The South African Journal o f Communication Disorders, Vol. 54, 2007 EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION This volume o f the South African Journal o f Communica­ tion Disorders begins with a lead article written by the Journal’s editorial board. Several notable researcher- practitioners were invited to write their responses to this article. These five authors have provided their views and opinions on the relevance o f professional research to the lives o f the people with whom we work. P r o f Sally Hartley, a UK based Speech-Language Thera­ pist (SLT) has worked in economically developed and economically developing countries, mainly in Africa. She has a deep interest in the development o f SLT and Audio­ logy across geographical contexts. In presenting her inter- actionist perspective o f research and practice, she does so with the reminder that the topic is important to consider across social and economic geographies. Indeed, her re­ view is relevant not only for SLT and Audiology but for rehabilitation practice in itself. Echoing similar senti­ ments, P ro f Erna Alant (Centre for Alternative and Aug­ mentative Communication, Pretoria) has drawn on her long-standing involvement in addressing social and eco­ nomic concerns within rehabilitation practice. She has poignantly challenged the profession with the following question: When is our commitment to our profession more overtly going to focus on government support and liaisons to develop service and intervention mod­ els that could work fo r rehabilitation in our coun­ try? (Page 12) Similarly, Prof. Claire Penn (University of the Witwaters- rand) asks us to consider several points in her rather chal­ lenging review. Via her perspective, not only as an A- rated scientist but also as recipient o f President Mbeki’s Order of the Mapungubwe Award (silver); Penn has pro­ vided an astute, rich analysis o f the wide range o f research methodologies available to practitioners. However, as we foray into non-mainstream methodologies, Penn cautions us about diminishing scientific rigour. O f the many chal­ lenges that she poses, I, on behalf o f the Journal, echo Penn when she asks: Why do people think that research is only fo r those who are not clinically inclined? Penn’s challenges and cautions are to be considered espe­ cially in relation to ideologies such as Singh’s reference to distributive justice. Prof. Shajila Singh, the chairperson o f the profession’s board on the Health Professions Council o f SA, invites us to consider questions such as the racial and cultural profile o f our researchers, their research inter­ ests and - importantly - o f researchers’ foci not ju st on communities in SA that tend to be over-researched but of how we engage these communities in deciding research methodologies and the research process itself. In arguing that professional research should transcend political agendas, Dr. D e Wet Swanepoel (University of Pretoria) has positioned his perspective on the ideology that our professions need to transcend political ideology toward respecting aspects o f human dignity and respect for persons. Swanepoel adds a very pragmatic slant to the research activity and agenda within the profession. In lamenting the l0w publication rate, he argues that “ ...whatever the research bein pursued, it must ultimately be published.” (page 11). The editorij board o f this Journal could not agree more with this statement Indeed, the decision to write this lead article is part o f the Jour­ nal’s strategy to highlight the nature o f research, especially 0f relevant research, within the professions o f Speech-Language Therapy and Audiology. It is our attempt not only to stimulate interest but to encourage our readership into actively engaging the thoughts, challenges and recommendations published in the Jour­ nal. The articles contained within this volume o f the Journal may be in sync with your notion o f relevance in research/practice. Al­ ternatively, you may disagree with the relevance o f authors’ ori­ entation, theoretical stance or methodology. As SLT and Audiol­ ogy practitioners, we may very well choose to make these issues o f relevance invisible. Alternatively, we may choose to raise the visibility o f relevance in our professional research and practice toward dizzying heights. While ambitious, we think the latter is an honourable and necessary aim well worth confronting. Mershen Pillay Editor-in-Chief South African Journal o f Communication Disorders NOW AVAILABLE IN SOUTH AFRICA AFTER 10 YEARS OF SUCCESS IN THE US! Spend more tim e working with your clients instead of writing about them. Finally! 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