The generation of scientific knowledge is characterized by a reductionist means-end rationality. Scientists select a quantifiable deterministic end and test various means to achieve that end.

                The objective is to establish general universalistic knowledge. The clear statement of a testable hypotheses, reduction of variables, and reproducibility of results produce what is considered valid scientific knowledge.

                Science is recognized as socially constructed. The mental constructs known as scientific knowledge are subject to social influences and interpretations, as are other sources of knowledge (religious, authoritative, intuitive).

                The fact that science is contingent on a social context does not make scientific interpretations false, it just makes them incomplete. A more complete understanding of nature might be obtained by information gained through interactions of the hand, mind and heart.

EXPERIENTIALLY-DERIVED KNOWLEDGE

                The generation of experiential knowledge is characterized by multiple ends (like balancing profit against the need for leisure time). Unlike scientific knowledge, these ends are not always quantifiable.

                The objective is not universal explanation, but particular and practical solutions within a specific local context. Intuitive understanding of relationships among multiple variables, confidence in personal observations, and context-rich explanations for practical problems result in experiential knowledge.

                Experiential knowledge based on a rich picture of a particular situation has little direct utility outside of that place or situation. Hence information with high local relevancy may have low transferability without contextual information.

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

                Information based on reductionist means-end science is universalistic and generalizable, and therefore can be shared through asymmetrical communication systems.

                Sharing experiential, particularistic knowledge requires symmetrical communication systems, like the rural coffee shop. A feedback mechanism is required to allow questioning and customizing information. The ideal symmetrical communication model is that of a interrelated network.

VERIFICATION PROCEDURES

                Practitioners and scientists are likely to disagree on what is valid knowledge. Researchers validate knowledge through established methods that are empirical and generally quantitative. Practitioners validate knowledge through rational experience that includes qualitative measures of validity that are highly sensitive to local conditions.

                Reductionist scientific knowledge must be validated through science-based validity tests. Scientists create an artificial environment in which most variables are uniform across an experiment except for those under investigation. Appropriate statistical procedures result in a degree of reliability, an important component of validity.

                Experiential knowledge must be validated through experience-based validity tests. These will be likely include symmetrical communication, be particularistic and context-rich.

                The processes whereby scientists and practitioners acquire and validate knowledge is essentially the same. Both acquire knowledge through the use of empirical data and/or observations. A characteristic common to both scientific and experiential validity tests is dependency on internal (context-rich) criticism. Another source of validity for both is the authority of the one presenting the data. Still another source of validity is the extent to which a receiver of the data will benefit or suffer from the new information.

John M. Gerber, 1992