Role-playing as a method for the improvement of ethical competences in social work: a case study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Role-playing is an active learning methodology that is increasingly playing a central role in the educational process: in our case, in the subject of Ethics Applied to Social Work. We present research based on a case study that applied role-playing as a methodology to improve the ethical competences of students. With a sample of 99 students, we conducted a pre-test and post-test evaluation of the effects of using the Attitudes Toward Professional Ethics scale. We conclude that role-playing significantly increases professional ethical competence in the area of social work. This research highlights several positive aspects of active methodologies such as this one, particularly their pedagogical application in social work training and the improvement of transversal competences such as ethical competence.