Malcolm Ashmore

Bio: Malcolm Ashmore is an academic researcher from Loughborough University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Reflexivity & Health care. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 22 publications receiving 1040 citations.

Death and Furniture: the rhetoric, politics and theology of bottom line arguments against relativism

Abstract: and participants in the 15th Discourse and Reflexivity Workshop (University of Sheffield, September 1992) for making helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper. In this version pages are counted according to the published numbers with breaks following the published version.

Health and efficiency : a sociology of health economics

Abstract: Part 1 Introduction: the National Health Service and the economic community the study and its method the threefold strategy. Part 2 Colonizing the mind - dilemmas in the application of economics? what is economics? common misconceptions about economics avoiding confrontation the ills of the NHS criticism without offence technical judgements and value judgements the dual programme of health economics. Part 3 Quick and dirty - the problems of intervention: rationality and irrationality in the NHS insider problems the pros and cons of working on the outside judgements of success and failure. Part 4 "Fury above prof's kidney call" - health economists in the media: introduction who's right, who's wrong and who decides? the other York - health economics under the microscope. Part 5 Measuring the quality of life - a sociological invention: an opening dialogue discussion of the paper begins measuring the quality of life further implications are explored conclusions are drawn concerning social science and practical action measuring quality of life - a comment by Alan Williams note. Part 6 Clinical budgeting - experimentation in the social sciences: a drama in five acts: act 1 an idea is born in a London cafe act 2 why is clinical budgeting? act 3 the problems of experimentation act 4 Wickings' world act 5 an evaluation meeting notes. Part 7 The rationalized choice - option appraisal and the politics of rational decision-making: politics, appraisal and the politics of appraisal reading "Planning Hospital Services" the final choice which costs? numbers, anomalies and benefits scores a positive conclusion is "Planning Hospital Services" a poor appraisal? a brief lesson notes. Part 8 Summaries, conclusions and readings: summaries and conclusions (with imaginary interruptions) rational affirmation - an economist's reading critical deconstruciton - a sociologist's reading sceptical self-realization - a layperson's reading. Appendix: research materials interviews and transcripts texts recorded events.

Innocence and Nostalgia in Conversation Analysis: The Dynamic Relations of Tape and Transcript

Abstract: Die Konversationsanalyse (KA) meint "wissenschaftlicher" zu sein als andere Formen der qualitativen Textanalyse. Dieser Anspruch resultiert aus dem Charakter und den "internen Beziehungen" der methodologischen Verfahren und analytischen Objekte, die in der KA verwendet werden. Dazu gehort vor allem das Vertrauen in Tonbandaufnahmen von "naturlichen" Interaktionen und in detaillierte Transkripte. In diesem Beitrag werden wir die Beziehungen zwischen diesen beiden Elementen untersuchen – zwischen dem Gesprochenen bzw. Gehorten und dem Geschriebenen bzw. Gelesenen. Insbesondere stellen wir den Anspruch – der regelmasig in der aktuellen padagogischen Literatur auftaucht –, dass das Tonband dem Transkript uberlegen sei, in Frage. Diese Uberlegenheit scheint ontologisch und epistemologisch: das Tonband als erste Aufzeichnung und als "Daten"; und die Primarrolle des Tonbandes bei der Beilegung von Kontroversen und bei der Einscharfung einer professionellen KA-Kultur. Wir werden unsere Kritik hieran auf den folgenden drei Wegen umreisen: * Das Tonband – vom Horen zum Lesen : die Grundrhetorik des Tonbandes; die Bedeutung des "Wiederhorens" als empfohlene Analysestrategie; die generelle Epistemologie des "Horens"; * das Transkript – vom Lesen zum Horen (teilweise): das Transkript als ein nicht anerkanntes Analyseobjekt; die rhetorischen Merkmale eines KA-Transkripts; die Unentbehrlichkeit des Transkripts und die ubertriebene Vorstellung der Moglichkeit eines technischen Ersatzes; die generelle Epistemologie des "Lesens"; * der gegenseitige durchdachte (elaborative) Charakter von Tonband und Transkript: die dokumentarische Methode der KA; Wiederhoren wie Wiederlesen; das Tonband verandert sich auch; das Fehlen eines Grundobjektes fur die KA und die Konsequenzen. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs000335

The Theatre of the Blind: Starring a Promethean Prankster, a Phoney Phenomenon, a Prism, a Pocket, and a Piece of Wood

Abstract: One of the most notorious cases of full-blown scientific error is the `non-existent' form of radiation known as `N-rays', discovered in the spring of 1903 by the French physicist Blondlot. After a ...

