Stephen Mitchell

See the purpose here:
https://stephenamitchell.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/research-journal-the-first-step/

We have been tasked to explore the learning intentions for the module.  For my current module, the learning outcomes are:

1. Critically appraise own professional identity in relation to those of others in the cohort.
2. Articulate and negotiate complex ethical situations in the context of differing professional value systems.
3. Conceptualise and critically appraise ideas of identity and demonstrate a high-level ability to make use of these in professional practice.
4. Critically analyse dimensions of what constitutes evidence and how ontological, epistemological and axiological assumptions influence practice.
5. Become critically and reflexively aware of personal assumptions about their own personal and professional identities (and the link between these) and those of others.

My initial thoughts: 
What constitutes a professional identity and from what perspective is this taken?   My immediate assumption, in relation to the previous module, is that professional identity is a collection of the values you hold and how you manage yourself in work situations to hold true to them.  Are we considering this from our own viewpoint, which will no doubt be heavily subjective or from the viewpoint of another stakeholder?  Again, not sure how tainted this perspective would be…

Negotiating complex ethical situations – this is the perfect time to be exploring this.  At the moment, I’m spending time thinking about the viability of children attending school during COVID-19.  However, this is less about negotiating and more about navigating.

Some new vocabulary for me here… ontological.  Dr. Google tells me that this is the study of the nature of reality and the entities and categories within this said reality.  Deep.

Epistemology  – this one I did know.  The study of knowledge and how to collect it.

So ontology would be knowing that knowledge exists whilst epistemology would be knowing how the knowledge originated?  Our perception of reality?  I will revisit this in 12 weeks – hopefully with an answer!

Axiological – values and principles. Linking nicely with our previous learning in Leadership in Professional Practice.

Another new word which I tried to define but failed… reflexivity.  My initial assumption is that this is related to being flexible \in approach or somehow linked to being reflective (which is sort of is).   Again, Dr. Google to the rescue here: Reflexivity generally refers to the examination of one’s own beliefs, judgments and practices during the research process and how these may have influenced the research. If positionality refers to what we know and believe then reflexivity is about what we do with this knowledge.
Finlay, L. (1998) ‘Reflexivity: an essential component for all research?’, British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 10: 453-456.