Addiction journal
Addiction journal
Addiction and definitions with Robert West
Addiction and definitions with Robert West
Addiction and definitions with Robert West
Tuesday 19th December 2023
Professor Robert West discusses addiction definitions and ontologies with Zoe Swithenbank, aiming for clarity and consistency in research.
19 minutes
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Addiction journal
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Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Family Recovery from Addiction
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Get the buttons here!Clarifying Addiction: Professor Robert West's Vision for Research Precision
Episode Overview
- Explore the multifaceted meanings and implications of 'addiction'
- Understand the role of ontologies in precisely defining entities and properties
- Discover the revolutionary potential of ontologies in research accessibility and interpretation
- Learn about the ongoing collaborative efforts to develop a community-driven ontology for addiction
- Engage with the transformative initiatives shaping the future of addiction studies
There's lots of social construction in there as well. Other people talk about addictions as behaviours rather than as brain processes or mental processes and so on. Now, the thing is that all of these things are meaningful.
Ever wondered how the way we define addiction impacts research and treatment? In this engaging episode of 'Addiction Audio', host Zoe Swithenbank chats with Professor Robert West about the intricate world of addiction definitions and ontologies. Robert kicks off by breaking down the various meanings attached to addiction and how these definitions can either propel or hinder progress in research and treatment.
The conversation then shifts to the concept of ontologies—highly structured systems used primarily in computer and data science to represent entities, whether they're real or imaginary. Think of it as creating a universal language for researchers to communicate more effectively. Robert dives into his work on AddictO Vocab, an ambitious project aiming to develop a comprehensive vocabulary for addiction research.
This initiative seeks to create a well-defined construct for any term that researchers might use in their papers, fostering clarity and consistency across the field. By drawing parallels with other sciences, particularly biological sciences, Robert suggests that the addiction sector can adopt similar methods to improve research outcomes. But it's not all technical jargon. Zoe and Robert keep the discussion accessible, making complex topics understandable even for those without a background in computer science or addiction studies.
They also highlight the collaborative nature of this work, inviting researchers and practitioners from various fields to contribute to this evolving ontology. If you're curious about how better definitions can lead to more effective treatments and more coherent research, this episode is a must-listen. It's a fascinating peek into the future of addiction studies, where precision and collaboration could revolutionise the field.