Occupational Socialization Research Articles

Implementing lessons learned through occupational socialization theory to influence preservice teachers’ subjective theories

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a secondary physical education methods course and early field experience, supplemented with reflective discussions via Twitter, on subjective theories of physical education. The course was organized using recommendations from the occupational socialization theory literature. Participants were 22 preservice teachers enrolled in the course. The preservice teachers were organized into groups of three and engaged in peer teaching before beginning a junior high school early field experience. Reflective practices were incorporated throughout the course including Twitter chats prompting PTs to examine their beliefs regarding the field of physical education. Data were collected using five qualitative methods and analyzed using analytic induction and constant comparison. Data analysis led to the development of three themes: (a) becoming aware of the realities of and changes needed within physical education; (b) reconsidering what it means to teach physical education; and (c) course organization and experiences opened the PTs to challenging their subjective theories. The preservice teachers recognized issues within the field of physical education and difficulties physical educators face as well as the ability of the physical educators to work with and support youth beyond their coaching roles. In doing so, they exhibited a shift from coaching to balanced orientations. Changes were facilitated through the development of relationships with the instructor and peers, reflection, and field experience. Findings provide evidence in support of recommendations for integrating occupational socialization theory into teacher education program development. Further, Twitter can be a useful tool for enhancing reflective practices particularly when teacher educators support preservice teachers as they develop more nuanced understandings of physical education.

Like Riding a Bike: Tactical Intentionality in a PETE Curriculum

While the tactical games (TG) model has been shown to be effective in motivating students and increasing activity levels during physical education (PE) lessons, few PE teachers report using the model. The continued dominance of multi-activity PE programs may be due to the occupational socialization of physical educators. This article describes how faculty from a Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program piloted a project with pre-service candidates to determine if an intentional integration of the TG model in a PETE curriculum may lead to more future use.

Adapted Physical Education Teachers’ Job Satisfaction

Grounded in occupational socialization theory, the authors examined adapted physical education (APE) teachers' job satisfaction. Twelve (nine female and three male) APE teachers who had 3-43 years of teaching experience participated in the study. A semistructured interview was employed. The interviews focused on the participants' roles and responsibilities. The following questions guided this study: (a) What social agents positively impact APE teachers' job satisfaction? (b)what APE teachers' roles and responsibilities are related to job satisfaction? and (c)what type of working conditions are linked to APE teachers' job satisfaction? Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. The following four themes emerged from the analysis: (a) support from administrators, physical education teachers, and colleagues; (b)relevant and meaningful professional development; (c)itinerant working conditions; and (d)seeing students' progress and achievement. The results of this study provide several implications to enhance APE teachers' job satisfaction.

Socialization of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) for The Construction Service Community

Many scaffolding buildings are used as a tool for working at height; incomplete and installed by workers who do not have scaffolding installation competence. Such conditions are very dangerous for workers who work at high altitudes, with the risk of the scaffolding building collapsing, resulting in serious injury or death for workers. Occupational safety and health socialization activities are carried out online by utilizing the Google meet facility regularly every weekend during June 2020. Socialization of occupational safety and health at construction services is a very useful activity and can be continued.

‘I am finding my path’: A case study of Swedish novice physical education teachers’ experiences when managing the realities and challenges of their first years in the profession

Novice teachers face several challenges during their first years of socialization in schools, often feeling unprepared in managing the full range of teaching duties. If teacher retention and attrition are to be improved, research on the difficulties encountered by novice teachers in diverse contexts and cultures is required. There is a lack of studies regarding physical education (PE) teachers’ induction processes, especially outside Anglophone countries. The aim of this study was, from an occupational socialization perspective, to examine how Swedish novice PE teachers experience, perceive and manage their induction process. Through a single-case study design with embedded multiple units of analysis, we interviewed eight Swedish novice PE teachers. Based on thematic analysis, the results show that Swedish novice PE teachers experience several challenges related to reality shock, marginalization and isolation during induction. We identified three approaches used by the novices as central to successfully managing challenges of induction in the Swedish context: (1) socializing into a community of colleagues, (2) performing the role of the PE teacher as health promoter and (3) maintaining a critical teaching perspective. We conclude that these novice teachers’ socialization relies heavily on the individual, and therefore we argue that the induction process could be further facilitated by formal organizational support. This paper confirms long-standing difficulties reported in other countries, and contributes with new knowledge of how the approaches used when managing challenges of induction are contextually dependent due to the social and political surroundings of education.

