Conceptions of

Professionalism and

Professionality

Andrew Wilson Hull College

To discuss

[It is] argued that professionalism is synonymous with quality and the current practices relating to maintaining and monitoring standards are issues of contentious debate.

Warrior (2002)

What is a profession and what is a professional?

What is your definition of profession and professional

What is your view?

Problem?Is your view evidence or opinion based?

Dictionary definitions

Profession

…an occupation requiring special training in the liberal arts or sciences, especially one of the three learned professions, law, theology, or medicine.

Dictionary definitions

Professional:

of, relating to, suitable for, or engaged in as a profession

engaging in an activity for gain or as a means of livelihood

extremely competent in a job

To what extent does your definition match the dictionary

ones?

Problem?Dictionary definitions are not the full story

Most theorists indicate that working for the public good is a characteristic of a profession.

Profession (Academic definition)

 …an occupation with a crucial social function, requiring a high degree of skill and drawing on a systematic body of knowledge.  

Sockett (1985:27)

Models of ProfessionalismA number of theorists saw a profession as an organisation whose members satisfied specific and measurable criteria

Millerson’s (1964) Model of Professionalism

• A skill based on theoretical knowledge

• Intellectual training and education

• The testing of competence

• Closure of the profession by restrictive organisation

• A code of conduct

• An altruistic service in the affairs of others

Problem?…professionalism is not some social-scientific absolute, but a historically changing and socially constructed concept-in-use

Holroyd (2000)

Can we measure something that lacks a fixed meaning?

Hoyle (1974) Hoyle & John (1995) Professionalism and Professionality

Professionalism – strategies and rhetoric employed by members of an occupation to improve status, salary and conditions, and…

Professionality – knowledge, skills and procedures employed by teachers in the process of teaching.

Hoyle (1974) Hoyle & John (1995) Professionalism and Professionality

Suggested 2 forms of professionality…

…restricted and extended

Restricted Professionality Extended Professionality

Skills derived from experience Skills derived from a mediation between experience and theory

Perspective limited to the immediate in time and place

Perspective embracing the broader social context of education

Workplace events perceived in isolation Workplace events perceived in relation to policies and goals

Introspective with regard to methods Methods compared with those of colleagues and with reports of practice

Value placed on autonomy Value placed on professional collaboration

Limited involvement in non immediate professional activities

High involvement in non immediate professional activities (eg networks, research, professional associations)

Infrequent reading of professional literature Regular reading of professional literature

Involvement in professional development limited and confined to practical courses

Involvement in professional development considerable and includes learning of theoretical nature

Work seen as an intuitive activity Work seen as a rational activity

Restricted Professionality Extended Professionality

Skills derived from experience Skills derived from a mediation between experience and theory

Perspective limited to the immediate in time and place

Perspective embracing the broader social context of education

Workplace events perceived in isolation Workplace events perceived in relation to policies and goals

Introspective with regard to methods Methods compared with those of colleagues and with reports of practice

Value placed on autonomy Value placed on professional collaboration

Limited involvement in non immediate professional activities

High involvement in non immediate professional activities (eg networks, research, professional associations)

Infrequent reading of professional literature Regular reading of professional literature

Involvement in professional development limited and confined to practical courses

Involvement in professional development considerable and includes learning of theoretical nature

Work seen as an intuitive activity Work seen as a rational activity

Restricted Professionality Extended Professionality

Skills derived from experience Skills derived from a mediation between experience and theory

Perspective limited to the immediate in time and place

Perspective embracing the broader social context of education

Workplace events perceived in isolation Workplace events perceived in relation to policies and goals

Introspective with regard to methods Methods compared with those of colleagues and with reports of practice

Value placed on autonomy Value placed on professional collaboration

Limited involvement in non immediate professional activities

High involvement in non immediate professional activities (eg networks, research, professional associations)

Infrequent reading of professional literature Regular reading of professional literature

Involvement in professional development limited and confined to practical courses

Involvement in professional development considerable and includes learning of theoretical nature

Work seen as an intuitive activity Work seen as a rational activity

Restricted Professionality Extended Professionality

Skills derived from experience Skills derived from a mediation between experience and theory

Perspective limited to the immediate in time and place

Perspective embracing the broader social context of education

Workplace events perceived in isolation Workplace events perceived in relation to policies and goals

Introspective with regard to methods Methods compared with those of colleagues and with reports of practice

Value placed on autonomy Value placed on professional collaboration

Limited involvement in non immediate professional activities

High involvement in non immediate professional activities (eg networks, research, professional associations)

Infrequent reading of professional literature Regular reading of professional literature

Involvement in professional development limited and confined to practical courses

Involvement in professional development considerable and includes learning of theoretical nature

Work seen as an intuitive activity Work seen as a rational activity

Restricted Professionality Extended Professionality

Skills derived from experience Skills derived from a mediation between experience and theory

Perspective limited to the immediate in time and place

Perspective embracing the broader social context of education

Workplace events perceived in isolation Workplace events perceived in relation to policies and goals

Introspective with regard to methods Methods compared with those of colleagues and with reports of practice

Value placed on autonomy Value placed on professional collaboration

Limited involvement in non immediate professional activities

High involvement in non immediate professional activities (eg networks, research, professional associations)

Infrequent reading of professional literature Regular reading of professional literature

Involvement in professional development limited and confined to practical courses

Involvement in professional development considerable and includes learning of theoretical nature

Work seen as an intuitive activity Work seen as a rational activity

Restricted Professionality Extended Professionality

Skills derived from experience Skills derived from a mediation between experience and theory

