Towards an Understanding of Symbolic Aspects of Professional Information: An Analysis of the Nursing Knowledge Domain
Författare
Summary, in English
The aim of this article is to contribute to the development of the domain analytical approach by using tools from
the theory of professions. This is accomplished by showing how the symbolic values of professional information can create, sustain, and alter professional interests, power relations, and occupational identities. By taking this approach, the importance of considering the issues of power and knowledge use as a social practice is highlighted – two themes that only to a certain extent have been attended to within domain analysis. The aim is accomplished through a study of nursing literature that reveals how professional information is regarded within the Swedish nursing profession. These are analyzed in relation to changes and development within the profession’s applied knowledge domain over time. It is argued that the knowledge domain of nursing has shifted from a primarily practical orientation towards an increasingly theoretical orientation. Its previous subordination to medical expertise has been replaced by an aspiration towards professional autonomy. This shift is seen as a result of a professional strategy where the specialist literature, libraries and databases of the occupational community play an important symbolic role.
the theory of professions. This is accomplished by showing how the symbolic values of professional information can create, sustain, and alter professional interests, power relations, and occupational identities. By taking this approach, the importance of considering the issues of power and knowledge use as a social practice is highlighted – two themes that only to a certain extent have been attended to within domain analysis. The aim is accomplished through a study of nursing literature that reveals how professional information is regarded within the Swedish nursing profession. These are analyzed in relation to changes and development within the profession’s applied knowledge domain over time. It is argued that the knowledge domain of nursing has shifted from a primarily practical orientation towards an increasingly theoretical orientation. Its previous subordination to medical expertise has been replaced by an aspiration towards professional autonomy. This shift is seen as a result of a professional strategy where the specialist literature, libraries and databases of the occupational community play an important symbolic role.
Publiceringsår
2003
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
170-194
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Knowledge Organization
Volym
30
Issue
3/4
Fulltext
- Available as PDF - 345 kB
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Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Ergon-Verlag
Ämne
- Information Studies
Nyckelord
- Knowledge
- Nursing
- Professional Information
- Domain Analysis
- Theories of Professions
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Information Studies
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 0943-7444