Eye-Opening Experiences: Physical Education Teacher Candidates’ Conference Attendance

The benefits of professional conference attendance include acquisition of knowledge and practical ideas, establishment of professional networks, exploration of job opportunities, and staying current). Yet, to date, no study has comprehensively examined physical education teacher candidates’ (TCs) conference attendance at the national level. Using occupational socialization theory, this study examined physical education TCs’ perceptions of their professional conference attendance. Participants included 12 university physical education TCs attending the 2017 Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) National Convention. Data sources included photo- elicitation interviews, participants’ diaries, photographs, and demographic questionnaires. Interview transcripts and diaries were analyzed utilizing open and axial coding. Photographs were analyzed using a reflexive approach combined with methods recognizing the contingency of visual meanings. Results indicated that the majority of formal conference sessions attended by TCs were activity/movement oriented and were selected based upon professor advice and learner interests. Prominent themes of their experience included future focused learning, relationship building, and breaking out of the comfort zone. Overall, conference attendance represents an impactful learning activity, one in which faculty play an important role in shaping TCs’ professional growth. Results indicate the importance of supporting TCs’ continual learning and development as they transition between phases of teacher socialization.

Settlement Inequality and Social Exclusion of People with Epilepsy

Introduction. Patients with epilepsy, due to the presence of the chronic disorder, belong to deprived social groups. The results of many studies confirm the discrimination of patients with epilepsy on various social parameters, such as the availability of high-quality medical care, education and jobs. The settlement factor aggravates the deprived situation of patients with epilepsy and significantly affects their socio-psychological well-being. Based on the materials of the study conducted, the article identifies the interconnection between the characteristics of the place of residence of a patient with epilepsy, indicators of social exclusion, and the level of emotional-volitional and cognitive disorders. Materials and Methods. The data from a survey of 157 patients with epilepsy registered in neuropsychiatric dispensaries in Penza, Saransk, and Alatyr were used as materials for the study. The survey was conducted using the authors’ tools in May – December 2020 as formalized interviews. The results were processed using mathematical statistics methods in the SPSS software package. Results. The survey data have confirmed the stigmatization and deprivation of patients with epilepsy: they are less likely to marry, have limited opportunities for vocational education, and are more often unemployed. The settlement factor manifests itself in the unequal availability of modern medical services and provision of drugs, inclusive educational programs and opportunities for occupational socialization. The performed cluster analysis of the data has made it possible to single out three groups of respondents that differ significantly in terms of indicators and the degree of social exclusion: “educational deprivation”, “exclusion in the labor market” and “coping with stigma”. Analysis of these categories regarding the settlement factor shows that the share of the most deprived groups is inversely related to the population of the cities under study. Discussion and Conclusion. The authors have drawn the conclusions that the availability of social integration mechanisms reduces the likelihood of developing negative consequences of epilepsy, and the corresponding opportunities are largely due to the size of the city. The data obtained can be used to identify categories of patients with similar social problems, which will facilitate more targeted emotional and instrumental support for patients with epilepsy, with regard to the settlement factor.

Stability and change in vocational interest profiles and interest congruence over the course of vocational education and training

The current study is concerned with the stability of and changes in vocational interest profiles and interest congruence in vocational education and training (VET). Specifically, we examined (1) the stability of vocational interest profiles, (2) the existence of occupational socialization effects that manifest themselves as increases in person-environment (P-E) congruence, and (3) the question of whether or not changes in P-E congruence are psychologically relevant because they are related to trainees’ attitudes towards their VET course. We used data from a three-wave longitudinal sample comprising N = 2611 trainees from five different VET courses in Germany. Through the use of meta-analytical aggregation techniques, we were able to analyze interindividual differences in intraindividual interest stability and P-E congruence and to relate these differences to trainees’ satisfaction with VET. On average, interest profiles turned out to be highly stable over the entire course of VET. However, we found substantial interindividual and intergroup differences in interest stability. Average P-E congruence increased slightly in two groups, providing only little evidence for the presumed socialization effects. Nevertheless, interindividual differences in P-E congruence and changes in P-E congruence were psychologically relevant because they were linked to trainees’ satisfaction with their VET course and changes therein.

