Randi Edland Kroken

Professor

Department of Sociology and Social Work

Email: randi.e.kroken@uia.no
Phone: +47 38141956
Mobile phone: +4792266714

Research groups

Areas of responsibility

Randi Edland Kroken holds a doctorate in social work she has been appointed as professor in child welfare.

She is qualified as a social worker from NKSH (1982). A master's degree in social work (1997) and a doctorate (PhD) (2012) in social work, both at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Her work at professional studies actualizes UiA's signing of the DORA declaration in October 2020 (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (https://sfdora.org/)). Her scientific competence divided into three topics:

Transformation of child welfare care and responsibility - a professional and methodological contribution

The management of power and morality in the welfare state represents a focus on how social workers find themselves in a field of tensions. Power tends to appear in a kind of moral guise. Indirect management can contribute to disenchanting reality, and tends to under-communicate that responsibility is woven into power-related relationships.

Management of power and morality in the welfare state

Extended studies of care - an epistemological contribution

Conveying and showing qualitative phenomena such as responsibility and care challenges researchers in the child protection field when it comes to communication and understanding. While the welfare state is increasingly oriented towards results and target management, this raises the question of in what kind of language we should convey complex phenomena, consisting of both social sciences and the humanities. A humanistic and phenomenological approach can supplement a social science approach and can thus show concrete experiences and contribute to expanding (care) understandings.

Kroken, Randi (2023). Truth-telling in the Care of the Self – A Path to Serenity and Spiriuality in Compressed Times. In Hansen, Finn Thorbjørn; Eide, Solveig Botnen & Leget, Carlo (Ed.), Wonder, Silence, and Human Flourishing. Toward a Rehumanization of Health, Education, and Wellfare. Lexington Books. ISSN 978-1-66691-120-6. p. 181–200.
Kroken, Randi (2019). Å formidle stemmer fra en myk sektor. Tidsskriftet Norges Barnevern. ISSN 0800-1014. p. 120–130. doi: 10.18261/ISSN.1891-1838-2019-01-02-10.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Sanselig kontinuitet . In Kroken, Randi (Eds.), Omsorgsforståelser. Mellom poesi, profesjon og politikk. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 978-82-15-03068-5. p. 102–116.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Omsorgsforståelser. Mellom poesi, profesjon og politikk . In Kroken, Randi (Eds.), Omsorgsforståelser. Mellom poesi, profesjon og politikk. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 978-82-15-03068-5. p. 19–37. Show summary
Kapitlet løfter fram poesiens og skjønnlitteraturens betydning for å kunne utvide faglige forståelser av omsorg. Slik blir humanistiske perspektiver koblet til samfunnsvitenskapelige tilnærminger.
Kroken, Randi (2016). Ansvarets offentlige dimensjon. In Vike, Halvard; Debesay, Jonas & Haukelien, Heidi (Ed.), Tilbakeblikk på velferdsstaten. Politikk, styring og tjenester. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 9788205464476. p. 169–189.
Kroken, Randi (2016). Vilkår for maktkritikk. In Kroken, Randi & Madsen, Ole Jacob (Ed.), Forvaltning av makt og moral i velferdsstaten: Fra sosialt arbeid til "arbeid med deg selv"?. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 978-82-05-49269-1. p. 64–82.
Kroken, Randi & Madsen, Ole Jacob (2016). Fra sosialt arbeid til sosialt entreprenørskap - en moralsk forvandling? In Kroken, Randi & Madsen, Ole Jacob (Ed.), Forvaltning av makt og moral i velferdsstaten: Fra sosialt arbeid til "arbeid med deg selv"?. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 978-82-05-49269-1. p. 152–167.
Kroken, Randi & Madsen, Ole Jacob (2016). Forvaltning av makt og moral i velferdsstaten: Fra sosialt arbeid til "arbeid med deg selv"? In Kroken, Randi & Madsen, Ole Jacob (Ed.), Forvaltning av makt og moral i velferdsstaten: Fra sosialt arbeid til "arbeid med deg selv"?. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 978-82-05-49269-1. p. 10–25.
Brottveit, Gudrun; Fransson, Elisabeth & Kroken, Randi (2015). "A fine balance" - how child welfare workers manage organizational changes within the Norwegian Welfare State. Vulnerable Groups & Inclusion. ISSN 2000-8023. 6. doi: 10.3402/vgi.v6.24777. Show summary
In 2004, the Child Welfare Reform (CWR) was introduced in Norway. One of the most important goals of the reform was to strengthen State level authority in public child welfare and establish equal child welfare services across the country. The aim of this article is to study how this new reform affected the work of municipal child welfare professionals and led to the development of a regional project called New Child Welfare (NCW). Based on qualitative interviews with central actors in NCW, regarding the interaction between state and local child welfare professionals, the article shows how professionals within local child welfare reacted on the CWR. The NCW was established as a consequence of the professionals’ reaction on state governance and represent a new type of network. Inspired by Michel Foucaults’ concepts of governmentality and self-work, the article focuses on the development of the NCW as a result of child welfare workers’ confrontation with state governance and their fight for innovative solutions, knowing that the reform had direct impact on vulnerable children, youths, and their families. The local and collective self-work in NCW is an expression of a new form of productive power based on equality and cooperation, as well as a particular form of dependency between municipal and state levels of governance. The article highlights the importance of studying how reforms introduced by the state actually influence local child welfare work, policy, and professionalism within municipal child welfare.
Kroken, Randi (2006). Nye perspektiver på sosialarbeideres samfunnsoppdrag. Nordisk sosialt arbeid. ISSN 0333-1342. p. 306–316.
Kroken, Randi (2006). Dersom moralsk ansvar omformes til teknisk ansvar. Nordisk sosialt arbeid. ISSN 0333-1342. 26(2), p. 155–166.
Kroken, Randi (2003). Thore K. Aalberg :Individuell veiledning. Nordisk sosialt arbeid. ISSN 0333-1342. 23(2), p. 108–109.

