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The article introduces the theme of the articles featured in the issue. The main topics in all the papers presented in the issue revolve around study of various aspects of voluntary associations. The study of voluntary associations involves three separate theoretical concerns. The first, and perhaps oldest of these, focuses on the nature and structure of society, especially industrial society. A second theoretical interest in voluntary associations is social psychological in emphasis; here voluntary associations are examined for what they can tell us about the nature of the person in contemporary society. Finally, voluntary associations may be studied within the framework of organizational theory with a focus upon associations as the units to be studied. Four of the papers in this issue are directly concerned with the problem of the contribution of voluntary associations to the society in which they exist. Most studies of voluntary associations implicitly suggest that such groups are integrative.

Background and Aims: A developing international literature on population-based occupational intervention provides limited evidence of the ways in which the associated occupational therapy roles are developed among entry-level practitioners. This paper aims to explore the development of an occupational therapy role in a fieldwork placement from the perspective of a student and the off-site supervisor and to explore the use of Organisational Role Analysis in this process. Methods: Systems psychodynamics and an occupational perspective of health provided the theoretical framework for this participant observation case study. Data from the reflective diaries of a fourth-year student and her supervisor were analysed with respect to role development in an organisation where occupational therapy was welcome, but not completely understood. Results: This study provides insight into the challenges for students and supervisors in the development of an occupationally oriented role where the client is an organisation. Organisational Role Analysis was perceived to be helpful in focusing attention on the organisational context of role development. Conclusions: The application of the Organisational Role Analysis as an approach to student supervision in other settings, with more than one student and to facilitate professionally development warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]