Piet to Heloisa and Rod

Rod and Heloisa,

I'm glad you brought up the methodology question, Rod. There is a lot to say for focusing on a specific approach, so that we can compare notes in evaluating that approach. There is also a lot of value in more open-ended ways of exploring a new topic. Like in science, both approaches have their function. When we find a new phenomenon in the lab, we first want to be open-ended, in order not to prejudice what the phenomenon has to tell us. And then, when we get more familiar, we want to inquire more precisely about various aspects of what is the case.

I agree with you that it is important to state beforehand what the approach is that we want to take. If we don't make clear, at least to ourselves, what we set out to explore, we might get totally adrift. In itself, getting adrift may not be bad at all, and great works of art may well have sprouted from mindsets that were totally adrift. But since we are talking about a working hypothesis, and since we are following at least the inspiration of a more scientific and systematic approach, it is good to be more precise, at least initially. If our exploration really takes off, we are likely to wind up in surprising and unexpected situations, which may force us to change our initial methodology, which would be a sign of progress.

It may be sufficient to write down, for each of us for ourselves, what our approach is, and then to include that information at the beginning of our report. But I also like your suggestion, to make our starting points public before we do the one-day experiment. At least for the first try it makes a lot of sense, to add maximal clarity and disclosure right away. Probably all three of us will have a different approach in mind, and that is fine. At the outset, each of us should start exploring in ways that each one is most comfortable with. Focusing on a specific entry point is fine; starting in a very open-ended way is fine; but yet, it would be good to state that, either way.

Rod, would you like to start off, writing to us about your approach? Heloisa and I can then give our description, and then we call all do our one-day experiment.

Piet