Work Practice Research Articles

Teaching Note—The Dynamic Duo: Use of Standardized Clients Across the Social Work Practice and Field Curricula

ABSTRACT This reflection from one department of social work showcases the use of simulation as an integrated tool of practice-based education and assessment for social work education within generalist and specialized practice classes. We show several ways we are using simulation as both a learning and assessment tool for social work practice skills. This includes in-class simulations using paid standardized patient as clients, the use of objective standard clinical examination as an assessment tool in the standardized patient suite within the university, the use of field instructors as feedback mechanisms for standardized patient experiences, and translating and linking student skills in the classroom to real-world field experiences. Challenges, lessons learned, and opportunities for future exploration are discussed.

Bringing Self-Determination Theory to the Forefront: Examining How Human Resource Practices Motivate Employees of All Ages to Succeed

AbstractSelf-determination theory (SDT) is widely used in human resource (HR) practice studies to explain how HR practices impact work outcomes. However, there is little empirical evidence establishing the complete SDT mediational process in the HR domain, which entails basic psychological needs and motivation acting as mediators of relations between HR practices and work outcomes. The present study addresses this issue with a mixed methods approach. Using an item classification task with subject matter experts (N = 48), HR practices were classified as autonomy-, competence-, and relatedness-supportive. Based on this scheme, we tested an SDT-based conceptual model in a three-wave sample of working adults (N = 818). Results from Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling (MSEM) support the hypothesized model: basic psychological need satisfaction and autonomous motivation mediate the relationship between HR practice perceptions and work outcomes (performance, thriving, affective organizational commitment, and turnover intentions). Autonomy-supportive practices had a positive effect on autonomy need satisfaction, while competence-supportive practices had positive associations with all three basic psychological needs. Counterintuitively, relatedness-supportive practices had negative effects on autonomy and competence need satisfaction, and the relationship between relatedness-supportive practices and autonomy need satisfaction was moderated by chronological age. We discuss our findings in the context of prominent HR studies that utilize SDT and offer a supplemental age-inclusive HR practice scheme for HR managers interested in understanding the benefits of supporting basic psychological needs from both a motivation and workforce retention standpoint.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY AND EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION AND FLOURISHING

The objective of this research is to investigate the complex relationships that exist between psychological safety, employee motivation, and flourishing in organizational settings. Specifically, the study will concentrate on developing creative work environments and analyzing the roles played by transformational and transactional leadership styles. The understanding of psychological safety as a fundamental component of an atmosphere where taking interpersonal risks is encouraged and enables staff members to freely interact, make suggestions, and work together without fear of consequences is at the heart of the inquiry. Based on positive psychology frameworks and self-determination theory, the study clarifies the several motivating factors—like relatedness, competence, and autonomy—that lead to employee thriving. It seeks to understand how these motivational elements, along with psychological safety, foster an atmosphere that is favorable to creativity and invention. The study explores the complex interrelationships between transactional and transformational leadership philosophies and how each influences psychological safety and encourages workers to come up with new ideas. The primary goal of the inquiry is to clarify how these leadership philosophies affect the individual and group creativity of employees. Through an analysis of the complex relationships between psychological safety, employee motivation, and leadership styles, the thesis seeks to provide practitioners and organizational leaders with practical advice. It is crucial to comprehend how these elements combine to influence creative work practices and inventive behaviors in today's dynamic and competitive environment, where innovation is essential to long-term success. Keywords: Innovative work behavior, Employee creativity, Transformational leadership style and Transactional leadership style.

A longitudinal study combining the Double Diamond framework and Behavior Change Wheel to co-create a sedentary behavior intervention in police control rooms.

Police work can be sedentary and stressful, negatively impacting health and wellbeing. In a novel co-creation approach, we used the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) and Double Diamond (DD) design framework to guide the collaborative design and development of a sedentary behavior intervention in the control rooms of two British police forces. Multiple stakeholders participated in four phases of research. In Phase 1, a literature review, focus groups (n=20) and interviews (n=10) were conducted to 'discover' the relationship between physical activity and wellbeing in the police. In Phase 2, a steering group consolidated Phase 1 findings to 'define' a specific behavior for intervention. Phases 3 and 4 'developed' the intervention across six workshops with control room workers and six steering group workshops. The co-creation process identified contextual sedentary behavior as the target behavior, driven by behavioral regulation, social influence and social norms. The sedentary behavior intervention targeted these drivers and aimed to engage control room workers in short bursts of physical activity throughout their shifts. Key intervention features targeted involvement of staff in decision-making and embedding physical activity into work practices. The BCW and DD can be combined to co-create evidence-based and participant-informed interventions and translate science into action.

