistently works
psychotherapist and is currently is co authoring a
patterns to others, is improved. One would then or it does not, compared with something else
book on the psychology of NLP coaching.
expect an improvement in the direction toward and a control.
www.innergame.co.uk
the strong version of the NLP hypothesis. Of ANLP has taken a step in the research
Tel: 01480 359108.
course if this did not happen, then that will direction through hosting the first International
rapport - Winter 2009/10
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