Rumbling on performativity_Frits Simon

perspective it comes down to the proposition that the way reality is perceived has
consequences for what is reality is. Reality is not approached as something of its own.
The way of perceiving reality evolves out of the many interactions among people. In
these interactions social patterns evolve which produce more or less shared meanings
and which thus become real. From the philosophy of science this perspective is termed
as a social realistic point of view.
Nourished from a pragmatic-philosophical basis (Mead) and by analogy of a complexity
approach (Prigogine) from a complex responsive process-perspective it is postulated
that our social reality continuously changes, is unpredictable and uncertain. Our
social reality does not evolve in a rational and planned way, but crystallizes so to speak
‘behind our back’ out of our many interactions (Elias). The interactions are approached
as permeated by the micro-political actions of all involved (Foucault); in the many
interactions micro-power is always at issue.
Three narratives are the empirical basis of my research. As an observing participant I
describe what evolved in a specific group of people which is involved in the mentioned
before subjects. In the narratives policymaking becomes apparent. More specific: I
describe what happens in the interactions and to which results these interactions
lead. Subsequently the narratives are made reflexive by analysing them by using
existing literature on the subjects, amongst others for to demonstrate what from a
complex responsive process-perspective can be understood differently. In the three
narratives it becomes clear that results do not evolve in a rationally planned way, but
are the result of emerging developments within the group of the involved people. The
results cannot be reduced in a causal or linear fashion from the way they evolve.
Moreover, I am part in this emergence because my research is not done from an
outsider’s position but from an insider’s position.
Regarding the narratives emergence also reflects the analyses and reflexive labour. As
my research progressed three themes became apparent. These are themes which
apparently play there part in the UAS with regard to policymaking, with regard to way
I practise my role as adviser and with regard to themes which are connected to Higher
Education. Being reflexive towards what thematically presents itself in an emerging
way, contributes to learn to understand something different about my daily practice.
As such my movement of thought is part of the practised research methodology.
Taken everything together I qualify my research as radically reflexive. Radically reflexive
research aims at clarifying the taken for granted assumptions of the researcher,
within existing scientific literature and within local situations. However, this clarification
is not meant to promote a radical change of the course, but enables to make
apparent what could have been possible and what is excluded in the course of things.
Logically the fact that a local situation is researched into by a participating insider
demands for different criteria than validity and generalizability. By means of the
234