LGBTQ+ People’s Perceptions of Interactions with Outgroup Members: Implications for Social Work Education and Practice

  Engaging respectfully with individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, genderqueer, or gender-nonconforming (LGBTQ+) is an ethical imperative. To help social workers fulfill this obligation, this study explored the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people regarding their interactions with people outside the LGBTQ+ community, and what LGBTQ+ people desire for future interactions. Narrative interviews were conducted with 11 LGBTQ+ social work graduate students and alumni to explore (a) their self-reported experiences engaging in one-on-one and small group interactions with outgroup members throughout their lives and (b) the meaning they gleaned from their life experiences across various domains (e.g., work, family, education) that might improve future interactions. Analysis produced six storylines that can be summarized as (1) unbalanced depictions of difference, (2) avoiding interactions, (3) managing positive treatment of an identity, (4) restricting certain perspectives, (5) focusing on differences, and (6) the importance of seeing humanity. The findings suggest several strategies for interacting with LGBTQ+ people in a more culturally sensitive way including discussing the LGBTQ+ community in a nuanced manner (as opposed to monolithically) and considering the level of attention paid to individuals’ sexual orientation and gender identity.

Reflecting on Reflection in Clinical Social Work: Unsettling a Key Social Work Strategy

Abstract This study calls into question some of assumptions within social work education and practice regarding the transformational potential of reflection-on-practice. Participants (n = 34) in this simulation-based study each engaged in two clinically focused simulations, each followed by an interview which included observing segments of their video-recorded simulations. The objectives of this study are to make some sense of the misalignments between participants’ post-simulation reflections of their practice behaviours, and the practice behaviours observed by the research team, and later by participants themselves. Findings illustrate that: (i) how clients and the session are understood in the moment can be different than how they are understood post-client engagement; (ii) reflections of practice behaviours can be tied to how individuals want to be, which are not necessarily aligned with how they are in the moment; and (iii) reflections are intertwined with awareness of oneself. These results identify some of the limitations of individualised reflective activities, and demonstrate the powerful potential of collective reflection on recordings of simulations to challenge memory distortions, retrospective biases and to promote greater accountability to ourselves as social workers, and to those we work with.

Kesiapan Kerja Setelah Melaksanakan Praktek Kerja Industri Siswa Kelas XII SMK Negeri 2 Solok

This research aims to determine the impact of industrial work practices on the readiness for work among 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering at SMK Negeri 2 Solok. This study falls under quantitative research, with the research subjects being 26 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering at SMK Negeri 2 Solok. Data collection was done through questionnaires and documentation. The questionnaire was used to measure variables related to industrial work practices, student readiness, and the location of industrial work practice. Data analysis was conducted using data analysis tests for normality, homogeneity, and the F-test. The questionnaire results indicate an influence on the readiness for work among 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering, with an average questionnaire score of 178, a maximum score of 218, a minimum score of 117, and a standard deviation of 23.681. The normality test yielded a sig(2-tailed) value of 0.894 > 0.05, the homogeneity test had a sig value of 0.758 > 0.05, and the F-test had a sig value of 0.013 < 0.05. Based on the data analysis results, it can be concluded that there is an impact after conducting industrial work practice on the readiness for work among 12th-grade students in electrical installation engineering.

