Suchergebnisse

Lectio preacursoria sosiaalipsykologian väitöskirjaksi tarkoitetun tutkimuksen Positioning dynamics in small groups ­– A micro-cultural small group study in the context of meeting interaction tarkastustilaisuudessa Itä-Suomen yliopiston Kuopion kampuksella 15.2.2020. Vastaväittäjänä toimi professori Mary McVee (University at Buffalo) ja kustoksena professori Vilma Hänninen.

This study introduces positioning theory in the analysis of small-group dynamics in joint decision-making episodes. Specifically, it seeks to identify the key concepts that come into play when positioning theory is applied to analyze small-group interaction and small-group dynamics. Positioning theory aims to examine the discursive production of interpersonal positions that rely on the local moral orders of the interlocutors. The study presented here draws on transcribed material from four management board meetings of a Finnish public research institute, including a total of 18 decision-making episodes. First, the findings show how decision-making episodes consist of fluctuating storylines, how different positions are created, and how social positioning is connected to task positioning. Second, task positioning and the effects of the positioning negotiations are discussed, particularly, how positioning is connected to the progression of the meeting, to establishing the chair's position as the facilitator, and to the negotiation of shared themes and concepts is shown. Third, the analysis indicates how the local moral orders of a small group are negotiated and constructed.

This paper sets out to test the possibilities of the Positioning Theory as a means to approach small group phenomena from a micro-cultural perspective. The study draws on a transcription of a videotaped inter-professional team meeting in the field of social services. Analysis of the data was set to examine how the basic concepts of the Positioning Theory suit the analysis of in-group phenomena, what different forms of positioning are present, and how the positioning is connected to the group processes. Studying the group's interaction shows how it is possible to approach the interaction via the basic concepts of the Positioning Theory and how the positioning is intervened with group processes, such as decision-making, arguing, and conflict. The study also offers a new theoretical and empirical perspective to the research on small group dynamics.

This article explores the self-positioning of Indian social workers who work with female survivors of domestic violence (DV). We know from previous research about the experiences of persons who have encountered DV, but more studies on the point of view of the professionals is needed. Relying on positioning theory and discursive analysis as a framework, we analyzed interviews (N = 18) concerning the practices, emotions, and attitudes of social workers. Positioning theory enables scholars to approach the situation of encountering a survivor as a social event, which consists of the meaning-making activities of social workers. Professionals self-position themselves as one or a combination of the following: (a) a challenger of gendered oppression, (b) an advocator of women's rights, (c) a facilitator of women's empowerment, and/or (d) a self-reflector of personal emotions and attitudes. The findings suggest that the event of DV intervention is a discursive and contextually situated moral practice in which the distribution of rights and duties to say and do things is of particular interest. The act of self-positioning is constructed in relation to sociocultural settings. Social workers may take several positions during the meetings with survivors. Positions build our understanding of how social workers in violence-specific units make sense of DV, illustrating how the act of self-positioning may also define to the position of the survivor. Social workers experienced boundaries, and possibilities in responding to DV were explored. The study reveals that barriers should be addressed at a wider level by funders and policy makers to enhance the continuity of work and the implementation of women rights legislation in India.

This article explores the self-positioning of Indian social workers who work with female survivors of domestic violence (DV). We know from previous research about the experiences of persons who have encountered DV, but more studies on the point of view of the professionals is needed. Relying on positioning theory and discursive analysis as a framework, we analyzed interviews (N = 18) concerning the practices, emotions, and attitudes of social workers. Positioning theory enables scholars to approach the situation of encountering a survivor as a social event, which consists of the meaning-making activities of social workers. Professionals self-position themselves as one or a combination of the following: (a) a challenger of gendered oppression, (b) an advocator of women's rights, (c) a facilitator of women's empowerment, and/or (d) a self-reflector of personal emotions and attitudes. The findings suggest that the event of DV intervention is a discursive and contextually situated moral practice in which the distribution of rights and duties to say and do things is of particular interest. The act of self-positioning is constructed in relation to sociocultural settings. Social workers may take several positions during the meetings with survivors. Positions build our understanding of how social workers in violence-specific units make sense of DV, illustrating how the act of self-positioning may also define to the position of the survivor. Social workers experienced boundaries, and possibilities in responding to DV were explored. The study reveals that barriers should be addressed at a wider level by funders and policy makers to enhance the continuity of work and the implementation of women rights legislation in India. ; final draft ; peerReviewed