SOCW 2060 Week 2-Chapter 2 UPDATED
ACTUAL QUESTIONS And CORRECT
Answers
What is the role of theory in social work? - CORRECT ANSWERS Help us structure and organize
our thinking, enable us to establish what we think is going on
"If you can make sense of what is going on, then you are halfway towards knowing what to do" (Howe,
2009)
Theory provides SW with a way of organizing our practice and understanding people and their
experiences, act like a blueprint to guide practice giving a relatively clear direction and structure for
intervention and action
What are the process and implications of selecting a particular theoretical perspective? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Evaluate:
- aims of practice and practice context (ex. don't go for long-term theory when there is an immediate
crisis, etc.)
- consider your own intellectual, theoretical inclinations, political views, beliefs and convictions
- perceived merits, conceptual rigour of a theory
- availability of research, evidence showing effectiveness
- current modes of thinking about practice and theories
- sociohistorical and political context
Process of Theory Analysis - CORRECT ANSWERS Does it:
- contribute to preserving, restoring human dignity
- recognize the benefits of, celebrate human diversity
,- assist in transforming ourselves, our society so we welcome the voices, strengths, ways of knowing, and
energies of all
- help us (SW, clients) to reach our fullest potential
- reflect the participation and experiences of diverse groups and multiple populations and voices
What to consider before drawing on a theory in SW - CORRECT ANSWERS - Why have I chosen
this/these particular theoretical perspectives (s)?
- How will it/they benefit the client(s)/case in question?
- What are some limitations of drawing upon the theory/theories in my daily practice?
- How can these limitations be addressed?
- What are some potential alternatives?
Major theoretical perspectives in social work (#) and their practical applications, strengths, limitations -
CORRECT ANSWERS
Describe how theory and practice are interconnected - CORRECT ANSWERS Theory acts as the
blueprint for practice, giving a relative direction for intervention
How does critical reflexive practice support the interconnectedness of theory and practice? - CORRECT
ANSWERS
Concepts - CORRECT ANSWERS Building blocks of theory that tend to have two parts: a symbol
(word or term) and a definition
- contain built-in assumptions of the nature of human beings, social reality, particular phenomenon
- form a specialized language or jargon
What issues regarding the theorists should SW be aware of when considering theories to draw from? -
CORRECT ANSWERS - Theorists have been historically white men
- Theory has excluded Aboriginal ways of knowing
, - Eurocentric
- Moralizing undertones
- Reflect the societal, political environment of when it was written
- Theories are created through a very narrow lens - their are endless perspectives that are equal
Purist approach - CORRECT ANSWERS When a social worker regularly draws upon a particular
theory or theoretical perspective regardless of the nature of a client's presenting issues
- SW often drawn to theory that is consistent with their personal worldview
- strength: clear cut direction, blueprint for practice
- weakness: theory may not be relevant, useful, appropriate for all clients and contexts
- ex. theory developed for urban areas may not be applicable to rural communities
Eclectic approach - CORRECT ANSWERS A social work draws upon a range of theories and
techniques from different theoretical perspectives
- uses theory flexibility
- ensures that no approach is systematically excluded
- ensures the SW practice is not theoretically predetermined
weakness:
- lack of in-depth knowledge of numerous theories may lead to a superficial and poss. inappropriate use of
those theories
- amalgamating theories can be problematic if the fundamentals are inconsistent
- can be confusing to clients and SW
Ecosystem theories - CORRECT ANSWERS Focus on the fundamental interactions between
people and their social and physical environments
ACTUAL QUESTIONS And CORRECT
Answers
What is the role of theory in social work? - CORRECT ANSWERS Help us structure and organize
our thinking, enable us to establish what we think is going on
"If you can make sense of what is going on, then you are halfway towards knowing what to do" (Howe,
2009)
Theory provides SW with a way of organizing our practice and understanding people and their
experiences, act like a blueprint to guide practice giving a relatively clear direction and structure for
intervention and action
What are the process and implications of selecting a particular theoretical perspective? - CORRECT
ANSWERS Evaluate:
- aims of practice and practice context (ex. don't go for long-term theory when there is an immediate
crisis, etc.)
- consider your own intellectual, theoretical inclinations, political views, beliefs and convictions
- perceived merits, conceptual rigour of a theory
- availability of research, evidence showing effectiveness
- current modes of thinking about practice and theories
- sociohistorical and political context
Process of Theory Analysis - CORRECT ANSWERS Does it:
- contribute to preserving, restoring human dignity
- recognize the benefits of, celebrate human diversity
,- assist in transforming ourselves, our society so we welcome the voices, strengths, ways of knowing, and
energies of all
- help us (SW, clients) to reach our fullest potential
- reflect the participation and experiences of diverse groups and multiple populations and voices
What to consider before drawing on a theory in SW - CORRECT ANSWERS - Why have I chosen
this/these particular theoretical perspectives (s)?
- How will it/they benefit the client(s)/case in question?
- What are some limitations of drawing upon the theory/theories in my daily practice?
- How can these limitations be addressed?
- What are some potential alternatives?
Major theoretical perspectives in social work (#) and their practical applications, strengths, limitations -
CORRECT ANSWERS
Describe how theory and practice are interconnected - CORRECT ANSWERS Theory acts as the
blueprint for practice, giving a relative direction for intervention
How does critical reflexive practice support the interconnectedness of theory and practice? - CORRECT
ANSWERS
Concepts - CORRECT ANSWERS Building blocks of theory that tend to have two parts: a symbol
(word or term) and a definition
- contain built-in assumptions of the nature of human beings, social reality, particular phenomenon
- form a specialized language or jargon
What issues regarding the theorists should SW be aware of when considering theories to draw from? -
CORRECT ANSWERS - Theorists have been historically white men
- Theory has excluded Aboriginal ways of knowing
, - Eurocentric
- Moralizing undertones
- Reflect the societal, political environment of when it was written
- Theories are created through a very narrow lens - their are endless perspectives that are equal
Purist approach - CORRECT ANSWERS When a social worker regularly draws upon a particular
theory or theoretical perspective regardless of the nature of a client's presenting issues
- SW often drawn to theory that is consistent with their personal worldview
- strength: clear cut direction, blueprint for practice
- weakness: theory may not be relevant, useful, appropriate for all clients and contexts
- ex. theory developed for urban areas may not be applicable to rural communities
Eclectic approach - CORRECT ANSWERS A social work draws upon a range of theories and
techniques from different theoretical perspectives
- uses theory flexibility
- ensures that no approach is systematically excluded
- ensures the SW practice is not theoretically predetermined
weakness:
- lack of in-depth knowledge of numerous theories may lead to a superficial and poss. inappropriate use of
those theories
- amalgamating theories can be problematic if the fundamentals are inconsistent
- can be confusing to clients and SW
Ecosystem theories - CORRECT ANSWERS Focus on the fundamental interactions between
people and their social and physical environments