Abstract PO5-10-10: Disparities in Work RVUs for Breast and Prostate Cancer Operations

Abstract Introduction: In a vast array of different methods used to quantify healthcare processes, the Relative Value Unit (RVUs) has become the federal precedent set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to assign value to different procedures and processes. The current RVU conversion factor in 2023 is $33.06 per unit. Physician work RVUs, malpractice RVUs (MP RVUs) and practice expense RVUs (PE RVUs) were first implemented in 1992 as a system for assigning payment to physicians while providing administrative budgeting based on clinical and liability expenditures. These values are subject to reevaluation every 5 years at minimum, or as new services become available. The CMS updates it’s RVU model by consulting the American Medical Association’s Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC), which controversially sets higher values in certain fields of medicine than others. This article will objectively analyze the RVUs provided by the CMS to surgical oncologists treating breast cancer and compare them to the RVUs compensated to urologists treating prostate cancer, across multiple modalities. Methods: Work RVUs, practice expense RVUs, and malpractice RVUs were obtained from the CMS 2023 physician fee schedule, using the HCPCS codes to identify the services from their database. Estimated pre-evaluation times, intra-procedure times, immediate post service times, and total procedural times were gathered from the CY 2023 Final Rule Physician Work Time database provided by CMS. The HCPCS codes used for mastectomy variations were 19301 for partial mastectomy, 19302 for partial mastectomy with lymph node removal, 19303 for a simple complete mastectomy, 19305 for a radical mastectomy, 19306 for an urban type radical mastectomy, and 19307 for a modified radical mastectomy. The HCPCS codes used for armpit lymph nodes were 38740 and 38745 for axillary lymph node dissections. The HCPCS codes used for prostatectomy variations were 55810 and 55812 for a radical perineal prostatectomy, 55840 and 55845 for a radical retropubic prostatectomy, and 55866 for a laparoscopic retropubic radical prostatectomy. The HCPCS codes used for pelvic lymph nodes were 38571-38573 for laparoscopic lymphadenectomies. Work RVUs were compared between mastectomy and prostatectomy procedures, and axillary node procedures were compared to those of pelvic lymph nodes. To further asses any true disparities in the values assigned to the operations, a second analysis of work RVUs divided by total operation times were compared between their surgical counterparts. Conclusion: Values collected from CMS indicate 59% more RVUs are provided to urologists for prostatectomies than breast surgeons for mastectomies per procedure, and 12% more per hour of total procedure time. Additionally, the CMS indicates on average 29% more work RVUs are provided to urologists for pelvic lymph node removals than breast surgeons for axillary lymph node removals, and 3.4% more per hour of total procedure time (appendix 1). Breast cancer and prostate cancer have similar incidence and mortality rates, but one affects mostly women and the other only men. The decision by the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services to place a higher value in prostate cancer management is unknown, and elicits future analysis with surveyed procedural data across the nation for statistical significance determination. Appendix 1 allocated work RVUs, practice expense RVUs, malpractice RVUs, and median operative times for prostate cancer and breast cancer operations. Citation Format: Noah Khosrowzadeh, Kyle Chambers, Matthew Gompels, Cyrus Washington, Jessica Meshman. Disparities in Work RVUs for Breast and Prostate Cancer Operations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-10-10.

Gingiva squamous-cell carcinoma in a non-smoking patient with occupational exposure to solvent siphoning using mouth: case report and literature review

BackgroundWhile overall head and neck cancer incidence decreases due to reduced tobacco and alcohol consumption, the incidence of HPV negative oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is raising in several industrialized countries, especially in non-smoking and non-drinking patients.Case presentationWe document a case of gingiva SCC in a 56 years old never-smoker patient reporting low alcohol consumption and unusual occupational solvent exposure. The HPV-negative lesion was surgically removed in 2018, and the patient remains in complete remission 4 years after recurrent surgery in 2019. In 2021, the patient was referred to the occupational cancer consultation. The patient worked as screen printer for 18 years. He reported mouth siphoning every 2–3 days to transfer organic solvents (mainly aromatic hydrocarbons and ketones) from containers into smaller recipients, with regular passage of solvents into his mouth.ConclusionAccording to the literature, the frequency of solvent siphoning using mouth is likely to be underestimated. While our review did not find studies reporting longterm consequences to the oral cavity of mouth siphoning, current evidence supports a positive association of upper aero digestive tract SCC with occupational exposures to organic solvents and printing processes. In absence of major extraprofessional factors, the HPV-negative gingiva SCC of this patient might be attributable to the regular occupational oral solvent exposure. While the available evidence remains limited to formally establish a causal relationship, clinicians should investigate this hazardous work practice in patients with OSCC and history of solvent exposures.

