WORKING WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES -INVESTIGATING THE ETHICS, VALUES AND MOTIVATION OF THE EMPLOYEES WORKING AT THE GOLD COAST RECREATION & SPORTS INC.
Heinänen, Sanni (2016)
Heinänen, Sanni
Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu
2016
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2016112317058
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2016112317058
Tiivistelmä
Since the early 1990’s, inclusion of people with disabilities has become an increasingly relevant topic. The purpose of this thesis was to study the values effecting on the motivation of employees and service providers working at the Gold Coast Recreation & Sports Inc. in Queensland, Australia. With the collaboration of the organization, the aim was to identify possible patterns and/or similarities in the values of the employees and service providers working with people with disabilities. Little research has been done on this topic, making it a current subject to be studied. The values we work to act according to in everyday life are connected to motivation and lead in our decision making. Accordingly, it has been proposed by theorists that motivation can be examined through values.
This thesis was conducted through a survey. Following data collection, survey screening and cleaning of data, the respondents resulted in 35 people, of which 89% consisted of staff members and 11% of service providers. The results of the survey suggest, that the majority of the employees and service providers working with people with disabilities are most motivated through self-transcendence values, which emphasize enhancement and preservation of the welfare of all people and nature. In comparison, they are least motivated by self-enhancement values, which emphasize personal success, pleasure or sensuous gratification for oneself, social status and prestige.
The results show, that the main reason for getting involved in working with people with disabilities was employment opportunity with 29% of the responses. Results al-so conclude, that work experience with disability groups changed attitudes in 83% of the sample group. This in turn can be linked to the ICF model, and its aim of seeing the entirety of a human being, and not just the disability/diagnosis of him/her. There-fore, the work with disability groups has changed views, understanding and perhaps action of employees to be more ethically sensitive and respectful towards people with disabilities. This suggests, that the implementation of work experience with disability groups would be extremely important in education from an early stage, especially in vocational schools and universities with degree programs in health care. Further studies are required on this topic, with special emphasis on the effect of attitudes and values in working with disability groups. For example, a study could be proposed to investigate the attitudes and values of volunteers and employees from different organizations, since it is a topic yet unstudied.
This thesis was conducted through a survey. Following data collection, survey screening and cleaning of data, the respondents resulted in 35 people, of which 89% consisted of staff members and 11% of service providers. The results of the survey suggest, that the majority of the employees and service providers working with people with disabilities are most motivated through self-transcendence values, which emphasize enhancement and preservation of the welfare of all people and nature. In comparison, they are least motivated by self-enhancement values, which emphasize personal success, pleasure or sensuous gratification for oneself, social status and prestige.
The results show, that the main reason for getting involved in working with people with disabilities was employment opportunity with 29% of the responses. Results al-so conclude, that work experience with disability groups changed attitudes in 83% of the sample group. This in turn can be linked to the ICF model, and its aim of seeing the entirety of a human being, and not just the disability/diagnosis of him/her. There-fore, the work with disability groups has changed views, understanding and perhaps action of employees to be more ethically sensitive and respectful towards people with disabilities. This suggests, that the implementation of work experience with disability groups would be extremely important in education from an early stage, especially in vocational schools and universities with degree programs in health care. Further studies are required on this topic, with special emphasis on the effect of attitudes and values in working with disability groups. For example, a study could be proposed to investigate the attitudes and values of volunteers and employees from different organizations, since it is a topic yet unstudied.