Social Service Students Understanding of the Concept of Participation (Delaktighet)
Keywords:
participation, social service students, degree thesis, social pedagogyAbstract
The relationship between the individual and the society is very central in social pedagogy. In this relationship, the concept of participation (delaktighet) becomes relevant. In literature the concept is given a broad and varying meaning and therefore an interest was aroused to study how social service students understood the concept in their degree thesis works. This article is based on a qualitative document study of 36 degree theses. The basis for the content analysis was the dimensions of taking part, agency and belonging in the concept (Nivala & Ryynänen 2013) and the four knowledge fields of social pedagogy (Madsen 2006). The results indicate that the aspects concerning taking part and belonging in the concept are mainly related to a client perspective. The aspects related to agency are limited to a professional perspective, i.e. how professionals can support and strengthen clients own actorship. In the degree theses examined, there is a strong link to the concept of participation at the individual, relational and institutional levels, while the connection to the concept at societal level is weak.
