Key research themes
1. How do power dynamics and social constructs influence human occupations and their recognition as legitimate or deviant?
This theme investigates the critical role of sociopolitical power structures, hegemony, and social norms in shaping which occupations are valued, marginalized, or silenced. It explores how occupational engagement is not only a reflection of individual agency but also embedded within broader systems of oppression, social justice concerns, and moral evaluations that affect personal and collective health and well-being.
2. How can complexity and phenomenological frameworks enhance our understanding of the structure and experience of human occupations?
Research under this theme probes the application of complexity theories and phenomenological methodologies to capture the dynamic, lived, and multi-dimensional nature of occupation. It focuses on conceptual frameworks that explain how meaningfulness structures occupational trajectories and how phenomenology offers deeper insights into the lived experience of occupation beyond reductive or linear approaches.
3. What roles do environmental, socio-economic, and structural factors play in shaping occupational participation and labor market dynamics?
This theme encompasses studies examining how contextual and structural elements—including environmental barriers, socio-economic influences, market demands, and educational systems—affect occupational engagement, job quality, and workforce composition. It contrasts empirical findings on labor market polarization, highlights typologies of environmental barriers, and interrogates decision-making processes in occupational choice within families and societies.