Examining the Contemporary Worker and the Workplace From a Leadership-as-Practice Perspective: A HRD Opportunity

In this article the author uses the lens of leadership-as-practice (L-A-P) to analyze the concerns of the worker in the contemporary workplace and proposes both new insights and potential remediations through a post-humanistic leadership centered on practice. L-A-P is designed to probe underneath the accepted or “natural” human resource practices to uncover the power dynamics in the workplace that have led to challenges to the worker in the form of burnout, lack of autonomy, and detachment. After introducing the practice approach to the workplace, the paper interrogates the potential value of leadership being viewed as a collaborative agency constituting changes in the trajectory of prefigured work practices that can have affirmative consequences via its ethical and critical approach to human resource development.

Authentic Behavior and Job Satisfaction among Child Welfare Caseworkers.

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between authentic behavior and job satisfaction among child welfare caseworkers in Pennsylvania. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to validate the domains of the Authentic Behavior Scale (balanced processing, relational transparency, and internalized morality) and Job Satisfaction Scale, and the results provided consistent support for the factorial structure of the scales across child welfare caseworkers. The findings of this study revealed a positive correlation between authentic behavior and job satisfaction. To further explore this relationship, a path model was developed that included the elements of authentic behavior, job satisfaction, and demographic variables. The results indicated an association between the type of agency and internalized morality, impacting job satisfaction. Private workers showed a higher level of authentic behavior compared with public workers, with authentic behavior associated with greater job satisfaction. The findings suggest that authentic behavior can play a crucial role in social work practice and warrants considerable attention.

Longitudinal investigation of restructuring, psychosocial safety climate and burnout in Australian universities during COVID-19 2020–2022

Australian universities have undergone considerable restructuring within the last few decades such as downsizing, unit amalgamations and adopting new digital work practices. This article draws together industrial relations and organisational psychology literature, exploring restructuring and effects within universities. It presents national data on university restructuring, levels of organisational psychosocial safety climate (PSC), and burnout from 2020 to 2022, from the workers’ perspective. Survey responses were collected across 39 Australian universities at 3 time points: 2020 (n = 2191), 2021 (n = 1731) and 2022 (n = 1373). A large proportion reported ‘high’ levels of restructuring at each data collection phase (2020 = 41%, 2021 = 56% and 2022 = 49%). A multi-level model showed that PSC is an organisational climate predictor of restructuring, and in turn, worker burnout. Hierarchical linear modelling of the longitudinal data revealed significant pathways and a good model fit. Findings suggest that organisations with poor climates for psychological health (i.e. low PSC) are more likely to restructure, which is then associated with higher levels of burnout. Primary-level PSC-focused interventions are needed to prioritise the psychological health of the workforce over persistent productivity concerns, which is the conventional driver of restructuring.

“Which Cases Do I Need?” Constructing Cases and Observations in Qualitative Research

This methodological review starts one step before Small's classic account of how many cases a scholar needs. We ask, “Which cases do I need?” We argue that a core feature of most qualitative research is case construction, which we define as the delineation of a social category of inquiry. We outline how qualitative researchers construct cases and observations and discuss how these choices impact data collection, analysis, and argumentation. In particular, we examine how case construction and the subsequent logic of crafting observations within cases have consequences for conceptual generalizability, as distinct from empirical generalizability. Drawing from the practice of qualitative work, we outline seven questions qualitative researchers often answer to construct cases and observations. Better understanding and articulating the logic of constructing cases and observations is useful for both qualitative scholars embarking on research and those who read and evaluate their work.

Digitisation of Sibling and Social Relationships of Vulnerable Children in the Czech Republic: Implications for Digital Social Work

ABSTRACTThe aim of the research was to determine the impacts of digital technology use on the sibling and other social relationships of vulnerable children from their perspective as well as from the perspective of their parents and social workers. The research employed a qualitative research strategy and thematic analysis. We carried out semi‐structured interviews with 10 children and their parents (7) and 10 social workers. The main topics related to the impact of digital technology use were identified as (1) children's addiction to digital technology, (2) digital technology and the online environment as an unlimited leisure and socialisation tool, (3) the shift of risky behaviours to the online environment and the threat of other online ‘risks’ and (4) digital technology as a modern tool for communication with children or their parents. Discussion provides recommendations on how digital technology can be used in social work practice with vulnerable children and their families.

