Occupation Science

By: Timothy Dwyer

The History of Occupational Science

• Founded in 1989 by Elizabeth June Yerxa (on left).

• Since 1989, the research Occupational Science as grown worldwide.

What is Occupational Science?

• The study of a human as an occupational being, centering around how human beings realize their sense of meaning

through occupation. • It is a way of bringing together many different strands of

OT knowledge and skills to make a clear explanation of how and why people act in everyday situations.

• Occupational Science is not a single theory, model, or frame of reference, but it is a social science.

• Its does not belong to any one group of people.

Key Terms

• Occupation- chunks of culturally & personally meaningful activity that humans engage in which can be named in the lexicon of

the culture. Includes sexual, social, and spiritual activity.

• Adaptation- a process of selecting & organizing activities to improve life opportunities & enhance quality of life according to the

experience of individuals or groups in an ever-changing environment.

• Play- intrinsically motivated activity in which the experience is pleasurable.

The Relationship of Occupational Science to OT

• The knowledge about occupation is the key link between OT and Occupational Science.

• Occupational Science places great value on all experiences of life.

The 3 Forms of Occupation

• Form of occupation– Focuses on the observable occupations. Ex.

Occupational performance.

• Function of occupation– Ways in which occupations serve adaptation. Ex. Any

behavior that promotes health and well-being.

• Meaning of occupation– Occupations that have significance in a person’s live

and culture. Ex. Baby showers.

2 Concepts of Adaptation

• Adaptive strategies– Are sequences of actions that improve life

opportunities or enhance the quality of life.

• Adaptive systems (person-centered)– Includes activities in all domains of life.

Importance of Play

• A behavior is more playful if it is voluntary, pleasurable, relaxing, and improvisational.

• Play should not be forced on people, rather they should play for the pure enjoyment.

• A way of increasing playfulness in a child is by making a variety of toys and objects readily available.

Play continued

• By placing a child into his/her home environment, it will increase playfulness.

• Play is a main component for integrating multiple developmental skills.

• Play and work are on opposite sides of a continuum in the Occupational Science model.

Applications

• Occupational Science applies to every kind of disease from infancy to the elderly.

• The main application is that a clinician must listen to the patients to find out what interests them.

• The therapist must use the patient’s interests to aid in assessment and to make it easier to work with the patient.

Research

• Susan Knox studied the demographics of a family.

• Sheama Krishnagiri completed a study on how mate selection can be defined as an occupation.

References

• Clark, Florance & Zemke, Ruth (1996). Occupational Science. The Evolving Discipline. F.A.

Davis Company. Philadelphia.

• Wilcock, Ann A. Occupational Science: The key to broadening horizons. British Journal of

Occupational Therapy. August 2001.

• Yerxa, Elizabeth J (2000). Occupational Science: A Renaissance of Service to Humankind Through Knowledge. Occupational Therapy International. London.

Unique Elements

• Occupational Science is the study of a human as an occupational being, centering on how human beings realize their sense of meaning through occupation.

• Occupational Science is not based on any one group of people.

• Three forms of occupation are the form, function, and meaning of occupation.

• Adaptive systems and Adaptive strategies are the two components of adaptation.

• Play is the main assessment tool for Occupational Science.

• The model is relatively new and requires more research in order for it to become a Conceptual Practice Model.