Occupational form and occupational performance 2005

Some fundamentals of occupational science

1. October 2005 J.Taylor 1
Occupational Form and
Occupational Performance
Or
How to think about occupations!

2. October 2005 J.Taylor 2
Occupations
•Occupations are fundamental to health,
well-being and identity.
•Occupations are the therapeutic media
employed by the occupational therapist.
•And so …….
•We need to have a sophisticated
understanding of occupations (Creek 1996)

3. October 2005 J.Taylor 3
Two ways we can use
occupations
•As the end
point that we
are aiming for
in our
intervention
•As the
means to
improve
someone’s
impaired
abilities

4. October 2005 J.Taylor 4
Occupation as end point
•These occupations are part of the person’s
normal roles
–They organise the person’s time
–They help the person to participate in life
/society
–They have purpose and meaning for the person

5. October 2005 J.Taylor 5
Occupation as end point
•The O.T. can help the person learn / relearn
these occupations, and / or can make
adaptations if necessary

6. October 2005 J.Taylor 6
Occupation as a means to an end
•We can introduce occupation as
intervention to help improve someone after
illness or when disabled
•Enables eventual occupational functioning
•We choose occupations which interest the
client and which have therapeutic value
•They should be challenging but enable
success

7. October 2005 J.Taylor 7
Two ways we can analyse
occupation
•Occupational
form
•Occupational
performance

8. October 2005 J.Taylor 8
Nelson’s question about baseball
•What is an occupation?
•Is the format of the game (the structure) the
occupation?
•Or is the playing of the game (the doing)
the occupation?

9. October 2005 J.Taylor 9
His answer ….
•Occupation is the relationship between
occupational form and occupational
performance
•Occupation is the relationship between the
‘something to be done’ and the ‘doing’ of it
–Playing a game of Monopoly
–Cooking a meal for a special occasion

10. October 2005 J.Taylor 10
Occupational Form
•‘an objective set of circumstances,
independent and external to a person’
(p633)
•a ‘pre-existing structure that elicits, guides,
or structures subsequent human
performance’ (p634) (Nelson 1988)

11. October 2005 J.Taylor 11
Occupational form has two
dimensions
The physical dimension
and
The sociocultural dimension

12. October 2005 J.Taylor 12
The physical dimension
can be observed and measured
•The objects and their properties
•The environment
•The temporal aspects
•The human aspects

13. October 2005 J.Taylor 13
The sociocultural dimension –
the social and cultural aspects
•Symbols, norms, sanctions,
roles
•These operate at different levels
of society
•Language

14. October 2005 J.Taylor 14
OCCUPATION
Occupational
form
Occupational
performance

15. October 2005 J.Taylor 15
Occupational Performance
•‘to go through or carry out the
occupational form’
•’the doing, the action, the active behaviour,
or the active responses exhibited within the
context of an occupational form.’
Nelson (1988, p634)

16. October 2005 J.Taylor 16
Occupational performance has
two aspects
Overt
And
Covert

17. October 2005 J.Taylor 17
Overt occupational performance
can be observed
•Gross and fine movement
•Speech and related vocalisations
•Facial expressions
•All movements and postures under
voluntary motor control

18. October 2005 J.Taylor 18
Covert occupational performance
may not be observed directly
•Cognitive processes
•Emotional reactions

19. October 2005 J.Taylor 19
Chains of occupational
performance
Occupational PerformanceAspects of form
Walks to the refrigerator
Opens The fridge door
Looks for Milk
Picks up Milk
Pushes shut Fridge door
Walks to Table
Pours Milk into glass

20. October 2005 J.Taylor 20
Opening a fridge door is a
complex activity!!!
•Reach out to handle
•Grasp handle
•Firmly pull the handle (to break the hold of
the rubber seal)
•Gently pull the handle
•Stop pulling

21. October 2005 J.Taylor 21
What might go wrong?
•What if some of the muscles are weak?
•What if you cannot initiate muscle action?
•What if you cannot control muscle action?
•What if you have no movement in one or
more of your joints?
•What if you cannot recognise the handle?
•What if you cannot see it?

22. October 2005 J.Taylor 22
The developmental structure of
the human
•The human has
– Sensorimotor}
–Cognitive } abilities
–Psychosocial }
•These have developed over time

23. October 2005 J.Taylor 23
Occupational performance
depends on …..
•The occupational form which is
encountered PLUS
•The unique developmental structure of the
individual
•The specific features of that one-off
occasion

24. October 2005 J.Taylor 24
Occupation
meaning purpose
Occupational
form
The
person
Occupational
performance

25. October 2005 J.Taylor 25
References
•Creek, J (1996) Making a cup of tea as an honours
degree subject British Journal of Occupational
Therapy 59 (3) 128-130
•Nelson, D.L. (1988) Occupation: Form and
Performance The American Journal of
Occupational Therapy 42 (10) 633-641
•Trombly, C.A., Radomski, M.V.(eds) (2002)
Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction 5
th

edition Philadelphia:Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins