Theoretical assumptions Sample Clauses

Theoretical assumptions. The studies included in this review all adopted a theoretical framework (either explicitly or implicitly) with which they made claims about the development of professional identity. Those that did not explicitly make a statement regarding a theoretical position were considered, and an attempt to locate an appropriate position was made. From this first part of the analysis, it was noted that the studies were based upon 3 theoretical frameworks: Symbolic interactionism; Social Identity Theory and Social Constructionism (see Table 3-8). Symbolic Interactionism Xxxxxxx & Xxxx 2016 Xxxxxx et al 2015 Xxxxxxxx et al 2016 Keeling & Xxxxxxxxx 2013 Xxxxxxxxxxx & Xxxx 2008 Social Identity Theory Xxxxxxxx et al 2016 Social Constructionism Xxxxx et al 2017 Xxxxxxx et al 2017 Xxxxxxxxxxxx 2011 These theories have a broad scope with regards to their utility in empirical studies; each theory has contested boundaries about which scholars have adopted differing positions for many years. The boundaries that define the difference in the theoretical approaches centre largely on the ideas held about the role of social structure and individual agency. Agency has a role in the development of identity as it is responsible for an individual’s ability to pursue their goals and regulate personal and social transformations (Xxxx 2012). Alternatively, social structure is a less precise concept that defines the role of powerful cultural, historical, social, institutional and political discourse that shape individuals (Block 2013). Social psychological theories- such as Symbolic Interactionism- assume a higher degree of individual agency in the production of knowledge and the meaning made of social phenomena (Xxxxxxx et al. 1977). As such, it is held that the individual is conscious about how they define their own sense of identity; be it in terms of a self-concept or a professional identity. Social Constructionist theories take a view that social structures are responsible for the production and reproduction of knowledge with individuals being subjects of socially derived meaning through discourse (Xxxx 2015, Blommaert 2005, de fina et al. 2006). There are several overlaps in the domains covered by each of these broad theoretical approaches; the degree with which an individual has agency over their identity formation is a point of some disagreement among some scholars within each of these schools of thought (Block 2013). However, these theoretical categorisations provided a useful- if s...