Exercise 4: Step 1

Fact ... or professional judgement?

Initial self-assessment question

How well do you think you distinguish between fact and professional judgement in your records?

Unlike in the first three exercises, which were concerned with the legislation and official guidance surrounding recording, the remaining five are not characterised by having clear-cut 'right' or 'wrong' answers. Instead we share our own ideas and thoughts in the practice examples; but we ask that you make notes of any points that you disagree with us about and then discuss them with your colleagues.

In the fourth exercise we consider some of the differences between 'facts' and professional judgements and assessments. It is well documented that many workers find difficulty both in distinguishing between fact and professional judgement and then in substantiating their analyses (see, for example, Øvretveit, 1986; Shemmings, 1991).

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