ephemera conference.ae,mk.june2017
TRANSCRIPT
Differences making no difference –on numbers and self-inflicted
ignorance
Anna Essén [email protected] Knudsen [email protected]
EphemeraStockholm, June 2017
From the use of ignorance tostrategies of ignoring
Data produced – and ignored
The non-use of self-produced data
Theories of ignorance, agnotology, stupidity, (McGoey, Gross, Proctor…)
Dominant theme: the function or use of ignorance, strategic ignorance (of others or of the ignorant)
We: HOW is ignorance produced? That is: strategies of ignoring
Strategies of ignoring
• Observers have structures creating expectation of actions in relation to certain information
• Information has a normative dimension relative to the observer (observers are complex and not only cynicaloptimizers of self-interest)
• How do organisations ignore potentially relevant information to which they are sensitive?
• Ignoring: the simultaneous presence of knowledge and non-knowledge
• It takes work to be ignorant• Strategies of ignoring: ways in which potentially
relevant information is kept un-actualized
Rheumatologists
We havenothing to
hide!
We protectthe registry!
Better than new documentationrequirements
We simply try to identify
variables thatcan be
compared
Creating legitimacy
The comparisonsare not that
relevantAvoiding moredamaginginterventions
We secureregistry
funding !
National health agency
Our job is not no
interpret the results
The comparisons
will be relevant for X
We are not the
intendedusers
I think the comparisonsare useful for
countycouncils
We have created a democratic system for transparency &
e-surveillance
Better thancreating new e-
surveillancesystems
Creating legitimacy
Avoiding moredamaginginterventionsOtherization
Futurization
Relatively high prescription ofexpensive drugs in the county
content challengeing the accuracy of prescription patterns
Relatively small share of patients with good health outcomes
X
X
County councils
As measureswill be
improved…
When the search-
function gets better…
WE dont interpret the results. Wedon’t want tothreaten the
professionals’ autonomy!
learningrather than
blamingThe
comparisonsare great! We are
responsible
Creating legitimacy
FuturizationOtherization
Medical specialist
I expected a lot ofreactions but I
have heard…zero!
I noticed it but I did not suggest
any changes in the action plan
EXPLICIT IGNORIG STRATEGIES
1. Creating a legitimate image
2. Avoiding damaging interventions
The comparisons are useful for reasons other than those officiallyannounced.
Content of the comparisons ignored
Actors produce the comparisons
.
IMPLICIT IGNORIG STRATEGIES
1. Otherization
1. Futurization
The comparisons does/will fulfill itsofficially announced purpose.
Actors keep producing the comparisons