Social Work Practice Research Research Articles

The Social Work Practice Research Conundrum

Significant research continues to evolve in social work. However, few of these efforts address the factorial complexity of the phenomena that social work addresses. This manuscript deals with those complexities in terms of homogeneous interventions for heterogeneous clients; the intricacies of human behavior change, the comparative differences between behavioral cognitive therapy and medications for clients with depression; concerns regarding the reliability of meta-analysis; innovative practice through electronic strategies; use of factorial design to address the complexities of social work practice research; and the need for concentrated practice. Conclusions offer an example of the solutions to the conundrum of practice research.

Parent–adolescent concordance on perceived need for mental health services and its impact on service use

Mental health service underutilization among African American adolescents is well documented, yet not fully understood. Discordance between adolescents and their parents on perceived need for seeing a counselor for an emotional need or psychiatrist for psychiatric or medical services may help explain low service use among this population. This exploratory, prospective study examined the relationship between parent–adolescent concordance on perceived need for emotional counseling or psychiatric services and mental health service use. The relationships between gender and perceived service need and concordance and adolescent severity of depressive symptoms were also explored. Parent–adolescent dyads (n = 108) receiving community-based adolescent outpatient mental health services responded to interview questions concerning their perception of whether an emotional counselor and a psychiatrist were needed in the past six months. Findings revealed low parent–adolescent concordance on perceived need for an emotional counselor and a psychiatrist. A greater proportion of adolescents reported a need than parents. There was no association between gender and perceived need for an emotional counselor and a psychiatrist. Lower rates of parent–adolescent concordance were found among youth reporting elevated depressive symptoms compared to youth reporting normal range symptoms. Concordant dyads kept a higher number of appointments than discordant dyads. Implications for clinical social work practice and future research are discussed.

Latino Child Welfare: Parents' Weil-Being at the Time of Entry

This study examines community environment, social support networks, and other factors that impact the physical and mental health of Latino parents involved with the public child welfare system. Secondary data analyses were completed using data from the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-Being. The results reveal differences in parents' social support structure (i.e., number of individuals providing support) and perceptions of community environment safety by immigration status. There were differences in satisfaction with social support by Latino origin. Regression analyses indicate that household income, age, and social support structure predict parents' health. Implications for social work practice, policy, and future research are discussed.

Coping Resources among Southeast Asian-American Adolescents

This study examines the relationships of gender and ethnic differences in the experiences of stressful life events, coping-specific responses, and self-reported depression. Seventy high-school aged respondents, 40 boys and 30 girls, responded to a self-reported questionnaire that asked questions on the perceived distress of related life events (i.e., person, family, peer, acculturation events), coping-specific responses, and depression. The findings provide important data on gender and ethnic variations in the ways Southeast Asian-American adolescents deal with life stress and depression. These findings have important implications for social work practice and future research on the psychosocial adjustment with both immigrant and ethnic children and adolescents.

Theorizing practice research in social work

The article focuses on theories, definitions, interests, possibilities and barriers in practice research in social work. It points out that both practice and research will be influenced by participating in and developing practice research. – and that both parts must and will learn from the process. To elaborate and define practice research in social work, it is necessary to consider connected approaches and theories. The article will show that practice research is both connected to and can use the theoretical frames of Actual science and Mode 2 knowledge production. To understand and develop research closely connected to practice it is necessary to define it in three different ways: practice research, practitioner research and user-controlled research. Examples from different Nordic approaches connected to these definitions will be presented. Although practice and research both need to develop practice research they do at the same time have different interests which will challenge both parts. Practice research must be looked upon as both an area of collaboration and a meeting point for different stakeholders: users, social workers, administrative management/organizers, politicians and researchers. It is stated that practice research at the same time need to break down barriers between the stakeholders, and to be aware not to combine them totally as differencies and dilemmas are a part of practice research and should remain so .

