O discurso histórico sobre o serviço social: uma perspectiva analítica sobre o quadro de produção científica em Portugal (1987-2007)

Translated title of the contribution: The historical speech about social work: an analytical perspective on scientific production in Portugal (1987-2007)

Research output: Types of ThesisMaster's Thesis

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Abstract

The work carried out is an exploratory study on historical speech about Social Work in Portugal, based on national scientific production between 1987 and 2007. This speech - way of writing and reflecting upon history - isn't the result of work produced by general historians, but of studies carried out by social workers who have historically studied their profession. In order to theoretically and conceptually problematise the research object, we discussed the most important historiographical concepts and the definition of what currently characterises the historical field, and reflected on the Social Work structural framework. It should be emphasised that Social Work's matrix - the pattern or support commonly reproduced in this activity, "(...) socially constructed and into which all current 'theories' and practices can be fitted" (Payne, 2002: 23) - is an 'object of knowledge' still under construction. At this level, we have favoured a reading framework that conceives the social worker's action from a "(...) relational space, structured and embodied through the communication and participation from the elements that make up [his] field (...)" (Andrade, 2001: 164): the social worker himself, the intervention beneficiaries and the organisation/institution. The analysis of documentary sources that express the historical speech about Portuguese Social Work - mainly doctoral thesis and master's dissertations - was undertaken according to interpretative keys drawn from the theoretical-conceptual framework. The aim was not only to understand what and how Social Work's history has been analysed in Portugal, but also for what and why this profession has been historically questioned over the last two decades. The study has highlighted the need to stabilise a reference theoretical framework about Social Work's nature, leading us to question whether Social Work's own history could provide elements to deepen this discussion.
Translated title of the contributionThe historical speech about social work: an analytical perspective on scientific production in Portugal (1987-2007)
Original languagePortuguese
QualificationMaster of Philosophy
Awarding Institution
  • Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Serôdio Rosa, Maria Teresa, Supervisor, External person
  • Fontes, Paulo F. de Oliveira, Co-supervisor
Award date17 Feb 2009
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Keywords

  • Social work
  • Historical speech
  • Portugal

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