Towards a sui generis systemic theory: The Three-Dimensional Spiral of Sense. A Study in Argentina Applied to Identity and Professionalisation (Part 1)

Abstract

This article introduces a new theory called “Towards a Systemic Sui Generis Paradigm: The Three Dimensional Spiral of Sense Theory” applied to Identity and Professionalization”. The epistemological mainstays of the theory are stressed here, a theory supported by more than 30 years of empirical research at CONICET (National Council of Scientific Research, Argentina), with individuals belonging to different populations, some of them covering periods of over 20 years (intra-generational studies), and others covering three generations inline (inter-generational studies). This article presents the most specific theoretical frameworks – which are common to the research to be dealt with –, and it formulates the five disciplinary areas in which the new analysis of the social data was carried out: Education, Health, Science, Media, International Relations and Interculturality. After that, the firs area – Education – is dealt with through different levels (secondary level, tertiary level, University and PhD training), and some research is presented in each case in which, briefly, the theoretical frame, objectives, hypothesis/questions, variables/dimensions, material and methods, results and discussion are shown. Article 2 deals with the same, regarding the other four disciplinary areas. It shows the interpretation of results and a conclusion, from which the mainstays of this research clearly arise in vivo, i.e., from reference research works. It should be pointed out that, among the selected reference research works, some are comparative studies with European countries, others with Latin-American countries. The methodology used was quantitative (statistical analysis, a semi-structured survey) but mainly qualitative (lexicometric analysis, hierarchical evocations, interviews). The approach was macro-micromeso-macro, micro, not quite common yet. It consists of a kind of sui generis systemicism which recovers relationships (links, back and forth) between individuals and contexts, without overlooking neither the former nor the latter, thus, avoiding any type of reductionism. Individuals, organizations and frameworks interplay and feedback themselves. The results, particularly the qualitative ones, show the rich interactions underlying the continuance or innovation processes, which favor or hinder the individuals’ development and identity in times of abrupt change; at the same time, these results reveal the need for Professionalization in emerging countries. All that aiming at continuous improvement.