Learning Research (Inaugural Lecture)
Professor Gerard de Zeeuw

There is no closed theory for research yet - notwithstanding many attempts to catch some of its basics by writers from Descartes to Latour and by teachers who have tried to simplify its tenets. One characteristic stands out, however: one may learn from the past. Doing so is not straightforward, however. There are many ways: via stories of great men, of great achievements, of anecdotes (Eureka!), via the telling of grand narratives. A genealogy of research will be sketched. It characterises what has been retained over time and what has changed - and what there is at present, including the ability to debunk widely accepted ideas.

Biography

Gerard de Zeeuw has published widely concerning matters of research design and knowledge creation. He was first appointed professor of research methods in 1973, later followed by appointments in social work, human action, mathematical modelling of complex social systems and agro-systems. He is co-founder of the International Federation of Systems Research, the Dutch Systems Group and of eight research institutions. He was honoured by being elected twice as fellow of the Netherlands Institute of Advanced Studies, by visiting professorships, honorary memberships and by a large personal research grant from the Dutch Minister of Education. Further biographical details may be found in his Festschrift (Systems Research and Behavioral Sciences 2001, vol 19, nr. 2).

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