Omissions and commissions: An analysis of professional field education literature

Abstract

This article reports a review and analysis of 67 publications in the professional literature discussing social work field education published between 1980 and 1996. In doing so, it identifies a patterning of the discourse, reflecting on significant omissions (what is not discussed), as well as commissions (what is discussed). It notes that certain perspectives, particularly those of universities, dominate, while others, such as those of students and organisations providing field education are largely absent. The article argues that professional discussion of field education must address the omissions if it wishes to respond to environmentally induced change impacting upon the community services industry and on tertiary education.