Reexamining the professionality of childcare work： Development of a concentric circle model of aptitude of childcare workers

Abstract

The specialty of childcare work was reexamined based on the theory of aptitude, and an integrated model was developed to comprehensively and systematically identify this specialty. Firstly, vocational aptitude in industrial and organizational psychology was explained, and the usefulness, as well as problems of utilizing the “model of three aspects of aptitude” (Osawa, 1989) for understanding the specialty of childcare work, was examined. Secondly, a “concentric circle model of the aptitude of childcare workers” (concentric circle model) was suggested by applying the hierarchical structure to the three aspects of the above model. Moreover, the model and procedure of developing the model were explained. Thirdly, the outlines of previous studies were described, and the concept of the specialty was concretely examined based on the three layers of aptitude in the concentric circle model: ability (outer layer), attitude (middle layer), and personality (core layer). The diverse concept of the specialty converged in one direction based on the concentric circle model, which was expected to form the basis of studies on this specialty. It was suggested that the validity of the hierarchical model be examined, and studies on the aptitude of the attitude of childcare workers should be promoted.