Thesis (M.S.W.) - Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 186-200). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Open University. BLDSC no. DX196671.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1983. / Also available in print.

M.A. / This study serves to expand the work of A.C. Faul on scale development in social work to incorporate the demand for multiculturalism. Ecometrics – the measurement of ecosystems – is a steadily growing field in South Africa. To date, however, scale development has assumed that the ecometrics will be practiced in a monocultural context. This is obviously not the case in South Africa. Consequently, the research goal is to design a process model for the development of social work scales for multicultural use in South Africa. As a secondary objective, the study aims to test this model in practice, through the development of a multicultural scale that accurately measures the social health of military employees/families. A number of issues underlying the technical aspects of multicultural scale development are first explored, including issues of the characteristics of ecometrics; the meaning of the term culture; the emic-etic debate; cultural equivalence; and bias, fairness and standards in ecometrics. Thereafter, a process model for the development of multicultural ecometric scales is introduced and five main phases are described: analysis, design, development, evaluation, and diffusion & adoption. Each of these phases is further decomposed into main moments and steps, each of which is described at both theoretical and technical levels. In order to test this process model in the real world, a new multicultural, multilingual, multidimensional, systems-oriented, salutogenic scale was created, called the Military Social Health Index. In the analysis phase, the need for the scale was analysed and the innovation requirements determined and contracted with the client. A theoretical framework – family resilience theory – was identified and explored, resulting in the development of an assessment model that underlies the scale. The cross-cultural comparability of the constructs was assessed and each construct was operationally defined, using facet maps. In the design phase, a multicultural, multilingual team of social workers generated close to 200 items, as well as instructions, using a multifocus approach, in which items were generated in four languages simultaneously (English, Zulu, Setswana and Afrikaans). Only items that could be expressed equivalently across languages were accepted. This resulted in an initial instrument, comprising 175 items (plus 16 demographic items), covering seven constructs, in four languages, at an average reading level of Grades 6-7. During the development (or field testing) phase, the instrument was reviewed by a group of social workers for content relevance, translation equivalence, item formulation, etc. Thereafter it was reviewed by focus groups of soldiers in the SANDF. Finally, the instrument was subjected to an analysis of linguistic equivalence. In response to each review, changes were made to the instrument.

This study examines two groups, Native and Non-Native Canadians, in terms of three research questions: (a) what do they identify as a problem or concern, (b) who do they seek out for assistance, and (c) what are the preferred qualities of the helper. The sample group was comprised of 255 subjects aged 13-15, and 108 subjects aged 18-20 from Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Native subjects represented 25% of this sample group. Though Native and Non-Native respondents identified similar problems, differences were noted in the selection of helper and preferred qualities of a helper. Native respondents preferred helpers within the family and valued different helper qualities than their Non-Native counterparts. Implications of this study are discussed with respect to, (a) contributing to existing literature in cross-cultural counselling, (b) assisting practising counsellors by providing information about client expectations and (c) contributing to the development of cross-cultural counselling education programs. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

This work examined social workers at the Riverside County Child Protective Services and their need for cross-cultural training specifically when working with ethnic minority families.

