Communication between family supervisors and mandated clients. An analysis of videotaped interactions

Abstract

This paper investigates communicative processes between family supervisors and parents whose child is placed under a supervision order by the juvenile court. Nineteen family supervisors participated in the study, each with one 'case': a family with one or more children placed under supervision. Fifty-one talks between the family supervisors and the parents were videotaped and analyzed. Results are presented on the presentation of formal authority (what aspects of authority are presented and how?), on the structure of the interactions (agenda-setting, turntaking), on the construction of problems in the talks and on advice practices. We discuss the possible implications of this study for the role of authority and pedagogical support. Family supervision and its professionalization are discussed.