When questioned about their day-to-day activities, almost everyone will offer what we would call Telic Attractors  – such as ‘aspirations’, ‘hopes’, ‘desires’, ‘goals’, ‘aims’, or ‘objectives’ – as motivations or justifications for these activities; many will also offer what we would call Telic Repellers – such as ‘fears’, ‘problems’ or ‘threats’ – as additional motivations or justifications. When asked ‘what they have done with their lives’ over the long term, they will again offer Telic constructs – such as  ‘achievements’, ‘attainments’, ‘disasters’ and ‘failures’ - as representing the significant ‘milestones’ – both ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ - in their lives.

As an independent group, we aim to focus upon those research areas and research questions that appear to have been neglected, or inadequately addressed, by mainstream academic and commercial research institutions. We view our own role and research style as being complementary to that of such institutions, and we do not attempt either to duplicate all aspects of their function, or to emulate all details of their practices. At the same time, we are keen to collaborate with academics and commercial organisations where appropriate opportunities arise to do so; and to learn from the wider research community in order to enhance our own understanding and practices.

We have been developing our Conceptual Framework for some time, and we are continuing to enhance and refine it in the course of our research.