Being Concrete: Ladder of Abstraction

Ladder of Abstraction

Introduction

• The ladder of abstraction includes:
  • Abstract information (top)
  • Jargon and statistics (middle)
  • Concrete material (bottom)

Middle of the Ladder: Statistics and Terminology

• Includes:
  • Exclusion and inclusion criteria.
  • Justification of decisions.
  • Identification of eligible schools and populations based on free/reduced lunch percentages or incomes relative to the federal poverty line.
  • Outlining health and school outcomes related to physical activity, obesity, attendance, and literacy rates.
  • Defining food insecurity and explaining the limits of government-based food assistance benefits.
• Risk: staying here will result in a "muddle of the middle" which is a confusing, disorderly state.

Top of the Ladder: Abstract Ideas

• Simple ideas:
  • The connection between children's food insecurity, health, and school performance.
  • Caring about the less fortunate, improving outcomes for children.
  • Ideas of equity and justice.

Bottom of the Ladder: Concrete Description

• Telling specific stories to illustrate points
  • Example: "Johnny and the stomachache that grows out of his hunger."
• Describing specifics of study design to enable the reader to visualize
  • Example: "What fruits and vegetables? In what amount?"
• When referring to previous studies, use narrative.
  • Talk about kickball and recess and so many kids joining the middle school cross country team that they run out of blue and gold jerseys.

Moving Along the Ladder

• Move up and down throughout a proposal.
• Statistical plan, approach section, and innovation/impact sections should all vary.
• Don't linger too long in any one area of the ladder in any one section of the proposal.