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Marriage enrichment was developed to equip couples with the necessary skills and knowledge to help them achieve a happy marriage. It is successful with respect to the improvement of the marriage relationship and the encouragement of marital satisfaction. The marriage enrichment programmes that were developed up till now, were developed for the use of residents of First World countries. The goal of this study was to identify farm workers’ experience of marriage and their needs with respect to marriage, in order to make recommendations with regard to elements that could be included in a marriage enrichment programme for farm workers. A qualitative research design was used, as semi-structured interviews with the help of an interview schedule were conducted with thirteen farm workers who live and work on two farms in different geographical areas around Stellenbosch. Information was gathered by separately interviewing marriage partners, in order to ensure that conversations were not influenced by the presence of the marriage partner. Participants not only consisted of legally married couples, but also couples who were involved in a long-term relationship. The literature study focused on the circumstances of farm workers in the Western Cape. It also focused on theories underpinning current marriage enrichment programmes, and discussed and described the content of selected current marriage enrichment programmes. General challenges facing couples and which are typically included in marriage enrichment programmes were also discussed. Three themes emerged during findings and conclusions of the study. These include various sub-themes arising from the alcohol abuse of farm workers, and distinctive qualities of happy and unhappy couples. Recommendations were made with regard to these themes, while the theories on which current marriage enrichment programmes were based, as well as its exercises and elements were kept in mind. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Huweliksverryking is ontwikkel om egpare met die nodige kennis en vaardighede toe te rus ter bereiking van ‘n gelukkige huwelik. Dit is doeltreffend ten opsigte van die verbetering van die huweliksverhouding en die bevordering van huwelikstevredenheid. Die huweliksverrykings-programme wat egter wel ontwikkel is, is vir die gebruik van inwoners van Eerste Wêreld-lande ontwikkel. Die doel van hierdie studie was om plaaswerkers se ervaring van die huwelik en hul behoeftes ten opsigte van die huwelik te identifiseer, sodat aanbevelings gemaak kan word ten opsigte van elemente wat ingesluit kan word in ‘n huweliksverrykingsprogram vir plaaswerkers. ‘n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp is benut, aangesien semi-geskeduleerde onderhoude aan die hand van ‘n onderhoudskedule gevoer is met dertien plaaswerkers wat woon en werk op twee plase in verskillende geografiese areas buite Stellenbosch. Onderhoude met huweliksmaats het apart van mekaar plaasgevind, om te verseker dat gesprekke nie deur die teenwoordigheid van die huweliksmaat beïnvloed kon word nie. Deelnemers het nie net bestaan uit wettiglik getroude egpare nie, maar ook paartjies wat in ‘n langtermynverhouding betrokke is. Die literatuurstudie het gefokus op die omstandighede van Wes-Kaapse plaaswerkers. Dit het ook gefokus op teorieë waarop bestaande huweliksverrykingsprogramme gebaseer is, en het verskeie geselekteerde bestaande huweliksverrykingsprogramme se inhoud bepaal en omskryf. Algemene uitdagings waarmee egpare te doen kry, en wat tipies in huweliksverrykingsprogramme bespreek word, is ook bespreek. Tydens bevindinge en gevolgtrekkings van die studie het drie temas na vore gekom. Dit sluit in verskeie sub-temas ten opsigte van alkoholmisbruik tussen plaaswerkers en die onderskeie eienskappe van gelukkige en ongelukkige egpare. Die aanbevelings is ten opsigte van hierdie temas gemaak, met inagneming van bestaande huweliksverrykingsprogramme se elemente, oefeninge en die teorieë waarop dit gebaseer is.

For the past two decades there has been an ever expanding interest in the implications of spirituality and, or, religion within the professional practice of social work (Anderson and Angell, 1999; Bishop, Avila-Juarbe, & Thumme, 2003; Cornett, 1992; Northcut, 1999; Northcut, 2000; Praglin, 2004 ; Sheridan, Wilmer and Atcheson,1994). Increasingly, scholars and social workers alike have been considering the appropriateness of inclusion and the practical implications involved. This interest has developed to include attention to spirituality within varying ethical codes and definitions of social work. This is evident in international social work organisations such as the IFSW (International Federation of Social Workers) and IASSW (International Association of Schools of Social Work). Both have begun to include religious and, or, spiritual concerns into professional practice principles. In Aotearoa New Zealand the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) is a member of these international bodies; thus the profession is bound to the above principles. Additionally, the Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) code of practice reflects the standards and ethical codes of the ANZASW. Moreover, spirituality and, or, religion is an important aspect for different client groups within the Aotearoa social services context. This is particularly so within bicultural frameworks. Despite this, little attention has been given to exploring how social workers and social service agencies in Aotearoa New Zealand integrate this aspect in their work with clients to meet the varying ethical requirements. Additionally, little investigation has been undertaken to explore the implications religion and, or, spirituality might have within the Aotearoa New Zealand Social Services context. To date a number of conversations have occurred with regard to spirituality and religious concerns for Tangata Whenua, and to a lesser degree Tagata Pasifika. This study seeks to address the paucity of information by undertaking a mixed methods investigation of the role religion and spirituality has within Aotearoa New Zealand social work.