3.1.1 Framework Purpose and Suitability for the Thesis Objective
The framework constructed in this chapter serves the purpose of systematising the designing of data collection items, as well as the collecting and processing of data. It also facilitates evaluation of data results in terms of easy identification of the meaning and potential ramifications of results. Constructed specifically for the purpose of satisfying the thesis objective, the framework is relevant to this thesis only. The components of Vedic Cognitive Science including the VMMES (with its
consciousnesscentric approach) coupled with the triguna, are presented as a reference system for psychological evaluation. Combined with the BuddhistTheravada
Abhidharma mental events, emotions and perfections, the framework provides a means by which the qualitative level of consciousness of Australian Antarctic scientists can be estimated.
Introduced in section 1.1.3, the thesis proposition suggests that the quality of consciousness of environmental scientists is currently poor, which is impacting adversely on the outcomes of environmental conservation activities. The thesis objective that followed was:
TO INVESTIGATE IF THERE EXISTS A NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS TO RAISE THE QUALITATIVE LEVEL OF THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING OUTCOMES OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES
The framework was designed specifically to respond to this objective. As
delineated in Chapter Two, Vedic and Buddhist conceptual theory and methodologies were chosen to assess the quality of consciousness of scientists because they were considered the best methodology available. They were also chosen due to the
determination that having two evaluative systems instead of one would enhance data results and add meaning to their implications. By selecting two systems that are fundamentally congruous in purpose and epistemological approach, the thesis objective can be met with little if any contention. Additionally, by choosing two systems that are similar, but not the same in their composition and structure, a broader appreciation of data results can be gained whilst the overall aim of the evaluation remains compatible.
The hierarchical presentation of the triguna allows for a logical interpretation of data results, as well as a rational explanation of potential ramifications of results. By assessing results against the qualitative nature of characteristics of the different gunas, an overall appraisal can be made as to the general situatedness of scientists within the hierarchy of three gunas. The thesis Data Collection and Processing Framework (DCPF) is presented as follows:
TABLE 3.1.1.1: Data Collection and Processing Framework (DCPF)
FRAMEWORK COMPONENTS COMPONENT EXPLANATION
THEORETICAL COMPONENTS
THE VMMES IS THE CORE COMPONENT OF VCS AND THEREFORE ALSO OF THE DCPF. DEPICTING THE COMPOSITION OF ‘THE PERSON,’ THE VMMES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
CONSCIOUSNESSCENTRIC PARADIGM GIVES INSIGHT INTO THE ROLE THAT CONSCIOUSNESS PLAYS WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL’S ENTIRE
CONSTITUTION. THE TRIGUNA COMPONENT OF VCS PROVIDES THE METHODOLOGY NEEDED TO
UNDERSTAND MATERIAL
CONDITIONING OF NON-MATERIAL CONSCIOUSNESS.
WHILST ALL ASPECTS OF ECS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN DATA
ANALYSIS, ECS IS PRESENTED HERE TO CONTRAST VCS. WHILST
ABHIDHARMA TEACHINGS ARE ESSENTIALLY PSYCHOLOGICAL TEACHINGS, MENTAL EVENTS, EMOTIONS AND PERFECTIONS CONSTITUTE GUIDELINES FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF WHAT MAY BE DESCRIBED AS QUALITIES OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
DATA COLLECTION COMPONENTS
AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC
SCIENTIST INVENTORY (AASI)
THESE THREE DATA COLLECTION ITEMS ARE AIMED AT COLLECTING INFORMATION ON SCIENTISTS’ QUALITATIVE LEVELS OF
CONSCIOUSNESS DATA FROM THE
VEDIC COGNITIVE SCIENCE (VCS) CONSCIOUSNESSCENTRIC
PARADIGM VEDIC MODEL OF THE MATERIALLY EMBODIED SELF (VMMES) ENACTIVE COGNITIVE SCIENCE (ECS) THERAVADA (perfections) guna psychological characteristics ABHIDHARMA (mental events and emotions)
INTERVIEW SERIES WITH AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC SCIENTISTS
AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC SCIENCE LITERATURE IDEAL GUNA SITUATEDNESS
QUESTIONNAIRE (IGSQ)
THE IGSQ AIMS TO ASSESS HOW THREE DIFFERENT PROFESSIONAL GROUPS ESTIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS’ IDEAL SITUATEDNESS WITHIN THE TRIGUNA, IN RELATION TO SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE GOALS. RESULTS FROM THIS DATA ITEM CAN BE MEASURED AGAINST RESULTS FROM THE ABOVE THREE DATA-ITEMS.
DATA PRESENTATION AND EVALUATION COMPONENTS
COMPLETE GUNA
CHARACTERISTICS GUIDE (CGCG)
GUNA CHARACTERISTICS ARE LISTED ACCORDING TO PARALLEL TOPICS. THIS GUIDE PROVIDES AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF CHARACTERISTICS TO ASSIST DATA PROCESSING AND
EVALUATION.
THE GUNA DATUM EVALUATION GUIDE (GDEG)
THE GDEG FACILITATES EVALUATION OF INDIVIDUAL DATA IN RELATION TO, AND WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF, THE TRIGUNA.