태권도 사범의 직업사회화 과정 탐색 : 문화기술지 방법을 활용하여

By adopting ethnography, the purpose of this study was to investigate occupational socialization processes of well-established eleven Taekwondo instructors. The findings of this study were expected to provide useful and practical information among preliminary Taekwondo instructors who are pursuing their professional career in the field. Due to wide-spread of COVID-19, virtual interviews were conducted. Four stages were identified, which are as follows. First, in the interest stage, instructors became interested in pursuing profession of an instructor while they taught others. Recommendation to become an instructor from significant others was another important source of their interest in the job. Second, in the preparation stage, attending seminars was the pervasive way to prepare themselves as potential Taekwondo instructors. Third, in the adaptation stage, once they began their career as an instructor, they actively engaged in using social media, reading books to gain knowledge exchanging diverse ideas with other instructors and attending seminars in order to develop professional career. Fourth, in the growth stage, positive feed-backs on the learning experiences from students and parents made instructors proud and pleasant.

Disciplinary marginalization and sociopolitics: the U.S. PETE pre-tenure experience

ABSTRACT Limited research in the context of physical education teacher education has examined faculty members’ preparation for the teaching aspect of the faculty role, particularly using longitudinal methods. Grounded in occupational socialization theory, the purpose of this qualitative, longitudinal panel study was to develop an in-depth understanding of pre-tenure PETE faculty members’ preparation for and perceptions of the role of teacher educator. Participants included 23 pre-tenure PETE faculty members (14 male, 9 female) who worked in U.S. institutions of higher education. Data sources included excerpts from six rounds of in-depth, individual interviews focused on participants training for experiences related to teacher education as well as one specific interview focused on their pre-tenure experiences as teacher educators. A collaborative approach to data analysis involving both inductive and deductive methods was adopted. Results indicated that the participants had to navigate the social environment of the workplace as well as the social construction of role expectations associated with teaching, research, and service. Specifically, qualitative analysis resulted in three themes: (a) challenges in managing teaching, research, and service roles; (b) university sociopolitics challenge PETE faculty members’ perceived mattering; and (c) systems of support are critical because PETE can be an isolating discipline. The results highlight challenges associated with the construction of faculty roles in a broader sense and those more specific to PETE. They also draw attention to the importance of relationships and a support network relative to teacher education and preparing future teacher educators for the realities of faculty life.

People and the Place: Social Dominance Orientation Is Reciprocally Associated With Hierarchy-Enhancing Occupations Over Time

Social dominance orientation (SDO) is a widely researched construct that indexes a preference for hierarchical intergroup relations. However, it remains unclear whether this preference (a) motivates people to seek out occupations that enhance hierarchical relations between groups (i.e., occupational assortment), (b) develops as a result of working within hierarchy-enhancing occupations (i.e., occupational socialization), or (c) both. One reason for this gap is that the large-scale longitudinal data required to simultaneously model assortment and socialization processes are scarce. In this study, we analyzed data from two waves of longitudinal data (spaced either 1, 3, or 5 years apart) from a nationwide sample of adults ( N = 3,452–4,412) who were already working in either hierarchy-enhancing occupations (e.g., law enforcement) or hierarchy-attenuating occupations (e.g., social work). Results showed that SDO predicted an increased probability of working in a hierarchy-enhancing occupation 3 and 5 years later. Working in a hierarchy-enhancing occupation was also positively associated with SDO after 1 and 5 years. These patterns generally suggest that occupations both shape, and are shaped by, intergroup beliefs.

Factors influencing a primary school teacher’s delivery of athletics

ABSTRACT Addressing the future recommendations of the first United Kingdom primary school-based Physical Education occupational socialisation study, this case study examined how a female primary school teacher delivered athletics and those factors influencing such pedagogical practices. Data were collected from interviews and lesson observations, analysed using a thematic inductive approach and constant comparison. An ‘educative’ sporting perspective focusing on improving practical performance with a limited attempt to improve non-practical learning was evident alongside an emphasis on ensuring appropriate pupil behaviour. Factors influencing these practices were an influential work colleague, challenging class behaviour and enforcement of school behaviour policy. Recognising the powerful influence of the workplace on the participant’s practice, school policies could encourage primary school teachers to consider attending external courses, read relevant resources, attend behavioural management courses and informally learn amongst colleagues. Future research could explore primary teachers’ delivery of other activities like dance and gymnastics.

