Richard W Bohannon. Open-Mindedness Urged .... orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Richard. Froeb. We regret the error. ... 358 Mansfield Rd. Storrs, CT 06268.
Open-Mindedness Urged Richard W Bohannon PHYS THER. 1988; 68:264-265.
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opinions and comments Open-Mindedness Urged To the Editor: No one, I trust, especially those involved in the review process for this journal, would deny that the methods used in examining patients and experimental subjects should be both free of bias and valid. Indeed, every effort should be made to reduce bias in the clinic and the laboratory. Nevertheless, those reviewing papers should not confuse the possibility that a bias might exist with the actual presence of bias.1 Similarly, validity, an elusive characteristic at best, should not be confused with what is already believed (tradition). Al-
though the beliefs of practitioners may serve as a useful screen when reading research,2 beliefs, like the research being read, must be scrutinized. The former might even be evaluated with regard to the latter. The performance of such evaluations on a routine basis could contribute substantially to the growth of our profession. Kurt Lewin put it well in 1949 when he said, "To proceed beyond the limitations of a given level of knowledge, the researcher, as a rule, has to break down methodological taboos, which condemn as 'unscientific or illogical' the very methods or concepts which later on prove to be basic for the next major progress."3 Jan Vandenbroucke addressed the issue more recently.1 He emphasized that the substance of the
problem is more important than the method of the study and that clinicians should keep an eye on the "general principles of validity in the background." Consistent perhaps with Lewin, he noted that "history teaches us that original publications about major breakthroughs in medicine are very often methodologically weak." Going further, he stated, "The niceties of the methodological kind most typically flourish when everybody is already convinced of some theses." He concluded that he places his trust in those "who try to collect new evidence, by whatever means, rather than in some apodictical theorizing about methods, since methods, like alchemy, will never solve the essential problem of what is truth 'out there, in reality.'" As one whose methods are sometimes viewed with doubt and as an Associate Editor who often reads statements of intolerance of investigators' methods by
APTA DISCIPLINARY ACTION The following disciplinary action was taken recently by the APTA Judicial Committee. This action was taken by the Committee pursuant to The 'Procedural Document of Disciplinary Action of the American Physical Therapy Association. When a final decision involves disciplinary action other than reprimand, the respondent's name is published. The APTA Judicial Committee has expelled the following individuals from membership in the Association, effective March 9, 1987: Daniel R. Crisci, New Jersey—For violation of Principles 2, 3,5, and 7 of the APTA Code of Ethics. Harry G. Kacandes, New Jersey— For violation of Principles 2, 3, 5, and 7 of the APTA Code of Ethics. Edward J. Karius, Indiana—For violation of Principles 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the APTA Code of Ethics. 264
PHYSICAL THERAPY Downloaded from http://ptjournal.apta.org/ by guest on November 3, 2012
Errata On page 1524 of the article "Use of High Voltage Pulsed Galvanic Stimulation for Patients with Levator Ani
Syndrome" (PHYSICAL THER-
APY, October 1987), the EGS 300 was cited in the footnote as the stimulator used in the study. This is incorrect. The correct model number is EGS 100-2. The EGS 300 is a batteryoperated, portable model. The authors regret the error. Please note a correction in the Membership Qualifications Prescribed By The Board ofDirectors, as published in the October 1987 issue of PHYSICAL THERAPY, page 1619. Under "A. Active Membership," number 4 should read as follows: 4. If trained outside the United States, United States citizenship, a legal permit for permanent residence in the United States, or a legal permit to work in the United States, and graduation from an education program(s) that by credentials evaluation is (are) determined to be equivalent, with respect to professional education, to entry-level physical therapist education in the United States.
Subject-matter Experts, I urge openmindedness toward the methods used by authors. As Feinstein has stated, The investigator, because of problems in feasibility or mensuration, may not be able to acquire the exact data that would be most desirable. When the investigator uses various types of substitution, the reviewer may not agree that the substitutes were satisfactory. The investigator, attempting to work with the world's imperfections may seek the enlightenment of a candle in darkness; the reviewer may be discontent with anything other than a mercury-arc beam.
REFERENCES 1. Vandenbroucke JP: A check list for observational research? J Chronic Dis 40:1067-1068, 1987 2. Weiss CH, Bucuvalas MJ: Truth tests and utility tests: Decision makers' frames of reference for social science research. American Sociological Review 45:302-313,1980 3. Lewin K, quoted in Argyris C, Putnam R, Smith DM: Action Science. San Francisco, CA, Jossey-Bass Inc, Publishers, 1985, p 1 4. Feinstein AR: Clinical Epidemiology. The Architecture of Clinical Research. Philadelphia, PA, W B Saunders Co, 1985, pp 34-35
By tolerating deviance from personal views or present norms, those involved in the review process may extend the value of their present service to the profession. Even if, as a result, a work is published that is questionable, at least it will be out in the open to be questioned. RICHARD W. BOHANNON Associate Professor School ofAllied Health Professions University of Connecticut Box U-101 358 Mansfield Rd Storrs, CT 06268
In the article "Relief of Low Back Pain by Epidural Injection," by Russell Woodman (PHYSICAL THERAPY, November 1987), we stated incorrectly that the epidural injection was performed by a physical therapist. The injection was performed by an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Richard Froeb. We regret the error. Please note the following changes to the article "Muscle Pressure Effects on Motoneuron Excitability: A Special Communication" (PHYSICAL THERAPY, November 1987): 1. On page 1720, the sentence "At least three trials of most subjects, however, were significantly different" is incorrect. The sentence should be changed to "At least three trials of most subjects, however, were not significantly different." We regret the error. 2. On page 1721, the sentence "As shown in the Figure (illustration A), a mean M-wave depression to 35% of the controls also was observed on pressure application" should be corrected to read "As shown in the Figure (illustration A), a 35% mean M-wave depression was also observed upon pressure application." Volume 68 / Number 2, February 1988 Downloaded from http://ptjournal.apta.org/ by guest on November 3, 2012
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Open-Mindedness Urged Richard W Bohannon PHYS THER. 1988; 68:264-265.
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