The limitations of assumption

Our culture is characterised within the context of Netflix identifying sleep as a major competitor. The CDC are proposing to label social media as a risk to our health. The attention economy makes the extraordinary seem every-day, and easier to share elusive or unrealistic visions of what it is to be human.

Our culture can also be agnostic about the importance of examining the underlying assumptions shaping our thinking. It has always been this way. But with the amplification of communication enabled by the internet, it has made it easier to share ideas and perspectives. Including those that have no ethical or empirical foundations.  

Assumptions about how the world works enable us to function, both collectively and as individuals. They are predictive tools, providing reassurance and a framework for engaging with the world. Collectively, assumptions can be the glue that binds us. But they can also push us apart.

Assumptions drive our politics. They shape the market, and where we see the role of the state and voluntary sectors in our lives. These play out to shape the distribution of resources, and ultimately the priorities and approaches of organisations working on the ground.

Organisations make assumptions. They shape their objectives, and ultimately their response. They also influence the transmission and interpretation of research, and shape how it is acted on. Ultimately, assumptions determine the experiences and outcomes (however defined) of the people they engage.

Researchers too. They drive the research questions they are interested in, and the methods by which to examine them. They can lead researchers towards a more qualitative or quantitative orientation, or like me, somewhere in between. All methods produce partial and conditional data. My assumption is that rigorous mixed-method approaches that produce more rounded, richer analyses will be helpful to organisations in working towards their goals.

At Inference, we find creative and collaborate ways to help organisations explore and map the underlying assumptions that inform their work. This is to ensure a more rounded understanding of the relationships between shared goals, what happens in practice, and intended outcomes. This can lead to research that is more sensitive to context, the voices of stakeholders, and importantly produces more relevant and applicable findings.

If the ideas in this piece resonate, please do reach out to me at llorenc@inference.org