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The Palgrave International Handbook on Adult and Lifelong Education and Learning pp 227–244Cite as

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The Critical Turn in Human Resources Development

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Abstract

This chapter presents the evolution of the critical turn in human resource development (HRD). The chapter includes a description of theory, understanding the dynamic relationship of theory to practice, and an examination of the need for critical theory in a practitioner-focused field. A brief description of critical theory is provided to support other critical paradigms used in HRD such as feminist theory/critical feminist theory, the social justice paradigm, and queer theory. The discussion centres on the space these theories made for the creation of critical human resource development, and the inclusion of critical race theory which takes HRD in a more radical direction. The chapter concludes with implications for the field.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida International University, 8910 SW 150 Circle Court N, Miami, FL, 3319, USA

    Tonette S. Rocco

  2. Ohio State University, 204 Parkwood Ave., Columbus, OH, 43203, USA

    Sunny L. Munn

  3. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 1314 Marquette Ave. Apt. 2206, Minneapolis, MN, 55403, USA

    Joshua C. Collins

Authors
  1. Tonette S. Rocco
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  2. Sunny L. Munn
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  3. Joshua C. Collins
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Correspondence to Tonette S. Rocco .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Marcella Milana

  2. Faculty of Education, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Sue Webb

  3. School of Education, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom

    John Holford

  4. Department of Education and Childhood, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom

    Richard Waller

  5. Department of Politics, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom

    Peter Jarvis

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Rocco, T.S., Munn, S.L., Collins, J.C. (2018). The Critical Turn in Human Resources Development. In: Milana, M., Webb, S., Holford, J., Waller, R., Jarvis, P. (eds) The Palgrave International Handbook on Adult and Lifelong Education and Learning. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55783-4_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55783-4_13

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