As Don Schön repeatedly noted, the separation of research from professional practice has been destructive of both research and practice. Effective practitioners (whether in medicine, law or psychotherapy) should always be testing their hypotheses (espoused theory) against what they are experiencing in their daily practices. They are engaged in research just as much as those working in a chemistry laboratory or running a rat down a maze. I would suggest that this reflective practice is being engaged on an ongoing basis by all of us as we acquire feedback from our environment regarding the actions we have taken based on our anticipations.
Argyris and Schön provide an analytic tool that makes the process of reflective practice and action science fully accessible to us as we confront difficult challenges (especially those involving interpersonal relationships). They construct a table with a left and right column. On the left column, one places a segment of a set of behaviors that have taken place or are envisioned between oneself and the other person with whom one has a challenging relationship. On the right column, one places a statement regarding what each person is thinking and feeling in the midst of the enactment of their specific behavior.
For instance, we might prepare a left-right column table regarding our upcoming meeting with someone we will call “Susan”. Our left column might include a statement we make to start the conversation (“I want to share my concerns with you about the speech you delivered yesterday.”) The right column might include our anticipation regarding how Susan will react (“She is going to become very upset and angry regarding what I have to say”). The second item on the left column might be the statement that we anticipate Susan will make (“I look forward to hearing what you have to say. I always appreciate your feedback.”). In the right column, we insert our anticipation (assumption) of what Susan is thinking and feeling (“This is going to be awful, and I should brace myself for some bad news!”).
The next statement, located on the left column, might include the first segment of the feedback to be offered to Susan, followed by a right column statement regarding my anticipation of how she will react. In the left column, we then prepare what we think Susan’s statement will be upon hearing the initial feedback. A right column entry would then include what we think Susan will be thinking and feeling at the time when she offers her reaction to this initial feedback. The left and right columns are subsequently filled with further anticipated statements being made (left column) and further thoughts and feelings in reaction to these statements (right column).
This left column/right column exercise is being prepared precisely to set up a framework regarding what we are anticipating will occur during this specific upcoming conversation with Susan. Note that we “don’t believe” Susan when she indicates that she looks forward to receiving the feedback. What if Susan is being honest? Have we set up conditions for Susan to change her mind regarding the benefit of our feedback? Assuming that Susan will be defensive and perhaps even hurt and angry regarding our feedback, do we offer the feedback in a way that increases her mistrust or suspicion regarding our intentions in providing the feedback?
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