Dear Mr Kunz,



I'm sorry you are unhappy with our programme.



The series set out to give a very personal view of Kathy Sykes' experiences with

these three

forms of therapy rather than a definitive study of the subjects.



However our experts went to great pains to present a much wider range of links

on the

series website and in our booklet to enable viewers to broaden their knowledge

of and find

diverse viewpoints on each topic - even including  some "sceptic sites" in an

attempt to

give balance.



http://www.open2.net/alternativetherapies/isreflexologyvalid.html



http://www.open2.net/alternativetherapies/alternative_weblinks.html



https://css2.open.ac.uk/outis/1alight/(opl24m45qfmjlc55nny2zx45)/o1ayourrqst.asp\

x?

CATCODE=OZJALT





Best wishes,



Polly Frazer

Viewer and Listener Information Officer

The Open University - Open Broadcasting Unit.

  OU.viewerandlistenerinfo@...

(: 01908 652777

Interesting Kevin...



As far as the first link it was no more than a re-hash - if we have found a

positive,  it can be explained by a negative. (And again placebo which doesn't

address the effects on children and babies).  The second link was to the

reflexology forum, which was so out of date (2006) that it would have put anyone

searching off taking it seriously.  The third link was invalid.



Is this really the best their "experts" can do?  One question remains, why did

they not approach, or  have a comment from, any of the Reflexology organisations

listed.  It would be the only fair and balanced way to offset it - though they

are happy to include "the sceptic websites..."



The debate continues

Kay



   ----- Original Message -----

   From: footc1

   To: reflexologycommunity@yahoogroups.com

   Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 4:45 PM

   Subject: [Reflexology Community ] Open University's Response to Dr. Sykes

programme on reflexology





   Dear Mr Kunz,



   I'm sorry you are unhappy with our programme.



   The series set out to give a very personal view of Kathy Sykes' experiences

with these three

   forms of therapy rather than a definitive study of the subjects.



   However our experts went to great pains to present a much wider range of links

on the

   series website and in our booklet to enable viewers to broaden their knowledge

of and find

   diverse viewpoints on each topic - even including some "sceptic sites" in an

attempt to

   give balance.



   http://www.open2.net/alternativetherapies/isreflexologyvalid.html



   http://www.open2.net/alternativetherapies/alternative_weblinks.html



  

https://css2.open.ac.uk/outis/1alight/(opl24m45qfmjlc55nny2zx45)/o1ayourrqst.asp\

x?

   CATCODE=OZJALT



   Best wishes,



   Polly Frazer

   Viewer and Listener Information Officer

   The Open University - Open Broadcasting Unit.

   OU.viewerandlistenerinfo@...

   (: 01908 652777











[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thought this might be of interest.  Answer back on the question of personal

journey

versus scientific look.



Kevin Kunz



Forum Moderator



*****************************************************************************

The phrase we used of the series is that:



"Professor Kathy Sykes sets off on a personal and scientific journey to

explore three popular, and fast-growing, alternative therapies:

meditation, hypnotherapy, and reflexology."  So the answer is both.  It

combines her personal opinions and experiences on all sorts of issues

with an examination of relevant scientific research, looked at in a

fair, accurate and objective way.



As for being "definitive",  I don't think any of us would ever claim

that and few scientists would ever use that word when looking at

subjects like these for which there has often not been a tremendous

amount of high quality scientific research.  On the other hand, do we

think the series presented the current state of scientific knowledge on

the subjects covered fairly and accurately? Of course





Matthew Barrett

Executive Producer

BBC Vision Productions

Tel:  (44)-208-008-1388