CULTURALLY GROUNDED REVIEW OF RESEARCH ASSUMPTIONS

Abstract: In this article 11 assumptions underlying many discussions of alternative medicine are discussed and critiqued.- that (1) cultural factors merely constitute noise in research data that can he removed by proper design; (2) the only proper goal of alternative medicine research is the incorporation of effective practices into medicine,- (3) physicians are the primary consumers of good alternative medicine research; (4) control of pathology is the sole measure of the effectiveness of alternative medicine,- (5) effects on pathology can fully separated from effects on perception or quality of life,- (6) effects on individual health should be the sole focus of alternative medical research; (7) medicine is aware of all sicknesses appropriate for alternative medicine research; (8) subjective data are less valuable than objective data,- (9) the best leads for research come from recognizable systems with advocates; (10) more "modern-looking, " highly articulated forms are necessarily better research "bets and (11) all good candidates for alternative medicine research are recognized as health practices by those who use them.

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