THE STRATIFIED HIERARCHICAL PRESENTATION OF SCORES (SHPS)
THIS PRESENTATION, ADAPTED FROM MODEL 3.3.1.1, DEPICTS THE TRIGUNA ACCORDING TO VCS. IN ADDITION TO ARRANGING SCORES ACCORDING TO VCS METHODOLOGY, THE MODEL GIVES THEORETICAL MEANING TO THE TRIGUNACOMPONENT OF THE DCPF.
THE GUNA PROFILE CONSTRUCTION GUIDE (GPCG)
THE GPCG BRINGS ALL THE DATA TOGETHER FOR EVALUATION. IT FACILITATES THE COMPOSING OF AN OVERALL PICTURE OF THE
SITUATEDNESS OF THE AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AGAINST THE TRIGUNA.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPLICATIONS OF GUNA SITUATEDNESS (SIGS)
THIS GUIDE FACILITATES
UNDERSTANDING OF THE RESULTS OF BOTH INDIVIDUAL DATA AND ALL DATA COLLECTIVELY. IT EXPLAINS THE MEANING OF RESULTS IN TERMS OF THEIR POTENTIAL CURRENT AND FUTURE IMPACT.
COMPLETE ABHIDHARMA FACTOR GUIDE and GUIDE FOR ASSESSING CORRELATION BETWEEN THE TRIGUNA
AND THEABHIDHARMA (CAFG-GACTA)
THIS TABLE GIVES EXPLANATIONS OF MENTAL EVENTS, EMOTIONS AND PERFECTIONS. ITS PURPOSE IS TO ASSIST IN DATA PROCESSING AS WELL AS TO SHED LIGHT ON DATA RESULTS. IT IDENTIFIES
MENTAL EVENTS, EMOTIONS AND PERFECTIONS AND TRIGUNA CHARACTERISTICS.
ABHIDHARMA PROFILE CONSTRUCTION GUIDE (APCG)
DESIGNED TO SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE AS THE GPCG, THE APCG AIDS THE ASSESSMENT OF
SCIENTISTS’ OVERALL QUALITY OF CONSCIOUSNESS, ACCORDING TO DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING USING ABHIDHARMA FACTORS.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPLICATIONS OF REPRESENTATION OF ABHIDHARMA
FACTORS (SIAF)
IN ORDER TO GIVE MEANING AND VALUE TO OVERALL RESULTS ACCORDING TO THE ABHIDHARMA, THIS GUIDE CONTEXTUALISES RESULTS WITHIN THE BROADER SETTING OF GLOBAL
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.
PROJECTED ESTIMATIONS ARE GIVEN OF WHAT DIFFERENT DATA RESULTS MAY MEAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CARE.
The DCPF provides a research framework in which the thesis objective can be addressed. Comprised of theoretical components, data collection items, data
processing techniques, data evaluation guides, data presentation models and guides as to the significance and implications of results, the DCPF has the potential to satisfy the thesis objective.
Prior to data collection, all research procedures designed for each of the data collection items were submitted to the Southern Tasmanian Human Research Ethics Committee for approval. Details of all data collection items, including their
underpinning research methodology, objectives and goals, as well as planned methods of collection were provided. Approval was given on 16 October 2003 (approval number H7605) with no alterations required for any items.
3.1.2 Framework Parameters
Methodological parameters imposed by the selected data collection and processing approaches, namely the triguna and the Abhidharma, are as follows:
1. An estimate only can be given of scientists’ qualities of consciousness. Whilst both triguna characteristics and Abhidharma factors offer extensive descriptions of quality of consciousness, collecting and analysing data on such phenomena is prone to obscurity, meaning that determining results is, particularly in some cases, highly interpretative. As the many aspects and features of the human mind,
intellect and consciousness are highly abstract in nature, extracting specific qualitative tendencies opens the door to potential error. As such, data results from research in this thesis will be accepted as estimates only of the actual quality of consciousness of Australian Antarctic scientists;
2. Although Vedic cosmology and psychology offer explanations as to how all individuals are perpetually being influenced by matter, an estimation only can be given of how individual scientists have come to be influenced by specific material characteristics of the triguna. For example, the Vedas explain that all materially
embodied individuals are materially contaminated due to their desire to enjoy material life (instead of spiritual life). However, unless an individual’s personal history is thoroughly known in detail, then it will be impossible to ascertain exactly why he/she chooses to engage in specific material activities, such as killing animals for research (tamasgunainfluence) or dedicating his/her time to assuring ethical research practices (sattvaguna influence). For this reason, specific origins of individual scientists’ conditioning are not pursued in data collection.
Similarly, identifying exact causal factors responsible for scientists’ mental events or emotions is considered extremely difficult. The Abhidharma itself does not claim to be able to facilitate such identification. Therefore, specific causal agents underpinning the manifestation of scientists’ mental events, emotions and perfections are not pursued in this thesis; and
3. As VCS forms the primary theoretical data-collection and processing component of the DCPF, interpretations of research results will primarily be restricted to the theoretical premises of VCS. By processing data (excluding the AASI and the IGSQ) against Abhidharma factors, results will be appreciated from another similar, but not identical point of evaluation. These restrictions will produce results that have been analysed according to two highly congruous systems of analysis that also offer significant diversity. The meaning of results will also be produced from such coupling of congruity and diversity.