SHAPING CHILD WELFARE PRACTICES: THE INFLUENCE OF OBSERVATIONS

Abstract

This article delves into the intricacies of child welfare services (CWS) practices and their emergence, emphasizing the role of specific observations in shaping these practices. It focuses on a constructed child service investigation, dissecting the factors responsible for molding an investigation into a particular form and progression rather than other potential pathways. Previous work by Aamodt (2015) highlighted the striking uniformity of CWS investigations across various cases, agencies, and caseworkers, sparking the author's curiosity about the underlying causes. The article centers its inquiry on understanding why welfare practices evolve in particular ways and proposes an analytical approach for scrutinizing these practices. Grounded in a systems theoretical framework, the analysis employs form/medium analysis, as presented by Niels Åkerstrøm Andersen in his recent book. While not novel, this analytical strategy draws from Fritz Heider's 1920 proposition that distinguishes between form and medium as the foundation of all perception. Prominent sociologists like Talcott Parson and Niklas Luhmann have also incorporated the concept of medium in their explanations of how systems perceive the world. Walter Seiter's work extends this concept, highlighting the role of mediums in not just communication and perception but also their emergence as physical materiality. Additionally, Bernd Herzongenrath's exploration of the materiality of media in "Media Matter: The Materiality of Media, Matter as Medium" introduces a broader concept of mediums, including the physical and biological aspects. This expansion allows for a more inclusive understanding of observers, encompassing not only individuals but also machines, objects, organisms, and systems. Consequently, practices are influenced by a wide array of non-social observations, transforming the landscape of child welfare services.