6533b870fe1ef96bd12cf237
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Object, problem, or subject?: A child with a disability as found in reports of professionals
Tanja Vehkakoskisubject
RehabilitationApplied psychologySubject (philosophy)Social constructionismObject (philosophy)Critical discourse analysisObjectivismAction (philosophy)lcsh:H1-99lcsh:Social sciences (General)PsychologyConstruct (philosophy)Social psychologyProfessional expertisedescription
This study examined the representations of one Finnish child with disabilities as constructed in reports written by professionals. The professional action models which appeared in the discourse of the reports were also explored. The theoretical framework of the study was based on the social constructionist approach. Research data consisted of 145 documents, the analyses of which were based on critical discourse analysis developed by Fairclough (1992). Results indicated that the child with a disability was constructed in the documents in varying ways, either as an object, a problem, or a subject Professional expertise, mechanistic and objectivist practices, and seeing disability as an individual problem were verified as the professional modes of action. By revealing how institutionalized views shape the lives of children with disabilities, this study discusses the prevailing and alternative ways to construct disability.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-07-01 | Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research |