KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION IN CHANGING REALITIES

Various devices have been identified to support research as a way of i mproving on observations; those in the social sciences appearing to be less effective than those in the physical sciences. To make the forme r more effective, it often is tried to ''involve'' the user as a parti cipant observer, as a co-researcher, as a commissioner. A clarificatio n of the multiplicity of such attempts seems in order. Formulates a fr amework to summarize the most important aspects of research. Explores instances of this framework with regard to their ability to include us ers. One instance is applied in a ''practical'' situation, the improve ment of a social service. This instance distinguishes sharply between two kinds of users, each using a different language to promote transfe r and interaction: users inside a collective and users outside that co llective.