Discussant's Comments: Global Themes Stream

Abstract

(From the text):

"First, participants identified the need for the association itself to focus on the philosophical underpinnings or principles of operation for the study of common property. There is still the lack of clarity in the definitions, specifically the lack of a common definition of success for your work -- not that we would always agree but for the value of the dialog. I was struck by one comment that perhaps once we start talking the same language its too often because some of us have stopped talking.

"Second, it was noted that the association needs a clearer articulation of the discipline itself and common language. So those of us who are practitioners, not of the common property school, can at least decide whether we want to access your research.

"I work in community education and frequently during these presentations I was thinking whether my community would be able to access this information, particularly in the way it is being presented. I want to challenge you to think about crossing another "barrier" and think of yourself as community educators as well as researchers. It is very important that you effectively present your research to people who are daily dealing with these difficult issues and need the benefit of your research but that can only happen if you deliberately make information more accessible."