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Kroken, Randi (2018). Omsorgsforståelser. Mellom poesi, profesjon og politikk. Universitetsforlaget. ISBN 978-82-15-03068-5. 167 p.
Kroken, Randi & Madsen, Ole Jacob (2016). Forvaltning av makt og moral i velferdsstaten: Fra sosialt arbeid til "arbeid med deg selv"? Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 978-82-05-49269-1. 171 p.
Kroken, Randi (2015). Ansvar i barnevern Om handlingsrom i den kommunale barneverntjenesten. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 9788205483071. 118 p.
Vike, Halvard; Bakken, Runar; Haukelien, Heidi; Kroken, Randi & Brinchmann, Arne (2002). Maktens samvittighet : om politikk, styring og dilemmaer i velferdsstaten. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 8205306451. 240 p.

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Kroken, Randi (2021). Skal forglemegeien glemmes fordi den går i ett med himmelen . [Newspaper]. Telemarksavisa. .
Kroken, Randi (2021). Gode menneske . [Newspaper]. Telemarksavisa. .
Magnussen, May-Linda & Kroken, Randi (2021). Kunnskaps- og samfunnsutvikling som teller? Fædrelandsvennen. ISSN 0805-3790.
Kroken, Randi (2020). I tvende sinn.
Kroken, Randi (2020). Kunsten å vera i livet.
Kroken, Randi (2020). Følelse av fellesskap.
Kroken, Randi (2020). Til forsvar for vår velferd. Show summary
Kronikk. 04.05.20
Kroken, Randi (2020). Arne Johan Vetlesen. Smerte i vår tid I Fontene Forskning, 2/20. Bokanmeldelse til nr. 91B, ss 80-82. (https://fonteneforskning.no/boker/uunngaelig-smerte-i-et-samfunn-som-tvinger-oss-til-a-velge-6.19.793088.b72bdb955 . Fontene forskning. ISSN 1890-9868. p. 80–83.
Kroken, Randi (2019). SUBTLE DIFFERENCES AND SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES IN SOCIAL WORK. October the 17th 2019 14.30 p.m. Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche Corso di Sistemi di Welfare Comparati Universita di Pisa. Show summary
“Randi Edland Kroken holds a doctorate in social work. She has researched how concrete responsibility is transformed in the welfare state as a system. From being a concrete phenomenon at the grassroots level, responsibility appears as something abstract at the macro level. This squeezes social workers in practice. Kroken explores how language and literary perspectives can strengthen understanding of what is happening in practice and how to convey voices from a soft sector in an attempt to look more closely at how social work is situated in a wider cultural and social landscape”.
Kroken, Randi (2019). How can ecological understanding and narrative imagination be a source to enhance the quality of social work education? . Show summary
After a brief introduction with a critical reflection upon the politics behind the ongoing liberalization of public sector within the Norwegian Welfarestate the last three decades, I will elaborate how this liberalization, supported by New Public Management, has brought social workers into double bind positions. On one hand they have increasingly become more answerable towards the needs of users. On the other hand they have become more accountable for the economical and audit dimensions of their practice. How can one convey such mechanisms for students? Since the context of a future practice will represent contradictory and moral challenges, it`s crucial to show the students how double-bind communication might be devistating in the long run. Gregory Bateson`s (1972) theory of ecology and his theory of double-bind in particular can provide knowledge about these mechanisms. In addition the political philosopher Martha Nussbaum`s (1997, 2001) literary and narrative approach also can provide a deeper understanding of the future context for students, so that they better can understand the context in which the social workers and users are located. Nussbaum emphasizes how our narrative imagination can improve our ability of taking the perspective of others, despite turbulent times. I will try to show how the approaches of Bateson and Nussbaum are relevant in a globalized and liberalized world. By conveying their contribution for students, one can show links to Lena Dominelli`s work for several years where she has elaborated the precondiction of sustainability within Social Work. My main question is: How can narrative imagination and ecological understanding be a source to enhance the quality of social work education? I will inquire how this can boost ethics and make social work more sustainable in a globalized world in the days to come.
Kroken, Randi (2019). Sølvguttene. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa. Show summary
Kronikk
Kroken, Randi (2019). «…kan du ej fatte dit væsens rod, skøn på de skatte de efterlod». [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2019). Ferietankar om vennskap. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2019). Det store og det vesle livet. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2019). Fedre og døtre. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa. Show summary
Kronikk
