| Abstract: | The principle of correspondence specifies that a necessary condition for the acquistion of valid scientific knowledge is that correctly applied analytic techniques be inherently capable of revealing the theoretical properties under examination. The problem raised in the present paper is whether traditional analytic techniques are capable of providing evidence for or against systems hypotheses, no matter how well they are employed. Traditional univariate as well as multivariate and structural equation analytic techniques are examined to determine the extent to which they are capable of revealing two selected properties: feedback and holism. The general problem of correspondence is discussed and recommendations are offered for correspondence analysis for (1) other conceptualizations of systems, (2) other systems properties, and (3) other analytical techniques. |