“It’s a Lot Less Hassle and a Lot More Fun”: Factors That Sustain Teachers’ Enthusiasm for and Ability to Deliver Sport Education

Purposes: (a) To describe how more experienced and expert teachers interpreted and delivered sport education (SE) during their careers and (b) to discover and describe factors within their occupational socialization that sustained the teachers’ enthusiasm for and ability to deliver SE. Method: Participants were nine teachers. Primary data sources were formal interviews. Secondary supporting sources were documents and film. They were analyzed by employing standard interpretive methods. Credibility and trustworthiness were established through a search for discrepant and negative cases and member checking. Findings: At different times in their careers, the teachers delivered SE in one of four ways: watered down, through a cafeteria approach, the full version, and the full+ version. A number of factors from their acculturation, professional socialization, and organizational socialization enabled the teachers to deliver the full+ version or led to them delivering other versions of the model. Conclusions: The findings allow us to make practical suggestions for preservice and inservice teacher education that may help university faculty facilitate the teaching of SE.

The Influence of a Master’s Degree on the Socialization of Two Physical Education Professionals

Purpose: Building on research surrounding the occupational socialization of physical educators, scholars have begun asking questions about how physical educators are socialized within graduate programs both at the master’s and doctoral levels. As a part of a larger longitudinal investigation, the purpose of this study was to understand how participation in a research-focused masters’ program influenced the socialization of one in-service practitioner and one doctoral student over the 2-year period following degree completion. Method: Data sources included telephone focus group interviews, text message communication, and e-mail discussions. Data were analyzed inductively. Results: The data analysis resulted in the construction of the following themes: (a) developing independence, (b) enhanced theoretical knowledge, and (c) frustration and disenchantment with the profession. Discussion/Conclusion: The results of this study highlight the importance of leadership opportunities for doctoral candidates and beginning teachers, and the significance of relationship building for professional development.

What Occupational Socialization Factors Influence Preservice Teachers to Possess Fitness Orientations?

Purpose: To investigate the existence of fitness orientations among preservice teachers (PTs) and to identify what has influenced these orientations. Methods: The participants were 14 undergraduate PTs enrolled in a physical education teacher education games methods course in the Northeast United States. Qualitative data were collected through autobiographical essays, orientation of self-identification diagrams, and semistructured interviews. NVivo 11 Pro (QSR International, Burlington, MA) software package was employed to analyze data using analytic induction and constant comparison techniques. Results: Twelve PTs possessed moderate (n = 9) or hardcore (n = 3) fitness orientations. Orientations were influenced by three themes: (a) declining physical education quality, (b) elite sport fitness goals, and (c) former head sports coaches and/or current strength and conditioning coaches. Discussion: Faculty must understand the diverse orientation combinations that PTs can now possess and appreciate the acculturation and professional socialization factors that influence and reinforce the development of these orientations.

Influence of an Elementary Methods Course and Early Field Experience on Preservice Teachers’ Value Orientations

Purpose: To determine the influence of an elementary methods course and early field experience on eight preservice teachers’ (PTs’) value orientations. Method: The theoretical perspective employed was occupational socialization. Data were collected with the short form of the value orientation inventory and five qualitative techniques (formal and informal interviews, nonparticipant observation, critical incidents, and stimulated recall). The value orientation inventory profiles for the instructor and PTs were visually inspected for similarities and changes. Analytic induction and constant comparison were employed to analyze the qualitative data. Results: Value orientations of PTs with teaching and moderate coaching orientations were influenced by the methods course and early field experience, while those of PTs with strong coaching orientations were not. Factors leading to this evolution were the curriculum model employed, the instructor, and PTs’ increased confidence and knowledge of students. Summary and Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of faculty facilitating reflection on connections between instructional models and value orientations and how these relate to PTs’ beliefs.

