Risch Andreas.pdf - Osteopathic Research

English Abstract:
Study Design
Qualitative research, metaphor analysis
Outline/Problem Definition
The questions „What is health? What is illness?“ are challenging the philosophical,
scientific and professional concepts of osteopaths.Osteopathic thought, speech and
practice is influenced by the philosophical principals which are laid down by A.T. Still,
J.M. Littlejohn and W.S. Sutherland and their students. In osteopathic literature
abstract and complex terms like health are expressed mainly by metaphors.
Osteopathic language seems to be one of the major problems (Liem et al., 2008) in
the conceptualization of basic terminology like health and illness in thinking, speaking
and acting. In this study the metaphor analysis - one of the more recent research
methods in cognitive linguistics - is trying to gain insight into osteopathic concepts of
health by systematically screening and analyzing the metaphors and the metaphoric
concepts used.
Research Question & Objective
„Health as Metaphor“ - What are the concepts of health of German speaking
osteopaths with an academic background?
Hypotheses and Preliminary Assumptions
Abstract terminology like health is predominantly conceptualized in osteopathy by
metaphors. Metaphoric concepts help to transfer osteopathic thinking, speaking and
acting about health into an easier way of perception und understanding. Osteopathic
experience can be articulated and discussed better with metaphors.