Browsing by Subject "professional identity"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Fertile Grounds in Technical and Professional Communication: Identity, Legitimacy, Power, and Workplace Practice
    (2021-06) Rosselot-Merritt, Jeremy
    This dissertation is about the nature and value of technical and professional communication (TPC) as a field of workplace practice, particularly about how perceptions of TPC among those outside the field can influence the perceived legitimacy of the field more broadly and what implications those perceptions can offer on practical, scholarly, pedagogical and programmatic levels. The dissertation is organized into five chapters. Chapter 1 deals with how TPC has been characterized in academic literature over the years and how a disconnect between academic theory and workplace practice has evolved into the present. Chapter 1 also introduces four constructs—competencies, professional identity, legitimacy, and power—that become a basis for a practical model of TPC in this dissertation. Chapter 2 deals with three concepts from other disciplines that are useful in conceptualizing and studying workplaces in TPC scholarship. Next, chapter 3 begins with the practical framework for TPC and then proceeds to discuss a rhetorical basis for studying workplace phenomena in TPC and an empirical study methodology for studying extradisciplinary perceptions (those held by non-TPC professionals) of TPC. That methodology is based upon a modified grounded theory approach using semi-structured interviews and two-cycle qualitative coding. Chapter 4 presents detailed findings from the empirical study. Findings include the results of 31 interviews and eight patterns developed from analysis of interview data. Limitations of the study are discussed. Chapter 5 provides a detailed discussion of implications of empirical findings for practice, research, pedagogy and programs (both praxis-focused and academic research-focused) as well as thoughts for future consideration in scholarship.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Peer group facilitator professional identity development, part four of four
    (2019) Arendale, David
    This study focused on the student paraprofessionals who facilitated study groups for rigorous college courses. A grounded research study of these student leaders at an institution identified professional identity development by them in ways not anticipated, and actually against written policies for their behavior. Rather than perceiving themselves as a study group leader following a narrow job description, many of them referred to themselves as teachers. This article unmasks this professional identity, identifies the mechanism for this choice, and presents a model to explain it.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Social Work, Intractable Conflict and Professionalism: A Case Study of Jewish-Israeli Social Work Practice
    (2023-05) Soffer-Elnekave, Ruth
    AbstractSocial workers worldwide share a common framework and mission: to provide aid to those in need and promote social justice (Abramovitz, 1993; Healy, 2008). Yet, as an international profession, both global and local realities contribute to the ways in which social work is understood and practiced in particular cultural contexts. This dissertation addresses social work in Israel, where social workers are practicing within the unique context of an intractable political conflict. Despite the historical prevalence of political conflicts and wars, there is a lack of research examining how these conflicts affect social work practice (Campbell et al., 2018; Moshe-Grodofsky, 2019; Ramon, 2008). In this dissertation I explored the ways social work is understood and practiced considering the global and local realities of Jewish-Israeli social workers. I used narrative and life story methods to interpret individual life stories as they are set within collective political and professional contexts (Hammack, 2011; Leiblich et al., 1998; Linde, 1993). Sixteen Jewish-Israeli social workers participated in two zoom interviews. They related their professional life stories of practicing social work in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Three approaches to social work practice emerged: 1) few (3) participants focused only on a micro-level mental health approach; 2) some (5) participants prioritized a macro-centered social justice approach; and 3) many (8) were conflicted, expressing an ongoing tension between their perceived professional social justice mission, and their actual professional roles. The findings suggest that social work in Israel has shifted away from applying a person in environment perspective. Excluding political contexts from the assessment of individuals, communities and society has limited social workers’ ability to promote change. Recommendations for incorporating a politically-aware framework to social work practice, research and education, internationally, are discussed. Also discussed are the implications of local realities on social work as an international profession.