Premium
How trainees develop an initial theory of practice: A process model of tentative identifications
Author(s) -
Fitzpatrick Marilyn R.,
Kovalak Angela L.,
Weaver Andrea
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
counselling and psychotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.38
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1746-1405
pISSN - 1473-3145
DOI - 10.1080/14733141003773790
Subject(s) - grounded theory , process (computing) , variety (cybernetics) , reading (process) , psychology , personal account , qualitative research , epistemology , engineering ethics , computer science , sociology , social science , engineering , linguistics , philosophy , narrative , artificial intelligence , political science , law , operating system
Aim: The increasing importance of integrative practice highlights the need to explore how trainees develop their theoretical stance. This investigation explored the experiences of trainees to elaborate a model of how they developed their personal theories of practice. Method: Seventeen Masters level trainee counsellors kept weekly journals recording how they developed a working theory of practice. Grounded theory analysis of the journals was used to develop a model of the process. Findings: The resulting Process Model of Tentative Identifications illustrates how a personal theory developed through trainees' tentative identifications with theories of practice, and how factors such as reading, personal philosophy, practice, and supervision interact to produce the identifications. A diagram of the model highlights the relationships among a variety of personal and professional factors that ranged from highly abstract to concrete and practice‐based. Discussion: The model is consistent with several factors identified in previous research and highlights how trainees develop working theories of practice.