A Qualitative Approach to Developing an Instrument for Assessing MSW Students' Group Work Performance

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study describes the early stages of developing an assessment instrument intended for use by adolescent group members to provide MSW students feedback on their performance as group co-leaders. Twelve incarcerated male adolescents participated in a voluntary support group experience in which a cohort of thirteen volunteer graduate clinical social work students served as group co-leaders over the course of a semester. The experience was arranged and monitored by the professor whose students were enrolled in the course, Advanced Group Therapy. Using a six-item semi-structured guide, the professor interviewed group members following their group experience. The qualitative evaluation approach was used to code and categorize into themes the group members' interview responses. Based on the themes, a ten-question preliminary assessment tool, the Co-leadership Assessment Instrument (CAI) was developed. The CAI was used by students to quickly obtain feedback on their performance from group members. The CAI is a preliminary assessment tool that needs further research for it to be deemed a reliable and valid instrument. However, the method used to develop the tool may be useful to group work practitioners.