How should journalism education deal with evolving newsrooms? – Learning experiences from internships through online collaborative tools

ABSTRACT How should journalism educators prepare students for future newsrooms characterised by digital collaborative tools and increased remote work practices? This article takes a pedagogical perspective on the ongoing discussion on evolving newsrooms and their future role. Informed by 39 qualitative interviews about Norwegian journalism students’ learning experiences while doing their internships during the pandemic, the article discusses how such transformed newsrooms are perceived as learning spaces. We found a clear discrepancy between the students’ anticipations and their actual experiences. The students had no problem managing the technical aspects of the digital tools used in these newsrooms, but this mode of working was simply not their preferred way of working, nor was it the space they preferred as a learning environment. One implication is that when learning takes place in such newsroom environments, it is perceived as more difficult and alienating for the student. This represents challenges both journalism educators and the industry should consider when developing their curriculum or wishing to attract new talents.

The quest for standardisation in adult social work: Municipal guidelines and premises for professional discretion

AbstractLittle is known about how the tools and guidelines, which are central to current social work practice, are designed. The purpose of this article is to improve understanding of the conditions for social workers' discretion by analysing how the municipal responsibility to meet individual needs is circumscribed in local guidelines for needs assessment in Swedish elder care. The paper applies framing theory to the analysis of guidelines in 51 municipalities and maps the prevalence of guidelines. Framing theory highlights how different designs of local guidelines can create varying premises for the discretion of social workers. By illustrating how the guidelines provide social workers with the necessary guidance on how to interpret the law by circumscribing their discretion in standardised, and varying, ways, the findings point to the importance of further research on how the quest for standardisation in adult social work through local guidelines influences social workers' assessments in practice.

“Semester Marriages” and the Unintended Psycho-Social Challenges within Institutions of Higher Learning: Implications for Social Work Practice

“Semester Marriages” and the Unintended Psycho-Social Challenges within Institutions of Higher Learning: Implications for Social Work Practice

A Review Paper on Recent Trends in HRM

In recent years, there have been notable and innovative improvements in the human resource sector. In many firms, the world of human resources has been shaped by the combination of technological innovation and work practices. Human resources and their management are impacted by ongoing changes in economic, social, psychological, and technological frameworks and understandings. Management of human resources is essential to any firm. This department is a must for any business or organization. The people that work for an organization are the focus of HRM. It consists of the systems, plans, activities, and policies of an organization that affect the performance and conduct of its employees. The purpose of this study is to determine the recent trends in human resource management and review the work of many researchers to find out the ongoing trends adopted in the human resource sector. The key trends include hybrid work model, upskilling of employees, AI enabled HRM, Employee Experience, Diversity and inclusion.

Artists’ and Creators’ Reframed Relationship with Nature Since the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract This report is part of a wider research project, Reframing Creativity, which studied how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the work and creative practice of professional artists, producers and makers. Here we discuss a specific finding about artists’ and creators’ relationships with nature. After conducting a first round of interviews with 11 participants, we identified that around half of them had talked about having found a valuable connection with nature since the pandemic—even though nature was not a topic in our sequence of questions. This led to a deeper analysis of nature and creativity through a second round of interviews with 11 further participants. For both rounds of interviews, we used a semi-structured questionnaire with a snowball sampling method for recruitment. We conclude that artists and creators developed new meanings and perspectives on their relationship with the outdoors as an unexpected result of the new first-hand experiences they were able to have outside, that is, as a result of the opportunities the pandemic enabled. We also argue that creators face an urgent need to find a healthy balance between the unstoppable advancement of digital technologies, accelerated by the pandemic, and the fundamental need to be connected with the natural world. These new creator-nature connections should be fostered, preserved, and researched further.

Invigorating principal/assistant principal relationships

Relationships between and among school administrative team members are critical components of school culture. They serve as a guidepost for the behaviors and attitudes of staff and students. To invigorate these relationships, three embodied practices have high yield not only for the relationships among administrators, but also for fostering a healthy school climate. These practices include intellectual work, communicative collaboration, and inspiration-seeking practices. Sonja Gedde, a high school assistant principal, describes how these practices have been central to the administrative team’s professional relationship with their principal.