Service Utilization Patterns Among Adolescent Mothers Residing in Three-Generational Households

ABSTRACT This qualitative study used in-depth interviews to better understand the social service experiences and identified needs of 26 demographically diverse adolescent mothers and their mothers, who resided together in three-generational households. Most dyads accessed community services, particularly parenting and emotional supports, financial and material assistance, and medical care, and desired short-term assistance related to their circumstances and newly expanded families, rather than long-term support. The most commonly identified barrier to service utilization involved income eligibility guidelines. In light of welfare reform policies and the current economic climate, this research underscores the need for transitional supports for families, including assistance with basic needs. In terms of implications for social work practice and future research, adolescent mothers may need formal supports as they pursue independence after they leave their mothers’ care. Future research could further explore, within other communities and longitudinally, whether these preliminary trends hold true.

Special Issue: Research on Social Work Practice in Israel

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the recognition of social work as an academic discipline in Israel. The country’s first academic school of social work was established at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1958 in cooperation with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Ministry of Welfare. As part of Israel’s first university, that prides itself on its research accomplishments, faculty members were among the first social work researchers in the country. Today, social work research is carried out in a variety of settings—in universities, research institutes, and government offices. This special issue is dedicated to state-of-the-art social work practice research in Israel. It provides examples of innovative studies carried out by both scholars and practitioners dedicated to producing timely and culturally and contextually relevant research. We wish to thank Dr. Bruce Thyer for initiating this effort and for his support and guidance through the various stages of producing this special issue.

Correlates of Therapeutic Alliance and Treatment Outcomes Among Israeli Female Methadone Patients

Objectives: This study examines potential predictors (e.g., attachment style, frequency of therapeutic treatment sessions) of client-rated therapeutic alliance between the social worker and client. The relationship between therapeutic alliance and client’s psychological outcomes (hope and posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTS’s]) was also assessed. Methods: The study sample included 95 of 193 female clients (average age = 39.35, SD = 8.66) at four methadone clinics in Israel. Results: Clients reported a strong therapeutic alliance with their social workers. Stepwise hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that only the frequency of treatment sessions, the avoidance dimension of attachment, and less frequent opiate use were significant predictors of therapeutic alliance. Therapeutic alliance significantly predicted hope but did not predict reduced PTS. Conclusions: Implications for social work practice and future research are discussed.

Women in Street-based Prostitution

Women engaged in street-based prostitution have been studied from a number of perspectives. Little research was found that focused on their work styles. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of work styles of women involved in street-based prostitution in the Midwest. Of the 53 women interviewed, 12 were or had been involved in Pimp-Controlled prostitution. In Renegade prostitution were 27 women who worked as independent entrepreneurs and were interested in building a substantial client base. The remaining 14 women, involved in Outlaw prostitution, hustled, manipulated, and exploited their customers. Each work style has its own unique features, such as language, ethical behavior, and amount of control over their work activities. Understanding the work styles of prostitute women adds to the body of literature on women involved in street-based prostitution and provides some implications for social work practice and future research.

Implementing Substance Abuse Screening and Brief Motivational Intervention With Women in Jail

This article presents a social work in-reach model for identifying women's substance abuse service needs while in jail and increasing their motivation and abilities to obtain services on reentry to the community. The authors describe important aspects of the Women and Jails Project and its development that can help inform social work practice in this area. Data are reported on the first 1,091 women participating in the project. Specific issues and practical suggestions for planning, conducting, and evaluating this type of in-reach intervention are examined. Implications for social work practice and future outcomes research are discussed.

Mapping Social Work Students' Perceptions of the Research Process: A Qualitative Follow-Up Study

The purpose of this qualitative follow-up study was to gain a better understanding of how social work research students' thoughts, feelings, and actions evolve during the course of a 15-week research course. Using a sample of 111 BSW and MSW social work research students and qualitative data collected at two time points concerning their current research experiences, the findings revealed a variation in the temporal process of students' thoughts, feelings, and actions about research. For many students their experience in research culminated in greater confidence, increased knowledge and skills, and appreciation of the value of research for social work practice. Internal and external obstacles and supports affected how well social work students navigated the research process. These findings have important implications for social work education and practice. Effectively engaging students in research can have long-term positive effects on achieving CSWE and NASW initiatives for the integration of research into professional practice.

