OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES OF ROLE-EMERGING PLACEMENTS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE CHANNINE CLARKE PHD 2012 1 Contents List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. 6 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... 7 Declaration of Authorship.......................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................. 9 1.1 Overview of the study ...................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Definition of terms ......................................................................................................... 13 1.3 Rationale for the study ................................................................................................... 14 1.4 Why this research was relevant to me............................................................................ 17 1.5 Setting ............................................................................................................................ 18 1.6 Reflexive account........................................................................................................... 19 1.7 Chapter summary and Introduction to structure of the thesis ........................................ 21 Chapter 2: Background to the study......................................................................................... 23 2.1 Data Sources .................................................................................................................. 23 2.2 Overview ........................................................................................................................ 24 2.3 Occupational therapy placements in the context of education and current trends in practice ................................................................................................................................. 26 2.3.1 Adult learning theories and placements .................................................................. 30 2.3.2 Professional socialisation and identity development .............................................. 43 2.3.3 Transition and preparation for future practice ........................................................ 50 2.3.4 Influence of placements on future practice preference ........................................... 54 2.3.5 Attitudes and behaviour .......................................................................................... 56 2.3.6 Role and skills of the educator and team support ................................................... 57 2.3.7 Models of placement provision ............................................................................... 58 2.4 Role-emerging placements............................................................................................. 59 2.4.1 Rationale for the development for role-emerging placements. ............................... 59 2.4.2 Benefits of role-emerging placements .................................................................... 61 2.4.4 Limitations of role-emerging placements ............................................................... 65 2.5 Research and quality assurance priorities within Occupational Therapy ...................... 69 2.6 Research Questions ........................................................................................................ 70 2.7 Study Aims..................................................................................................................... 71 2.8 Reflexive account........................................................................................................... 71 2.9 Chapter summary ........................................................................................................... 73 Chapter 3: Methodology .......................................................................................................... 74 3.1 Philosophical considerations .......................................................................................... 74 3.1.1 Interpretivist paradigm ............................................................................................ 74 3.1.2 Epistemological position ......................................................................................... 77 3.1.3 Ontological position ................................................................................................ 78 3.1.4 Role of the researcher ............................................................................................. 79 3.2 Interpretative phenomenological analysis...................................................................... 80 3.3 Theoretical perspectives ................................................................................................. 82 3.3.1 Phenomenology....................................................................................................... 82 3.3.2 Hermeneutic phenomenology ................................................................................. 84 3.3.3 Symbolic Interactionism ......................................................................................... 87 3.4 Consideration of IPA in relation to other approaches .................................................... 88 2 3.4.1 Grounded Theory .................................................................................................... 88 3.4.2 Discourse Analysis.................................................................................................. 88 3.4.3 Narrative ................................................................................................................. 89 3.4.4 Thematic analysis.................................................................................................... 90 3.5 Limitations of IPA ......................................................................................................... 91 3.6. Operational Considerations ........................................................................................... 94 3.6.1 Research population ................................................................................................ 94 3.6.2 Study setting............................................................................................................ 94 3.6.3 Sample size ............................................................................................................. 95 3.6.4 Sampling procedures ............................................................................................... 95 3.6.5 Sample group .......................................................................................................... 96 3.7 Ethics and Governance .................................................................................................. 96 3.7.1 Ethical approval ...................................................................................................... 96 3.7.2 Researching my own practice ................................................................................. 97 3.7.3 Protection from harm .............................................................................................. 98 3.7.4 Informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality .................................................. 98 3.7.5 Integrity ................................................................................................................... 98 3.7.6 Data protection ........................................................................................................ 99 3.8 Data collection ............................................................................................................... 99 3.8.1 Justification for the use of semi-structured interviews ......................................... 100 3.8.2 Interview schedules ............................................................................................... 102 3.8.3 Pilot interviews ..................................................................................................... 103 3.8.4 Planning and carrying out the interviews.............................................................. 103 3.9 Transcription ................................................................................................................ 105 3.10 Data analysis .............................................................................................................. 106 3.11 Evaluating quality in qualitative research .................................................................. 108 3.11.1 Sensitivity to context........................................................................................... 108 3.11.2 Commitment and rigour ...................................................................................... 109 3.11.3 Transparency and coherence ............................................................................... 109 3.11.4 Impact and importance ........................................................................................ 109 3.12 Reflexive account....................................................................................................... 110 3.13 Chapter summary ......................................................................................................