Hypothesizing and evidence-gathering: the nexus of understanding.
Prior discussion of hypothesizing as a session "guideline" has not fully clarified the derivation of hypotheses. Reviewing relevant philosophy of science literature, the authors develop the notions of evidence and evidence-gathering in systemic family therapy. The authors claim evidence-gathering and hypothesizing are interdependent, reciprocal elements of scientific understanding. The structure of evidence is described along with practical and qualitative rules for collecting and using evidence. This model is applied to a case example illustrating the logic of clinical process. Implications are discussed for family therapy training and supervision.
Sadler
J Z
JZ
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9070.
Hulgus
Y F
YF
D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male