Abstract
Models in social science are validated by their explanatory force. This chapter looks at the insights the refined applied model offered in making sense of actual instances of composing in 13 more video protocols, as well as retrospectively, in terms of what the first applied model had already validated: in 35 instances the evidence of clear stages in composing had already been confirmed. The applied model could then be tested out against further instances of actual composing to see whether the refinements accurately represented actual instances of intra- and extra-systemic variation in composing, and whether the model now clarified the social aspects of composing. An analysis of the data obtained in the 13 video protocols suggested that the refined applied model of composing explained actual instances of intra- and extra-systemic variation in composing, and, more importantly, showed that much of the intra-systemic variation was triggered off by contingent factors. Finally, the refined model clarified how social factors worked both outside and inside of the composing system, which is in fact the most significant contribution of the whole modelling exercise, as composing could now be represented as a social process.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Franck, R. (2002) The explanatory power of models: bridging the gap between empirical and theoretical research in the social sciences. Methodos Series, Vol. 1. Norwell, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Judd, D. (2003) Critical realism and composition theory. London: Routledge.
Pfingstag, N. (1984) Showing writing: modeling the process. TESOL Newsletter, Supplement No.1: Writing and Composition 18(1):1–3.
Pratt, D.D. (2005a) Social mechanism and software design: the use of a stochastic social-process algorithm in the design of a writing tutor program. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Computer Science and its Applications (ICCSA-2005). San Diego, CA, USA, 27–30 June 2005:249–254.
Pratt, D.D. (2007b) A realist approach to writing: developing a theoretical model of written composition to inform a computer mediated learning interaction. Unpublished doctoral thesis. Durban University of Technology, South Africa.
Schön, D. (1983) The reflective practitioner: how professionals think in action. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pratt, D. (2010). The Explanatory Force of the Models. In: Modelling Written Communication. Methodos Series, vol 8. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9843-6_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9843-6_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-9842-9
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-9843-6
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)