The Role of an Intermediary Organization in Promoting Research in Schools of Social Work: The Case of the Bay Area Social Services Consortium

The multifaceted role of research in social work education and practice requires innovation to respond to the broader mission of the university and the needs of the community. Building research capacity and supporting infrastructure for research thus demands new approaches to effective collaboration between stakeholders. Intermediary organizations such as the Bay Area Social Services Consortium (BASSC) respond to the directive to bridge research and practice in social service delivery. This article presents BASSC as an example of a modern intermediary organization, discussing in turn the development of the training, policy, and research agendas and the challenges associated with implementing and maintaining the collaboration. The article concludes with a discussion of the unique contribution of intermediary organizations such as BASSC to supporting the multifaceted roles of research in schools of social work. KEY WORDS: evidence-informed practice; intermediary organizations; mediating structures; research capacity; schools of social work ********** Efforts to enhance the research capacity and infrastructure of schools of social work are linked to the research mission of the university as well as social work education and practice. Over the past decade there has been increased interest in connecting the evidence of service outcomes with the improvement or redefinition of practice. Evidence related to the design and outcomes of interventions seeks to validate existing interventions when appropriate, challenge and discourage ineffective interventions, and develop and test innovative approaches to service delivery. Public and private universities and colleges are increasingly under scrutiny for their ability to remain relevant in a changing social, economic, and political climate. Challenges to the ivory tower reputation of the university and growing financial pressures urge university administrators to promote different approaches to traditional research. Responding to the research mission of the university thus requires a greater emphasis on community partners and collaborations that stretch faculty members to use new strategies to respond to changing community needs. Social work research is often conducted in the interest of practice and yet a considerable divide exists between the research and practice communities. Agencies are increasingly at the mercy of funding sources and demands to demonstrate improved outcomes and yet capacity to measure progress varies from agency to agency. To complicate matters, the demands of daily practice do not lend themselves to addressing complex research questions that require immediate response. Certainly, the traditional research process does not proceed anywhere close to the fast pace of practice. In addition, dissemination and utilization of research that is most critical to practice often receives lower priority among researchers given the minimal rewards for work beyond peer-reviewed publications in the academic system (Shafer, 2006). Innovative approaches to effective collaboration are needed to ensure that social work research is relevant to practice. Alongside efforts to increase research infrastructure through federally funded institutes, effective partnerships with agencies enhance the research resources of schools of social work by diversifying funding sources and establishing relationships for shared research. Mediating structures, or intermediary organizations, can serve as models for facilitating collaborative relationships. Mediating structures or institutions can be viewed as platforms to bring together two or more sets of collaborators to address shared concerns to bridge the connections between research and practice as well as policy and Practice (Austin et al., 1999). Intermediary organizations have emerged in a variety of fields (for example, education; workforce development; and social services for children, youths, and families) to support individual and group empowerment and to avoid isolation so as to connect practice and policy (Wynn, 2000). …

Anger-Control Group Counseling for Women Recovering From Alcohol or Drug Addiction

Two experimental conditions, a manualized cognitive-behavioral anger-control treatment incorporating empowerment strategies and a relapse-prevention treatment without the anger-control component, were compared to assess their impact on levels of trait anger and attributional styles of women recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. Participants were predominantly African American, low-socioeconomic-level women living in a residential facility in a major Midwestern city. Although significant changes were found for the anger-control group participants, sample size (anger control n = 8, relapse prevention n = 5) and participant characteristics call for caution when interpreting the results and limit the generalizability of the intervention. As a preliminary study, the findings are encouraging. Recommendations for future research and implications for social work practice are discussed.

How Can Curriculum Action Research be Used to Promote Post Qualifying Practice Teaching Award Candidates' Interest in Research Articles?

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) Post Qualifying Practice Teaching Award requires candidates to access and evaluate research as well as local and national polices. However there can be resistance from social workers to accessing and using research despite the recent emphasis on evidence based practice. The author used Curriculum Action Research, whilst undertaking the Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education, as a tool to make manageable changes to her teaching practice, by routinely introducing secondary research articles in every teaching session. This approach encouraged the candidates' learning and enabled their completion of their research assignment on their chosen topic, whilst also supporting or challenging their existing attitudes to the role of research in social work practice.

