Hi all,
Along with Dr. Nippert-Eng's suggestion, I would add a few things:
Sarfatti Larson's The Rise of Professionalism:
http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Professionalism-Sociological-Analysis/dp/0520039505
Keith McDonald's The sociology of the professions:
http://www.amazon.com/Sociology-Professions-Professor-Keith-Macdonald/dp/0803986343
And Eliot Freidson's work in general:
http://www.amazon.com/Profession-Medicine-Sociology-Applied-Knowledge/dp/0226262286/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307046381&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Professionalism-Third-Logic-Practice-Knowledge/dp/0226262030/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307046381&sr=1-3
It is also useful to note that the discussions in the field has transformed
dramatically recently. Perhaps most importantly, the core traits of
professionalism (such as the seven criteria you cited) are, at best, ideal
types that even medicine and law (being the text book examples of classical
professionalism) try to reach. No profession has full control over its own
work, which is one of the key traits of true professionalism. As such, the
more important question in the literature is about analyzing the ways in
which occupations try to "act" like professions. Also there are a lot of
interesting stuff in the "boundary maintenance" literature, especially in
science and technology studies. (for example, Thomas Gieryn's Cultural
Boundaries of Science: Credibility on the Line)
Steven Brint's work, especially his book " In the Age of Experts" is also an
easy read and gives a lot information about the issue.
All the best,
ali o. ilhan
PhD Candidate in Sociology,
Washington State University
On 2 June 2011 13:06, Christena Nippert-Eng <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi Lubomir, and all,
>
> I think this one might be very useful, given the conversation: Andy
> Abbott's The System of Professions.
>
>
> http://www.amazon.com/System-Professions-Essay-Division-Expert/dp/0226000699/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1307044527&sr=8-2
>
> Mind you, it's a very exact and insightful read rather than an entertaining
> one. Definitely part of the sociological canon.
>
> For a more basic treatment and a read that might be of interest to at least
> some on the list, this one is about the possibilities of a particular
> occupation becoming a profession -- engineering. Try Robert Zussman's
> Mechanics of the Middle Class. Probably in your library as it was never
> issued in paperback. He argues that engineering is *not* -- and probably
> will never be -- a profession.
>
> Cheers!
> Chris
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Lubomir Savov Popov
> Date: Thursday, June 2, 2011 2:34 pm
> Subject: Theory/sociology of professions and professionalization
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> > Hi Terry,
> >
> > I would appreciate it greatly if you share with me sources with
> > criteria for professionalization. Also, if you can recommend
> > good books and papers on theory of professions, sociology of
> > professions, and the like.
> >
> > I am starting a project on professional opportunities for
> > applied sociologists and am planning to approach it from that
> > perspective.
> > Thank you very much,
> >
> > Lubomir
> >
>
> Christena Nippert-Eng, Ph.D.
> Associate Professor of Sociology
> www.islandsofprivacy.com
> http://www.iit.edu/csl/socs/faculty/nippert_christena.shtml
> Acting Chair, Department of Social Sciences, IIT
> Chair, American Sociological Association Section on Communication and
> Information Technologies
> 312-567-6812 (office)
> 312-567-6821 (fax)
>
|