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WOLFGANG KNOPF
THE NEED OF RESEARCH FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ANSE
Hands down, with benefit to our profession we make ample use of research
outcomes produced by different sciences. But to create our own, professionally
specific, scientific understanding, we will have to continue and further develop
our own methodologies of ‘original research.’ This could — and should — be done
along the following lines:
+ Applied research on the practice of supervision and coaching, focusing
on differences and tensions between ‘espoused theory’ and ‘theory in use’.
s Research on the effectiveness of supervision and coaching. Important
levels of effectiveness are:
- The level of the supervisor or coach,
- The level of the organisation,
- The level of the clients.
s Research on the quality and effectiveness of trainings programs, and of
concepts of supervision and coaching.
s Research on the implications of changes within workplace and society,
such as technological and capital driven effects on the position of
(professional) workers (“decent work!”).
¢ Research as critical reflection on our formats.
Next to quantitative research, we clearly also need to develop qualitative
research projects.
BASIC STEPS TAKEN BY ANSE
In order to follow up on these necessities as a professional body, ANSE had
to support the development of a basic understanding of our trade on a Eu¬
ropean level. A clear and - as far as possible — evidence-based definition of
terms, concepts and competencies was missing. This shortcoming was noted
repeatedly at several conferences run by ANSE, and also literally experienced
in ANSE “International Intervision Groups”, in which supervisors and coaches
from different countries and with different theoretical approaches came
together and, in order to find common ground and be able to start working,
first of all had to clarify terms and definitions.
And so, dealing with diversity within their community of practitioners
proved a demanding task. Grass roots experiences like these shaped the focus
of the 2010 Grundtvig project “Counselling in a Multicultural Europe”. This
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