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Adoptionssökandes svar och strategier i utredningssamtal inför adoption

Abstract

In welfare institutions, such as social services, conversation functions not only as a medium but also as a central working method. In this context, open-ended questions are often regarded as preferable to closed-ended ones, as they are believed to reduce professional influence on the conversation. However, open-ended questions can present challenges, particularly in contexts where clients are expected to showcase their personal qualities. This study investigates the challenges that may arise when using open-ended questions in adoption assessment interviews. The empirical data comprises recorded interviews analyzed using conversation analysis to examine how talk is structured in relation to institutional objectives. The findings indicate that pro-spective adoptive parents employ various communicative strategies to navigate the demands of open-ended questions, particularly when their suitability for parenthood is being evaluated. These strategies include seeking clarification, challenging implicit assumptions, and collaboratively addressing the complexity of the questions with the social worker. The study demonstrates how institutional goals influence the outcome of open-ended questions—an insight particularly relevant for professionals involved in assessment contexts. The ideal of open-ended questions becomes especially problematic in adoption assessments, where applicants are highly motivated to offer what they perceive as the “right” answers.