Professional judgement as interactive practice: using the Documentary Method to reconstruct discretionary space in case conferences

Research on professional judgement in social work has produced a solid body of knowledge regarding the accuracy of decisions in relation to professional standards. Qualitative, reconstructive research methods make it possible to address not only the outcome but also the practical conditions of decision making. To understand the interactive aspects of professional judgement, it is necessary to consider the unintended consequences of social actions and to acknowledge that actors know more than they are aware of. Professional practice is based on both theoretical and performative forms of knowledge. According to Ralf Bohnsack, the Documentary Method allows for the reconstruction of the collective frames of orientation implicitly guiding practice. Rules do not possess sufficient information about their application; thus, tacit knowledge and the use of discretion play a crucial role in practice. A recent study on the negotiation of discretionary space is used to exemplify the methodology. Naturalistic data were collected in real case conferences of teams working with disadvantaged youth in Germany. The Documentary Method acknowledges the logic of practice and facilitates the reconstruction of professional habitus.