Tracing this reportÕs line of argument back to the contention that most information dissemination efforts within the field of working life rehabilitation are characterized by researchers assuming the role of active sender and practitioners being assigned a function of passive receiver, the implications of Uhlin«s observation of circular rather than linear patterns of reciprocity between academia and practitioners are obvious and profound. At one level, the contrariety between Uhlin«s perception of knowledge transference and the traditional approach of most researchers to this subject could even give rise to the following supposition:
Whereas it has traditionally been felt that the failure to ensure a successfully high level of research utilization of findings made within the field of working life rehabilitation depended on an inability to achieve the right combination of research information activities, it may well be the case that a lack of research utilization is primarily due to a fundamental discrepancy between the needs of practitioners and the interests of researchers.
In many respects, the above contention is supported by TydŽn«s development of his model of knowledge transference - Synthesis Pedagogics (TydŽn, 1994). Based on the fundamental prerequisite that researchers identify and understand the practical problems of practitioners, TydŽn«s model clearly highlights the underlying reason for the failure of many research information efforts.
Applied to a wider context, the notion that practitionerÕs specific problems should function as a natural point of departure for the formulation of eventual solutions to these problems also seems a rather logical train of thought to pursue as regards the issue of micro-companies dealing with their working life rehabilitation problems. However, due to the distinctive organizational structures and normative rules of those institutes/ bodies within the Swedish Health sector, it is unfortunately the case that whereas a great degree of decentralization is allowed as regards dealing with administrative routines, there is a strong degree of centralization in the establishment of overall aims and definition of rehabilitation problems.
Partly touching upon the theories of New Institutionalism3, the above view would clearly seem to suggest that the implementation of an effective, problem based model of knowledge transference within the field of vocational rehabilitation is faced by a number of serious organizational/ structural obstacles. However, perhaps even more alarming from a knowledge transfer perspective would be the application of a more complete analysis of the current predicament of micro-companies from the interpretative viewpoint of New Institutionalism«s theories. Such an analysis might well lead to the following line of argument.
With the introduction of the Rehabilitation Reform of 1992, which essentially resulted in first-hand responsibility for the vocational rehabilitation needs of employees being transferred from the public sphere to employers (and Regional Social Insurance Offices), a situation was created in which there was a fundamental shift of financial, legal and moral responsibility for rehabilitation problems, but no corresponding change in the structural and normative
3 Exponents of New Institutionalism essentially contend that the structures of many organizations are a result of
a number of distinct historical factors and compromises, and that decisions and forms of co-operation are often a product of these background factors, rather than a direct response to the needs of contemporary and future problems.
procedures of governmental organizations to help employers deal with these new responsibilities. Consequently, seen from a knowledge transfer viewpoint, this might well be interpreted to mean that regardless of how successfully one carried out research information activities, the effects of such efforts could well be hindered (and ultimately neutralized) by the need to adhere to impractical (and often irrational) organizational considerations.
The above, is a brief account of some of the research themes I touched upon during the last thirteen weeks of the Trainee Programme. An underlying assumption throughout this period was that the research carried out would provide those responsible for NIWL«s Research Station in …stersund with the opportunity to better understand the particular research interests of each trainee and assist in the evaluation of these interests in relation to NIWL«s own research needs. Hopefully, the above has whetted some appetites.
As regards the practical implications of the research presented in this report for micro-companies in the province of JŠmtland, it has hopefully brought to the fore the fact that the pursuit of a traditionally structured model of information dissemination will not meet the needs of a target group, which is extremely diverse in terms of occupational backgrounds, vocational rehabilitation requirements and, to make matters even more complicated, spread over a vast area. Instead, my research has seemed to suggest that any attempts to carry out research information activities geared towards this group would be most likely to succeed if they were closely based on the ideas presented in TydŽn«s model of Synthesis Pedagogics.
