A1 Journal article (refereed)
Expertise-by-Experience in Child and Family Services : Professionals’ Perspectives on Experiential Knowledge (2022)


Kiili, J., & Itäpuisto, M. (2022). Expertise-by-Experience in Child and Family Services : Professionals’ Perspectives on Experiential Knowledge. Nordic journal of social research, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.18261/njsr.13.2.3


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsKiili, Johanna; Itäpuisto, Maritta

Journal or seriesNordic journal of social research

eISSN1892-2783

Publication year2022

Publication date27/09/2022

Volume13

Issue number2

PublisherScandinavian University Press / Universitetsforlaget AS

Publication countryNorway

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.18261/njsr.13.2.3

Publication open accessOpenly available

Publication channel open accessOpen Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83436


Abstract

This study analyses child and family service professionals’ perceptions of expertise-by-experience. Group and individual interviews with professionals were analysed. The analysis yielded three main dimensions of experiential knowledge: supportive peer knowledge; contested knowledge, in which education and talking among peers in small groups helps experts-by-experience to locate the limits of their knowledge before publicly disclosing their inner thoughts; and emotional knowledge, which is based on shared experiences of emotional challenges and vulnerability. The results support the call for a critical appraisal of experiential knowledge. The increasing demand for experiential knowledge means that clarity on what kind of experiential knowledge is required and who can best represent it is necessary. In the child and family services contexts, the question of what constitutes experiential knowledge remains crucial. The results also indicate that collective analysis could help professionals tackle the challenges and demand for intersectional and heterogeneous knowledge.


Keywordsexpertiseexperiential knowledgeexperiences (knowledge)social workersfamily worksocial workprofessionalspeer supportevaluation

Free keywordsexpertise-by-experience; experiential knowledge; child and family service professionals


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

Reporting Year2022

JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2024-25-03 at 10:11