78.144.37.201 (talk) removed overly specific and generally meaningless definitions and replaced with concise and accurate ones Tag: blanking |
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A '''professional''' is a member of a vocation founded upon specialised educational training. |
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<!-- Former reference: Hollingshead AB. Four factor index of social status. New Haven (Connecticut): Department of Sociology, Yale University; 1975. --> |
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The term professional would be equivalent to the definition of Social Economic Status or SES. |
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* An adjective |
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** relating to or belonging to a profession. |
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** engaged in an activity as a paid occupation rather than as an amateur. |
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** worthy of or appropriate to a professional person; competent. |
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The modified Hollingshead scale of social position is as follows: <br /> |
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* A noun |
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Professional – Doctoral level Degree (MD, D.O., PhD or equal) 1 <br /> |
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Graduate Level Degree (MBA, MA, MS) 2 <br /> |
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** a person having impressive competence in a particular activity. |
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Four-year college graduate (BA, BS, BM) 3 <br /> |
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One to three years college (also business schools) 4 <br /> |
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High school graduate 5 <br /> |
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Ten to 11 years of school (part high school) 6 <br /> |
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Seven to nine years of school 7 <br /> |
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Less than seven years of school 8 <br /> |
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Less than five years of school 9 <br /> |
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No Education 10 |
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The word professional traditionally means a person who has obtained a professional (doctoral) level degree - a physician or lawyer or so on. The term professional has also become mainstreamed and used to imply white collar working person or commercial such as in the case of a commercial athlete compared to an amateur. |
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In western nations, such as the United States, the term commonly describes highly educated, mostly salaried workers, who enjoy considerable work autonomy, economic security, a comfortable salary, and are commonly engaged in creative and intellectually challenging work.<ref name="Gilbert">Gilbert, D. (1998). ''The American class structure: In an age of growing inequality''. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Press.</ref><ref name="Beeghley">Beeghley, L. (2004). ''The structure of social stratification in the United States''. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.</ref><ref name="Eichar">Eichar, D. (1989). ''Occupation and class conciousness in America''. Wesport, CT: Greewood Press.</ref><ref name="Ehrenreich">Ehrenreich, B. (1989). ''Fear of falling: The inner life of the middle class''. New York: Harper Prennial.</ref> Less technically, it may also refer to a person having impressive competence in a particular activity.<ref>http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/professional?view=uk</ref> |
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==Work== |
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===Definition=== |
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Main criteria for professional include the following: |
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# Academic qualifications - a doctoral or law degree - i.e., university college/institute |
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# Expert and specialised knowledge in field which one is practising professionally [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/professional] |
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# Excellent manual/practical and literary skills in relation to profession <ref. ][http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/professional] |
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# High quality work in (examples): creations, products, services, presentations, consultancy, primary/other research, administrative, marketing or other work endeavours. |
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# A high standard of professional ethics, behaviour and work activities while carrying out one's profession (as an employee, self-employed person, career, enterprise, business, company, or partnership/associate/colleague, etc. |
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# Reasonable work moral and motivation. Having interest and desire to do a job well as well as holding positive attitude towards the profession are important elements in attaining a high level of professionalism. [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/professionalism] |
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In Britain and elsewhere, professionalism is often designated by [[Royal Charter]] |
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===Trades=== |
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In narrow usage, not all expertise is considered a profession. Although sometimes referred to as professions, such occupations as skilled construction work are more generally thought of as [[Trade (profession)|trade]]s or crafts. The completion of an apprenticeship is generally associated with skilled labor or trades such as [[carpenter]], [[electrician]], [[plumber]], bricklayer and other similar occupations. A related (though not always valid) distinction would be that a professional does mainly [[Mind|mental]] or [[Administration (business)|administrative]] work, as opposed to engaging in physical work. Many companies include the word professional in their company name to signify the quality of their workmanship or service. |
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==Sports== |
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{{Main|Professional sport}} |
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In sports, a professional is someone who participates for money. The opposite is [[amateur]], meaning a person who does not play for money, but in an academic (e.g. college football) or other private setting. The term "professional" is commonly used incorrectly when referring to sports, as the distinction simply refers to how the athlete is funded, and not necessarily competitions or achievements. |
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Sometimes the professional status of an activity is controversial; for example, there is debate as to whether [[Professional sport|professionals]] should be allowed to compete in the [[Olympic Games]]. The motivation for money (either in rewards, salaries or advertising revenue) is sometimes seen as a corrupting influence, tainting a sport. |
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It has been suggested that the crude, all or nothing categories, of professional or amateur should be reconsidered. A historical shift is occurring with the rise of [[Pro-Ams]], a new category of people that are pursuing amateur activities to professional standards. |
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Professional gaming is another form of professional sport. |
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==See also== |
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{{wiktionarypar|professional}} |
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*[[List of occupations]] |
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*[[Profession]] |
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**[[Practice-based professional learning]] |
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**[[Professional development]] |
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**[[Professional amateurs]] |
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*[[Paraprofessional]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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[[Oxford English Dictionary]] |
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[[Category:Occupations]] |
[[Category:Occupations]] |
Revision as of 10:29, 12 May 2009
A professional is a member of a vocation founded upon specialised educational training. The term professional would be equivalent to the definition of Social Economic Status or SES.
