Laboratory Process and Case Study in Adult Political Development

Abstract

The complementary nature of laboratory education and case study suggests that there is no necessary conflict between rationalist and developmentalist camps, at least insofar as effective political or civic education are concerned. The goal of laboratory education is the development of insight into group process and human feelings and motivations so as to remove blocks to group interaction, human achievement, and task productivity. By contrast, the prime goal of case study is the development of superior powers of judgment in the subject area concerned. Case study promotes inferential thinking and the testing of generalizations, and in the subject area of civic education, it forms a bridge between the per sonal world of the individual and the seemingly remote sphere of fundamental political questions. Used in complementary fashion, laboratory education and case study together may form the neces sary and long needed catalyst for civilization of the political dialogue.