Type dynamics is becoming popular, and like any new area, research is important so when we talk about the functions in their attitudes, we are all more-or-less on the same page. Gathering data and doing statistical analysis is one research method, and there are other equally credible and valuable methods, many found in other disciplines from sociology to engineering. In the spirit of “different gifts”, more research and more meaningful research can be done when we use multiple methods and know the best practices.

Some research methods include: statistical analysis, action-based research, neurobiology, computer modeling and simulation, use of psychological instruments, Internet-based surveys, literature reviews, and phenomenological research (interviews, etc). Each method has an appropriate use. Some background, guidelines for researching type dynamics, and advantages and pitfalls are offered below for two methods - action research and computer modeling and simulation.

Action Research
Action research, or AR, is about “process.” The researcher takes an active role as a facilitator or process-manager. The purpose: to better understand a process and to improve the process for participants. A good understanding for how to facilitate and how to evaluate the success of facilitation is a must. Ideally, the researcher can take on the role of an observer during the action as well as reviewing after the action. Documenting action using video or other recordings can be useful; so can feedback from others including participants.

AR - in Action
AR involves preparation, data collection, and analysis like any other research method, and results in a body of lessons-learned and a refined process. For example:

• Identify the process to explore (say, auxiliary function and communication)
• Select appropriate theoretical models (the 8 functions in their attitudes)
• Design your process (people in pairs, function-alike and function-different groups, etc.)
• Engage in the process, and collect information to document results (say, film)
• Review results and determine what needs improvement (use the 8 functions model to analyze and revise, along with other type models)
• Redesign the process or prepare yourself differently
• Try the process again
• Continue to document results and lessons learned

AR - Advantages and Pitfalls
This methodology is useful for improving experiential learning, such as workshop activities where participants learn by doing. One reward is useful research results and a deeper appreciation for process - when looking for conclusions, it is often easy to forget that many phenomena in life - such as type - are dynamic. This method works best when the researcher is able to set up flexible processes that work on their own, reducing bias. Researcher contamination, lack of objective comparison and context-dependency are pitfalls. As with any research method, theory is needed - not just the one model, but other type-related models as well. For example, is a result related to the type dynamics model, or to say, social styles? Each model captures a different level of personality, and using other models in the background helps process construction and analysis. It is also valuable for participants reach best-fit type, either before or after the process. Just grouping people based on an instrument or self-selection results, without feedback, and then capturing behavior may lead to false data.

Computational Modeling and Simulation
Computational modeling, or CMS, uses the computer to capture and "run" the various factors and dynamics of the phenomenon under study. The researcher models the system on the computer, inputting into the computer various factors and their inter-relationships, and then observes the system in action. For example, urban planners might model traffic flow. Group behavior, type dynamics, and the interaction of various theories at once are common applications. A virtual person is called an “agent“; modeling a group involves many virtual agents, like “The Sims” game (copyright, 2000, Electronic Arts.) A major requirement: one’s model must be understood well enough and sufficiently formalized to be implementable on a computer. Fuzzy or impressionistic understanding doesn't work well.

CMS in Action
Computational modeling involves preparation, data collection, and analysis like any other research method. For example:

• Select the system under study (small group behavior, etc.)
• Research what factors to include and the inter-relationships between those factors. Not all factors need to be of equal importance. (say, actions people take based on how they perceive the same situation differently, according to the type dynamics model.)
• Document real examples of the system to have a baseline of typical system behavior. Remember that a system may have several typical states, not just one. (Document an actual group of people or establish expected behavior based on type theory.)
• Create or use off-the-shelf software and input the factors and their inter-relationships.
• Run the system and watch it in action. (Agents will move around their virtual environment, interact, and so on.)
• Document the simulation’s behavior (For example, do agents of similar or opposite functions cluster together or move back and forth in conversation?)
• Compare the computational model to the baseline of the real system. Does it match?
• Revise the computational model, possibly including or excluding factors as needed and re-run the model
• Document conclusions

CMS Advantages and Pitfalls
This method requires comfort with computers. It has become more common in the social sciences and is used widely in the physical sciences. Advantages of this approach include: more concise models, the capture and study of dynamic and non-linear behavior, the ability to study “emergent” (novel) behaviors, an emphasis on the model's assumptions over data gathering, allowances for a large number of variables at once, and allowances for multiple states and outcomes. One pitfall of this method is that the model only reflects what the researcher has selected to include in the model. A computer simulation lacks the richness of the real world! Also, phenomena that cannot be captured in a computer cannot be included! Nor is data gathered real data.

How to Participate
If you are a researcher, and need participants or want to know more about various methods, or if you might enjoy participating in someone’s study, then I encourage you to visit a new type venue - www.typeresearch.net.