Perspective limited to the immediate in time and place

Perspective embracing the broader social context of education

Workplace events perceived in isolation Workplace events perceived in relation to policies and goals

Introspective with regard to methods Methods compared with those of colleagues and with reports of practice

Value placed on autonomy Value placed on professional collaboration

Limited involvement in non immediate professional activities

High involvement in non immediate professional activities (eg networks, research, professional associations)

Infrequent reading of professional literature Regular reading of professional literature

Involvement in professional development limited and confined to practical courses

Involvement in professional development considerable and includes learning of theoretical nature

Work seen as an intuitive activity Work seen as a rational activity

Restricted Professionality Extended Professionality

Skills derived from experience Skills derived from a mediation between experience and theory

Perspective limited to the immediate in time and place

Perspective embracing the broader social context of education

Workplace events perceived in isolation Workplace events perceived in relation to policies and goals

Introspective with regard to methods Methods compared with those of colleagues and with reports of practice

Value placed on autonomy Value placed on professional collaboration

Limited involvement in non immediate professional activities

High involvement in non immediate professional activities (eg networks, research, professional associations)

Infrequent reading of professional literature Regular reading of professional literature

Involvement in professional development limited and confined to practical courses

Involvement in professional development considerable and includes learning of theoretical nature

Work seen as an intuitive activity Work seen as a rational activity

Restricted Professionality Extended Professionality

Skills derived from experience Skills derived from a mediation between experience and theory

Perspective limited to the immediate in time and place

Perspective embracing the broader social context of education

Workplace events perceived in isolation Workplace events perceived in relation to policies and goals

Introspective with regard to methods Methods compared with those of colleagues and with reports of practice

Value placed on autonomy Value placed on professional collaboration

Limited involvement in non immediate professional activities

High involvement in non immediate professional activities (eg networks, research, professional associations)

Infrequent reading of professional literature Regular reading of professional literature

Involvement in professional development limited and confined to practical courses

Involvement in professional development considerable and includes learning of theoretical nature

Work seen as an intuitive activity Work seen as a rational activity

Restricted Professionality Extended Professionality

Skills derived from experience Skills derived from a mediation between experience and theory

Perspective limited to the immediate in time and place

Perspective embracing the broader social context of education

Workplace events perceived in isolation Workplace events perceived in relation to policies and goals

Introspective with regard to methods Methods compared with those of colleagues and with reports of practice

Value placed on autonomy Value placed on professional collaboration

Limited involvement in non immediate professional activities

High involvement in non immediate professional activities (eg networks, research, professional associations)

Infrequent reading of professional literature Regular reading of professional literature

Involvement in professional development limited and confined to practical courses

Involvement in professional development considerable and includes learning of theoretical nature

Work seen as an intuitive activity Work seen as a rational activity

Restricted Professionality Extended Professionality

Skills derived from experience Skills derived from a mediation between experience and theory

Perspective limited to the immediate in time and place

Perspective embracing the broader social context of education

Workplace events perceived in isolation Workplace events perceived in relation to policies and goals

Introspective with regard to methods Methods compared with those of colleagues and with reports of practice

Value placed on autonomy Value placed on professional collaboration

Limited involvement in non immediate professional activities

High involvement in non immediate professional activities (eg networks, research, professional associations)

Infrequent reading of professional literature Regular reading of professional literature

Involvement in professional development limited and confined to practical courses

Involvement in professional development considerable and includes learning of theoretical nature

Work seen as an intuitive activity Work seen as a rational activity

Where do you stand on Hoyle’s continuum?

Restricted Extended

Hoyle, Hoyle & JohnThe extended form of professionality which goes beyond classroom skills to a wider range of knowledge and skills is seen as important.

They identified three major problems in acquiring this wider range

Problems?Time

Teachers tend to obtain job satisfaction from classroom activities, with relatively little interest in educational theory/research. Question of how far they can gain further satisfaction and feel comfortable in challenging situation of extended professionality.

Perception that extended professionality achieved at expense of effective restricted professionality – career orientation rather than expertise in teaching situation

Is there an answer?

Mastery of theoretical knowledge

Commitment to continuous

learning

Ability to create knowledge as

well as possess itApplying

theoretical knowledge to practice

Enthusiasm and

commitment to stakeholders

Capacity to solve

problems PROFESSIONAL COMPETANCIES

http://fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-to-move-up-to-another-level

ProblemThe teaching profession suffers from a vicious circle of low status, lack of competitive resources, inability to control their own selection, training and qualification, divided and consequently ineffective organisation and a degree of state interference and control suffered by almost no other profession all leading to low bargaining power, low remuneration and low status.

(Perkin,1985)

ReferencesCollins English Dictionary (7th Edition:2005) Harper Collins: Glasgow.

Holroyd, C. (2000) Are assessors professional? Active Learning in Higher Education, 1(1), 28-44.

Hoyle, E. (1974) ‘Professionality, professionalism and control in teaching’. London Educational Review,3 (2), Summer 1974, pp.13-19

Hoyle, E. & John, P, D. (1995) Professional Knowledge and Professional Practice, Cassell: London

Millerson, G. (1964) The qualifying associations: a study in professionalization, Routledge & Kegan Paul: London.

Perkin, H. (1985) The Teaching Profession and the Game of Life. In P. Gordon (1985) Is Teaching a Profession? University of London, Institute of Education, 12–25.

Sockett, H. (1985) Towards a Professional Code in Teaching. In P. Gordon (1985) Is Teaching a Profession? University of London, Institute of Education, 26-43.

Warrior, R. (2002) Reflections of an Education Professional. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism. (1):2, 57 – 63.