Challenges faced by preservice and novice teachers in implementing student-centred models: A systematic review

The purpose of this study was to unpack the challenges and constraints encountered by preservice and novice teachers when implementing student-centred models, and to describe the methodological characteristics of research conducted on this topic between 2004 and 2020. The procedure had a three-step approach: (a) searching for publications in electronic databases; (b) selecting studies based on inclusion criteria; and (c) refining this selection to identify research-based papers. 29 articles were selected, most of which were from Europe and North America. The most researched model was Sport Education, and studies considering novice teachers were scarce. The predominant methodology across studies involved multiple qualitative data sources and inductive analysis. Our major finding was the identification of three themes reflecting distinct challenges to the implementation of student-centred models: (a) teacher-related challenges (i.e. pervasive beliefs, occupational socialization, managerial- and instruction-related); (b) student-related challenges (i.e. student resistance to engaged participation in student-centred models); and (c) external challenges (i.e. context- and environment-related). Physical education teacher education should invest in training preservice teachers to: (a) manage the dynamics of students’ cooperative interactions and peer-assisted learning; (b) design developmentally appropriate small-sided games and problem-solving contexts, and (c) scaffold the gradual transfer of responsibility to students for their engagement in persistent learning team activities. Longer studies and the inclusion of student perspectives will be particularly valuable for future investigations.

Research and Practical Implications of Integrating Autobiographical Essays Into Physical Education Teacher Education

The purpose of this research note is to introduce and overview both the teaching and research applications of autobiographical essay writing. Grounded in occupational socialization theory and teacher reflection, the authors propose that autobiography can be a powerful tool in helping preservice and in-service teachers more deeply reflect on their prior socialization experiences, which may help them to better understand and be willing to critique their personal belief structures. The authors provide an overview of how autobiographical essays have been used and include recommendations for teacher education practice. From a research perspective, the authors argue that autobiographical essays provide a targeted strategy for collecting reflective data on individuals’ background socialization experiences. Such data are critical for socialization scholars who are interested in understanding how teachers’ biographies influence their current teaching beliefs and practices. Applications for physical education-adjacent spaces, including doctoral education, adapted physical education, and elementary education, are also discussed.

“I Wish I Had Had You as a PE Teacher”: Physical Educators’ Experiences in a Professional Learning Community

Purpose: Drawing from Occupational Socialization Theory, the purpose of this study was to examine a middle school physical education team’s perceptions and experiences piloting standards-based teaching and grading within an organizational professional learning community (PLC). Method: Using an instrumental case study design, (n = 3) teachers and (n = 1) a principal from a middle school in the upper Midwest participated in this study. Data sources included individual and focus group interviews, observations, and relevant documents collected across three school semesters. Results: Inductive data analysis revealed three themes: (a) Increased Status and Appreciation in the School Community, (b) Growing Pains, and (c) Emotional Safety and Engagement, along with related subthemes. Conclusions: Through actively participating in the school PLC structures, physical educators may proactively facilitate leadership opportunities within the school community notwithstanding perceived limitations. However, physical educators may experience greater success in PLCs as they become increasingly literate in common assessment practices.

Influence of a Coach Development Curriculum on Preservice Coaches’ Habitus

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the influences of a 4-year university-based coach development curriculum on coaching-students’ habitus. The occupational socialization framework and Bourdieu’s theory of practice were used to capture the socialization factors that influence how coaching habitus remain continuous or are modified across the temporal phases of coaching-students’ socialization (i.e., acculturation and preservice professionalization). Data were collected through interviews, interview reflections, and coaching philosophies, which were analyzed and compared across entering (ENCS;n = 23) and exiting (XCS;n = 10) cohorts.Habitus formation,enacting coaching habitus, andinfluences on coaching habituswere the main themes. XCS differed from ENCS by utilizingindividualized instructional coaching,planning and programming, variousmethods of coaching,andreflection and lifelong learningas key strategies toenact their habitus, which showed the influence of preservice professionalization on gaining cultural capital in the coaching field. The findings provide support for howpracticum cites,course content, andcoach developerswithin the curriculum influenced coaching-students’ habitus. This research offers novel insights in regard to the approaches used in the curriculum, the integration of occupational socialization and Bourdieu’s theory of practice frameworks, and the cross-comparative design for analyzing programmatic effectiveness.