The modified Hollingshead scale of social position is as follows:
Professional – Doctoral level Degree (MD, D.O., PhD or equal) 1
Graduate Level Degree (MBA, MA, MS) 2
Four-year college graduate (BA, BS, BM) 3
One to three years college (also business schools) 4
High school graduate 5
Ten to 11 years of school (part high school) 6
Seven to nine years of school 7
Less than seven years of school 8
Less than five years of school 9
No Education 10
The word professional traditionally means a person who has obtained a professional (doctoral) level degree - a physician or lawyer or so on. The term professional has also become mainstreamed and used to imply white collar working person or commercial such as in the case of a commercial athlete compared to an amateur.
In western nations, such as the United States, the term commonly describes highly educated, mostly salaried workers, who enjoy considerable work autonomy, economic security, a comfortable salary, and are commonly engaged in creative and intellectually challenging work.[1][2][3][4] Less technically, it may also refer to a person having impressive competence in a particular activity.[5]
Work
Definition
Main criteria for professional include the following:
- Academic qualifications - a doctoral or law degree - i.e., university college/institute
- Expert and specialised knowledge in field which one is practising professionally [1]
- Excellent manual/practical and literary skills in relation to profession <ref. ][2]
- High quality work in (examples): creations, products, services, presentations, consultancy, primary/other research, administrative, marketing or other work endeavours.
- A high standard of professional ethics, behaviour and work activities while carrying out one's profession (as an employee, self-employed person, career, enterprise, business, company, or partnership/associate/colleague, etc.
- Reasonable work moral and motivation. Having interest and desire to do a job well as well as holding positive attitude towards the profession are important elements in attaining a high level of professionalism. [3]
In Britain and elsewhere, professionalism is often designated by Royal Charter
Trades
In narrow usage, not all expertise is considered a profession. Although sometimes referred to as professions, such occupations as skilled construction work are more generally thought of as trades or crafts. The completion of an apprenticeship is generally associated with skilled labor or trades such as carpenter, electrician, plumber, bricklayer and other similar occupations. A related (though not always valid) distinction would be that a professional does mainly mental or administrative work, as opposed to engaging in physical work. Many companies include the word professional in their company name to signify the quality of their workmanship or service.
Sports
In sports, a professional is someone who participates for money. The opposite is amateur, meaning a person who does not play for money, but in an academic (e.g. college football) or other private setting. The term "professional" is commonly used incorrectly when referring to sports, as the distinction simply refers to how the athlete is funded, and not necessarily competitions or achievements.
Sometimes the professional status of an activity is controversial; for example, there is debate as to whether professionals should be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. The motivation for money (either in rewards, salaries or advertising revenue) is sometimes seen as a corrupting influence, tainting a sport.
It has been suggested that the crude, all or nothing categories, of professional or amateur should be reconsidered. A historical shift is occurring with the rise of Pro-Ams, a new category of people that are pursuing amateur activities to professional standards.
Professional gaming is another form of professional sport.
See also
References
- ^ Gilbert, D. (1998). The American class structure: In an age of growing inequality. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Press.
- ^ Beeghley, L. (2004). The structure of social stratification in the United States. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
- ^ Eichar, D. (1989). Occupation and class conciousness in America. Wesport, CT: Greewood Press.
- ^ Ehrenreich, B. (1989). Fear of falling: The inner life of the middle class. New York: Harper Prennial.
- ^ http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/professional?view=uk