Because physiotherapy is so grounded in the biomedical sciences, most undergraduate students (and a fair few postgrads) tend to think that critical thinking is about the ability to analyze a research paper. At best this can result in a deep appreciation for the evidence that presently exists for a phenomenon, at worst the students follow a formulaic process to arrive at a score that is as predictable as it is banal. There is, however, another side to critical theory - a world of research and scholarship that these students are rarely, if ever, exposed to - the kinds of thinking that is commonplace in the arts, humanities, philosophy and sociology. I spend quite a lot of time in this … [Read more...] about Being really critical about thinking
From Sociology of Health and Illness, Volume 36, Issue 6, July 2014
Touching moments: phenomenological sociology and the haptic dimension in the lived experience of motor neurone disease Jacquelyn Allen-Collinson and Amanda Pavey Keywords: motor neurone disease; phenomenological sociology; Merleau-Ponty; the senses; touch and the haptic Abstract Currently, there is a relative research lacuna in phenomenological research into the lived experience of motor neurone disease. Based on a sociological research project in the UK, involving 42 participants diagnosed with MND, this article explores the potential of a phenomenological sociology for analysing experiences of this drastically life-limiting neurological disorder. Calls have … [Read more...] about From Sociology of Health and Illness, Volume 36, Issue 6, July 2014
10 reasons why we need a Critical Physiotherapy Network
The response to the formation of our Critical Physiotherapy Network has been amazing, and it's made me think about some of the reasons why physiotherapy is now ready for a group like this. 1. Health care is increasingly complex The sheer size and complexity of the health care system is profoundly challenging the old medical model. Writers like Bryan Turner, Simon Williams, Debbie Lupton, Chris Shilling, Nick Fox, Alan Petersen and others have shown that biomedicine has brought about many great achievements, but it has also contributed to the present dysfunction in the health system. As the old system is slowly dismantled (and with it, many of the principles that have underpinned … [Read more...] about 10 reasons why we need a Critical Physiotherapy Network