Praxisperspektiven

Praxisperspektiven is a German term that denotes the different viewpoints and interpretive lenses through which professional practice is understood, analyzed, and developed. The word combines Praxis (practice in professional, social, or everyday contexts) with Perspektiven (perspectives), signaling that practice can be seen from multiple angles rather than as a single, fixed phenomenon. The concept is used across disciplines such as education, social work, nursing, organizational studies, and the humanities to articulate how practitioners and researchers interpret actions, routines, and outcomes.

Common praxisperspektiven include a pragmatic, action-oriented view focusing on effectiveness and concrete results; a critical perspective examining power relations, structures, and inequities shaping practice; an interpretive or sociocultural view exploring meanings, norms, and tacit knowledge within communities of practice; a phenomenological or experiential view centering on lived experience and perception; and a normative or ethical view emphasizing values, professional standards, and ideals guiding conduct.

In research and professional development, praxisperspektiven guide analysis, reflection, and dialogue. Methodologically, they are addressed through action research, case studies, ethnography, and reflective practice, often in combination with theory from pedagogy, sociology, or organizational studies. The concept also relates to the theory-practice relation (Theorie-Praxis-Verhältnis), highlighting how theoretical knowledge is translated into action and how practical insights inform theory.

Praxisperspektiven are adaptable and context-dependent, evolving with changes in institutions, technologies, and social expectations. They provide a framework for comparing approaches to practice and for designing interventions aimed at improvement.