Kroken, Randi (2019). Eldrid Lunden sitt litterære virke når langt utover Telemark sine grenser. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Til stades. Kronikk. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Menneskemøte. Kronikk. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Fred. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa. Kronikk.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Å vita meir enn mata seg. Kronikk. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa. .
Kroken, Randi (2018). A.O.Vinje og Suzanne Brøgger på jakt etter Noreg. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Kunst, kjærleik og kvardag. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Slitesterke verdiar. Kronikk. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Lokale fyrlykter. Kronikk. [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Lykke og livskjensle. . [Newspaper]. TA. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Forord. In Kroken, Randi (Eds.), Omsorgsforståelser. Mellom poesi, profesjon og politikk. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 978-82-15-03068-5. p. 9–10.
Kroken, Randi (2018). Innledning. In Kroken, Randi (Eds.), Omsorgsforståelser. Mellom poesi, profesjon og politikk. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 978-82-15-03068-5. p. 11–15.
Kroken, Randi (2016). Ansvar i barnevern. Om handlingsrom i den kommunale barneverntjenesten. Fontene. ISSN 0805-5432.
Slettebø, Tor & Kroken, Randi (2015). Kompetanse i barnevernet. Dagsavisen. ISSN 1503-2892. p. 36–37.
Kroken, Randi (2013). Kvifor så overraska? Klassekampen 17. april. Klassekampen. ISSN 0805-3839.
Kroken, Randi & Slettebø, Tor (2013). Fosterhjem drukner i ansvar Er norske fosterhjem utsatt for ansvarsoversvømmelse? Dagbladet. ISSN 0805-3766.
Kroken, Randi & Kiik, Riina (2013). Transforming Norwegian Child Welfare.
Kroken, Randi (2008). "Å minnast". Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2008). Nye perspektiver på helse- og sosialprofesjoners samfunnsoppdrag.
Kroken, Randi (2008). Styringskunst, kunnskap og ansvarsfordeling i barnevernet.
Kroken, Randi (2007). Moralsk og styrt ansvarlighet i barneverntjenesten.
Kroken, Randi (2007). Ettertankar om sommaren. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2006). Välsignad december står for dörren? Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2006). Balansekunst. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2006). Erkjennelsen.
Kroken, Randi (2006). Kan moralsk ansvar standardiseres?
Kroken, Randi (2006). Profesjonsetikken sitt grunnlag.
Kroken, Randi (2006). Korn eller gull? Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2006). Politikk og moralsk ansvar. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2005). Den truverdige leiaren. Nordisk sosialt arbeid. ISSN 0333-1342. p. 376–377.
Kroken, Randi (2005). Blått til lyst. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2005). Sårbar og sterk. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Makt og ansvar i velferdsstaten - om transport og delegering av moralske dilemmaer.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Hvis makta føles overveldende - hvordan håndtere dette i veiledning.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Berre eit haustprosjekt eller eit heilt livsprosjekt? Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Hvis makt blir kunnskap. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Buena Vista! Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Verdsatt i det offentlige rom. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Vårens vakraste bok. Asbjørn Aarnes. 2004. "Poesien hos Olav Nygard : et dikteralbum" (Oslo: Pax forlag). Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Va`det meg èll var`det deg? Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Vårblå himmel i mars. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Tillit. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2004). Lars Inge Terum. Portvaktfunksjonen i velferdstaten. Om kjønn og beslutninger i sosialtjenesten. Nordisk sosialt arbeid. ISSN 0333-1342. p. 77–79.
Kroken, Randi (2003). Det første menneske i Provence. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2003). Makta si avmakt. Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2003). Ein uendeleg sommar? Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2003). Ansvarets mange ansikter i offentlig byråkrati.
Kroken, Randi (2003). Kvinnepraksis eller svar på etiske utfordringer?
Kroken, Randi (2003). Svermeri også i kvardagen? Telemarksavisa.
Kroken, Randi (2002). Samfunnsansvar. Telemarksavisa.
Knudsen Gullslett, Monika; Røsvik, Kjersti; Kroken, Randi & Karlsson, Nils-Petter (2019). Global Perspectives on Social Work and Preventative Care Education Across Borders. Final report, PNA-2016/10080. SIU. DIKU Direktoratet for internasjonalisering og kvalitetsutvikling i høyere utdanning.
Kroken, Randi (2012). Forvandling av ansvar : en utvidet casestudie av barnevernarbeideres handlingsbetingelser i velferdsstaten. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Fakultet for samfunnsvitenskap og teknologiledelse, Institutt for sosialt arbeid og helsevitenskap. ISSN 978-82-471-3391-0.
Kroken, Randi & Eide, Ketil (2003). Kompetansestyrking i barnevernet : med særlig fokus på veiledning og tverrfaglig samarbeid. Fylkesmannen i Telemark. Kompetanseteam i barnevern.

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Published Apr. 16, 2024 11:15 AM