Lost in the Mall with Mesmer and Wundt: Demarcations and Demonstrations in the Psychologies

Abstract: This article analyzes the demarcations made within psychology as a feature of the "memory wars"-the current controversy around "recovered" or "false" memory. As it is played out inside professional psychology, the disputefeatures clinical practitioners acting largely as proponents of recovered memory and experimentalists as proponents of false memory Tracing a genealogy of this dispute back to a pair of original sites (Mesmer's salon and Wundt's laboratory), we show how the traditions' engagement in three modes of scientific demonstration varies systematically in terms of the modes of social relation inherent in their epistemic practices and the kinds of" reliable witness" these practices produce. We conclude that whereas the experimentalist tradition is able to transport their produced witnesses from one to another site of demonstration with relative case, the clinical tradition has much greater difficulty in doing so and thus has to engage in a variety of compensatory demonstrative strategies.

Social Theory of International Politics

Abstract: Drawing upon philosophy and social theory, Social Theory of International Politics develops a theory of the international system as a social construction. Alexander Wendt clarifies the central claims of the constructivist approach, presenting a structural and idealist worldview which contrasts with the individualism and materialism which underpins much mainstream international relations theory. He builds a cultural theory of international politics, which takes whether states view each other as enemies, rivals or friends as a fundamental determinant. Wendt characterises these roles as 'cultures of anarchy', described as Hobbesian, Lockean and Kantian respectively. These cultures are shared ideas which help shape state interests and capabilities, and generate tendencies in the international system. The book describes four factors which can drive structural change from one culture to another - interdependence, common fate, homogenization, and self-restraint - and examines the effects of capitalism and democracy in the emergence of a Kantian culture in the West.

Why Has Critique Run out of Steam? From Matters of Fact to Matters of Concern

Abstract: Wars. Somanywars.Wars outside andwars inside.Culturalwars, science wars, and wars against terrorism.Wars against poverty andwars against the poor. Wars against ignorance and wars out of ignorance. My question is simple: Should we be at war, too, we, the scholars, the intellectuals? Is it really our duty to add fresh ruins to fields of ruins? Is it really the task of the humanities to add deconstruction to destruction? More iconoclasm to iconoclasm?What has become of the critical spirit? Has it run out of steam? Quite simply, my worry is that it might not be aiming at the right target. To remain in the metaphorical atmosphere of the time, military experts constantly revise their strategic doctrines, their contingency plans, the size, direction, and technology of their projectiles, their smart bombs, theirmissiles; I wonder why we, we alone, would be saved from those sorts of revisions. It does not seem to me that we have been as quick, in academia, to prepare ourselves for new threats, new dangers, new tasks, new targets. Are wenot like thosemechanical toys that endlesslymake the samegesturewhen everything else has changed around them? Would it not be rather terrible if we were still training young kids—yes, young recruits, young cadets—for wars that are no longer possible, fighting enemies long gone, conquering territories that no longer exist, leaving them ill-equipped in the face of threats we had not anticipated, for whichwe are so thoroughlyunprepared? Generals have always been accused of being on the ready one war late— especially French generals, especially these days. Would it be so surprising,

Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method

Abstract: Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method is a systematic introduction to discourse analysis as a body of theories and methods for social research. It brings together three central approaches, Laclau and Mouffe's discourse theory, critical discourse analysis and discursive psychology, in order to establish a dialogue between different forms of discourse analysis often kept apart by disciplinary boundaries. The book introduces the three approaches in a clear and easily comprehensible manner, explaining the distinctive philosophical premises and theoretical perspectives of each approach as well as the methodological guidelines and tools they provide for empirical discourse analysis. The authors also demonstrate the possibilities for combining different discourse analytical and non-discourse analytical approaches in empirical study. Finally, they contextualize discourse analysis within the social constructionist debate about critical social research, rejecting the view that a critical stance is incompatible with social constructionist premises and arguing that critique must be an inherent part of social research.

Political power beyond the State: problematics of government

Abstract: This paper sets out an approach to the analysis of political power in terms of problematics of government. It argues against an overvaluation of the 'problem of the State' in political debate and social theory. A number of conceptual tools are suggested for the analysis of the many and varied alliances between political and other authorities that seek to govern economic activity, social life and individual conduct. Modern political rationalities and governmental technologies are shown to be intrinsically linked to developments in knowledge and to the powers of expertise. The characteristics of liberal problematics of government are investigated, and it is argued that they are dependent upon technologies for 'governing at a distance', seeking to create locales, entities and persons able to operate a regulated autonomy. The analysis is exemplified through an investigation of welfarism as a mode of 'social' government. The paper concludes with a brief consideration of neo-liberalism which demonstrates that the analytical language structured by the philosophical opposition of state and civil society is unable to comprehend contemporary transformations in modes of exercise of political power.(1).