The tacit and implicit as a subject of VET research

The concept of tacit (or implicit) knowledge denotes that knowledge which manifests itself in behaviour in a wider sense, that is, in the processes of perception, judgement, anticipation, thought, decision-making or action, and which is not, not completely or not adequately explicable (verbalisable, objectifiable, formalisable, technicisable) by the subject nor, under some circumstances, by the analytical observer. The concept is not exhausted by the notion of automatism, but also - and especially - includes flexible ways of acting. Neither is it identical with knowing-how or procedural knowledge because people, beyond an 'expert eye' and various abilities and skills, also demonstrate knowledge of what is or will be the case - a knowing - that, therefore, concerning the structural characteristics of their surrounding world, without necessarily being able to put into words the contents of the schemata or mental models attributed to them.

Excerpt from publication.

The volume from which this chapter is taken is available in VOCEDplus at TD/IRD 88.423. Show less