Persuasion in Social Work Interviewing

Abstract

The article collects the variation of forms of subtle persuasion embedded in social work interviewing. It is based on the constructionist idea that institutional interviewing is not an innocent practice of information gathering, but a practice that also produces knowledge and creates identities.

Short narratives as a qualitative approach to effects of social work interventions

“…Among the generative mechanisms mentioned in recent research based on critical realism are, for example, 'challenging mechanisms' and other communicative mechanisms (Blom and More´n 2007;Ejrnaes and Guldager 2008). A parallel can be observed in 'persuasive mechanisms' in interaction (Suoninen and Jokinen 2005;Eskelinen, Olesen, and Caswell 2008). Thus, the phenomena discussed in literature under the heading 'generative mechanisms' seem to correspond with the focus on relations and translation in ANT, whereas the term 'mechanism' might be misleading in the sense that the (f)actors operating do not appear or function in any mechanical sense.…”

Changing identities and practices: transitioning from the role of supervisor to placement tutor in initial teacher education in Ireland

“…Semi-structured interviews with placement tutors working in the Department of Education of Maynooth University in 2014-15 were chosen as the preferred method of data gathering as this allowed core content to be covered with each of the research participants while also allowing the interviewee the opportunity to develop ideas and speak more widely on the issues raised by the interview (Cohen et al, 2007;Creswell, 2007). The interview schedule was piloted with a critical friend (Bell, 2005;Suoninen & Jokinen, 2005), following which refinements were made to ensure clarity and coherence.…”

Accepted and resisted: the client's responsibility for making proposals in activation encounters

“…This criticism might have some relevance to studies of welfare settings as well, which often focus on what Zimmerman, in his pioneering research from a public assistance agency, called "the investigative stance" (Zimmerman 1969: 129). The concern to describe how the professional part performs institutional tasks has been evident within various research on counselling and social security encounters (Cedersund 1992;Fredin 1993;Hall, Sarangi, and Slembrouck 2005;Hydèn 1996;Oltedal 2000;Ranger 1986;Roberts and Sarangi 1999b;Rostila 1997), within social constructionism sometimes expressed as "persuasive discourse" (Miller 1991;Suoninen and Jokinen 2005;Taylor and White 2000).…”