Assessing the Moderating Effects of Depressive Symptoms on Antisocial Behavior among Urban Youth in Public Housing

This study assesses whether the influences of attitude towards deviance, exposure to delinquent peers and parental supervision and encouragement on antisocial behavior are moderated by depressive symptoms. Two hundred and thirty eight African American adolescents ages 13–19 from three public housing developments participated in this study. Results indicate that approximately half of the youth did not engage in antisocial behaviors in the last year. Gender, depression, attitudes and peers were significant correlates of antisocial behavior. Parental supervision and encouragement, and age were not related to antisocial behavior. Interaction effects suggest that the relative influences of attitudes towards deviance and delinquent peers on antisocial behaviors depend upon gender and level of depression symptoms. Implications for social work practice and future research are discussed.

Comprehensiveness of Social Work Abstracts as a Database for Researchers and Practitioners

Objective: The comprehensiveness of Social Work Abstracts (SWA) as a database was examined. Method: The coverage of articles of Research on Social Work Practice and Social Work Research in SWA from 1995 to 2005 was examined. SWA was compared with other databases on several dimensions. A case study based on the author's publications was conducted. Results: Not all articles published in these two journals were indexed in SWA. The number of social-work-related articles in SWA was lower than those in other databases. Articles relevant to social work and the allied helping professions were omitted in SWA . Conclusions: The comprehensiveness of journal articles indexed in SWA was not high.

Psychological Theories of Poverty

ABSTRACT Social work education, practice, and research are heavily influenced by theories developed by psychologists. A review of the literature was conducted to identify theories of poverty emerging from the field of psychology. In general, until 1980, psychological theories of poverty emphasized the role of the individual or group to explain the causes and impact of poverty. Between 1980 and 2000, psychologists began to consider the structural and societal factors that contribute to poverty and moved beyond the explanations of individual pathology. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, an increasing number of psychological theorists acknowledge the role of social, political, and economic factors in the creation and maintenance of poverty. Implications for social work education, practice, and future research are discussed.

The Use of Information Technology to Enhance the Quality of Teaching and Learning in Social Work Practicum: An Example from the City University of Hong Kong

SUMMARY One of the thorny issues in social work practicum training is how to maintain fairness in assessment. To address this issue, a grade moderation system was set up. Digital practicum portfolios and on-line assessment were used through the Web CT platform. Two amendments were made: (1) password control to protect access rights and privacy; (2) assessment data transfer through Common Gateway Interface (CGI) to conduct automatic descriptive statistical analysis for monitoring possible deviations from the grading standard. A feedback system was built to enhance the quality of teaching using students' survey data. To promote the quality of learning in this individualized teaching mode, the Social Work Practice Teaching, Learning, and Research site was constructed.

The Relationship Between Childhood Abuse and Adult Suicidal Behavior Among Rural Former Mental Health Patients

SUMMARY This article explores the relationship between childhood abuse and adult suicidal behavior among former mental health patients in a rural area. Historical data from 1999-2005 were used and analyzed from an outpatient mental health center. Suicidal ideation and attempts were found to be significantly correlated to all types of childhood abuse, such as mental, physical, and sexual. We conclude with recommendations for future research and implications for future social work practice.

Worries of the Oldest-Old

With the emerging population of the oldest-old (those ages 85 and older), it is crucial to understand and prepare for their psychosocial needs. Worry is linked to psychological well-being and physical health, but little is known about the oldest-old's everyday worries. The authors explored four research questions: (1) What are the worries of the oldest-old? (2) What are their specific dimensions of worry? (3) How alike or different are the worry patterns over time? (4) What factors are related to variations in the pattern of change in worry? A convenience sample of 193 community-dwelling people ages 85 and older was recruited to examine various aspects of health and well-being between 1986 and 1995. This article reports on the survivors (N = 23) across three time points, waves 1, 4, and 5. The findings suggest that the very old mainly worry about health and memory and that, although worry increased over the study period, there were variations in the pattern of worry over time. Results of t tests show that at wave 4 elderly respondents with a higher level of worry reported more frequent social contact than those with a lower level of worry. Implications for social work practice and future research are discussed.