Evaluating research on the Feldenkrais Method from the outside.

Some observations and suggestions.

Abstract

As we debate the process and usefullness of research within our ranks, people are looking at us from the outside to try to evaluate the effectiveness of what we are doing in achieving the claims that we make. One of the ways we communicate our work is through the sharing of personal experience. Another way is the presentation of formal research that documents the outcomes of our work and suggests the context within which it may be most effective. This article will review some of the criteria that people use when they look at our work from the outside and discuss some of the conclusions about research on Feldenkrais Method based on those criteria. We have made a good start in addressing the outcomes of the work that we do but we have a long way to go to address the full range of the work that we do. Suggestions are made at the end for some next possible steps along the path of improving the research we do.