These research information efforts would presumably utilize some form of IT system to overcome problems of geographical space and the fact that those who run small business enterprises often feel that they do not have the time to deal with the vocational rehabilitation needs of their employees.
In addition, it would also be necessary to carry out some form of classification of participating practitioners into network like groups, which would primarily be based on trade/ occupational affiliation. In conclusions, although purely speculative, the above ideas are partly supported by the findings of Vinberg«s study Company Development Through Increased Competence and Better Health (Vinberg, 1997- 98).
Evaluation of the Trainee Programme
In hindsight, it perhaps would have been more beneficial to have started the Trainee Programme mid-way through 1999, rather than in conjunction with the direct establishment of the research station. In effect, this situation created an environment in which the high expectations of trainees were easily frustrated. Wrestling with the administrative and logistical problems of establishing a research station from scratch, `senior management staff«
scarcely had time to carry out their daily administrative duties, let alone clarify the intended role(s) to be played by the trainee group. Furthermore, the monthly staff meetings trainees were required to attend seemed a bit pointless, especially since their sole function appeared to be the underscoring of the fact that trainees were not part of the research stationÕs permanent staff.
As regards an assessment of the Trainee ProgrammeÕs initial seven week `Introductrory Course«, this was well carried out with the exception of the introduction to `Information Technology, Competence and the Labour Market«. This phase of the programme was poorly organized and clearly lacked planning. The thirteen week period of individual research was extremely fruitful, both in terms of advances made in research and the freedom afforded the trainees during this period. Access to research material, via NIWL«s internal library system,
was excellent. In addition, trainees were given the opportunity to attend countless conferences and a number of interesting guest lecturers were invited to the research station.
Thus in conclusion, I would describe my participation in NIWL«s Trainee Programme as an extremely interesting experience, which has provided me with a unique insight into the daily running of a major Swedish research institute.
Sacha Lategan
BA, MA, Doctoral Candidate at UmeΠUniversity, Sweden
REFERENCES
McQuail, D. (1975) Communication. London: Longman
TydŽn, T. (1994) Research Information for Tomorrow - Bridge Building between Researcher and Practitioner. Uppsala: Arbetsmiljšfonden
Uhlin, •. (1996) The Many Languages of Knowledge - About Official Strategies for Learning in Small and Medium Sized Companies. Forskningsstiftelsen Fafo
Vinberg, S. (1997-98) Company Development Through Increased Competence and Better Health: A Pilot Study of Ten Small and Medium Sized Workplaces in the Province of JŠmtland. The National Institute for Working Life in …stersund, Sweden.
2.1.5 UtvŠrdering av utvecklingsprojektet USA Ð om psykosocial arbetsmiljš hos polisens sexualbrottsutredare.
Av Anne-Lie Nilsson
1994 startades inom polisen ett utvecklingsprojekt med mŒlsŠttning att utveckla goda rarbetsrutiner fšr handlŠggare av sexualbott och bidra till att sŠkerstŠlla god arbetsmiljš (Rikspolisstyrelsen dnr-749-1795/94). Projektet utfšrde en landsomfattande enkŠtundersškning fšr att samla in kunskap. Och endast enklare sammanstŠllningar av det insamlade materialet utfšrdes.
Under hšsten 1998 uppsškte Kriminalinspektšr Eiwor WranŽus Arbetslivsinstitutet i
…stersund (ALI) fšr att fŒ hjŠlp med en analys och vŠrdering av studien. Anne-lie Nilsson personalvetare (fil.kand. psykologi) med inriktning mot psykosocial arbetsmiljš och stress i arbetet, Œtog sig att som en del i sina studier utfšra denna utvŠrdering. Uppgiften blev att;
§ gšra en sammanstŠllning och en analys av det befintliga materialet
§ gšra en koppling mellan materialet och befintlig relevant forskning
§ lŠmna fšrslag till ŒtgŠrder och fortsatt arbete
GENOMF…RANDE OCH METOD