Controlled Variables, Output Signal and Input Signals

CSGnet Archive CSG2001
1

Good-ay,
I would just like to relay some aspects of PCT I am grapping with in the
application of PCT famework to the controlled variable's people have in
psychical places(e.g.living units of Juvenile Justice facilities. Hopefully I
can make some sense in trying to convey my delima.

This is all pilot stuff. I have tried to interview people to identify the
controlled variable( what they want is important in the place....later in
method I offer a hypothetical disturbance to see if it is controlled), their
perceptions of it and the output signals they use to control it.

I am looking at what they are trying to control at a Principle level such as
privacy, freedom, etc. What I am finding is people represent principle level
goals as behaviour programs... Then when I try to get them to say what they do
to control their perception(Output)to achieve privacy they say the behavoiur
program looking oddly at me like it is the same question.

I propose once I can identify what they are trying to control I am providing
hypothetical disturbances to what they are controlling, such as proposing a
rule change occurs, or staff interfer, or a chnage in physical design through a
photo of a different design of the place.

My questions are .... Are princple level controlled variables represented as
behaviour program variables. I have an feeling they are and that you all know
this, but I think I need confirmation?
Are there any interview formats of 'the test' which have been used to assess
Behaviour Program, Principle Level and Concept Levels in environments (Its a
bit hard to simulate these places)?
Does what I am doing make sense from the world of PCT?

This is all quite schratchy at the moment, and but hopefully I can develop it
up to something through piloting and a better understanding of the theory.

If possible I will post a bit more when I do some more piloting.

Thanks Rohan.

Rohan Lulham
PhD Student
Department of Architecture
University of Sydney
Australia

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2

[From Bill Williams 16 November 20001 7:00 CST]

Rohan Lulham
PhD Student
Department of Architecture
University of Sydney
Australia

This is not directly responsive to your request, but I thought of your project
recently when I was reading Milovan Djilas' 1985 _Rise and FAll_.In the opening
section Djilas describes the planning in post WW II Yugoslavia for a new
Socialist style prison system. As Djilas says,

   "When we convened and took a look around, it was apparent that to the
   last man we were all former convicts." p. 3.

Given their experience they had a lot of ideas about how to build a prison that
would be in their opinion be both humane in physical terms, heat, toilets, water
supply, and psycholgically extremely issolating in preventing communication
between prisoners. As former inmates they knew all the means prisoners used to
communicate with each other.

There's not a lot of material, but it may have been a unique event in human
history when a jail was planned by former inmates. Djilas himself ended up
back in prison when he became a premature dissendent in the late 1950's.

If you are interested in the material but do not have access to the book let me
know.

Best
   Bill Williams

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