Social Work Theories 

Who is in need, what is the problem, and when did it occur?  Where does the problem exist, why does it exist, and how can I help? As a social worker, these questions are at the heart of what you do every day. The actions you take in order to answer these questions are based on the question “why.” Why does this problem exist? Why might this intervention work best? Theory is the reasoning that supports the answers to the question “why?” In social work education and practice, theory is the foundation of the profession, it can ensure accountability, it can help avoid discrimination, and it can make sense of complexity and uncertainty. The concept of theory involves theory types, in which social workers attempt to answer the question “why” for a given situation or presenting concern. Those theory types include micro, meso (also referred to as mezzo within the industry), macro, and scientific theory, as well as paradigm, model, perspective, and ideology. How might your understanding of these terms inform the work you do as a social worker?

 

For this Discussion, review the theory types from this week’s resources (micro, meso, macro, and scientific theory, perspective, paradigm, model, and ideology). Then select the theory type that appeals to you most. Consider a case you might encounter in social work practice for which that theory type might apply. Finally, think about why it might be the best one for that case.

 

·      Post a brief description of the theory type that appeals to you most.
 
·      Then describe a case you might encounter in social work practice for which that theory type might apply.
 

·      Finally, explain why that theory type is the best one for the case you described.

 

References (use 2 or more)

 

• Robbins, S. P., Chatterjee, P., & Canda, E. R. (2012). Contemporary human behavior theory: A critical perspective for social work (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Allyn & Bacon.

 

• Okpych, N. J., & Yu, J. L. (2014). A historical analysis of evidence-based practice in social work: The unfinished journey toward an empirically grounded profession. Social Service Review, 88(1), 3–58.

 

• Salas, L. M., Sen, S., & Segal, E. A. (2010). Critical theory: Pathway from dichotomous to integrated social work practice. Families In Society, 91(1), 91–96.

 

 

• Fisher, E. A. (2009). Motivation and leadership in social work management: A review of theories and related studies. Administration In Social Work, 33(4), 347–367.

 

Discussion 2: Overview of Psycopharmacological Interventions

 

How important is psychopharmacology in mental health services? How important is psychopharmacology to clients? When might there be a need for it? How do mental health professionals generally perceive the need for psychopharmacological intervention? What is your personal perception about the need for psychopharmacological intervention in mental health services? Mental health professionals grapple with these questions on a daily basis. As a future mental health professional, consider how you will begin to answer these questions and how your personal perception might influence how you serve client needs.

 

For this Discussion, review the media program “The Role of the Mental Health Professional in Psychopharmacological Intervention” and consider all scholarly perspectives concerning if or when there is a need for psychopharmacological intervention in mental health services. Then, explore a field in your profession where psychopharmacological interventions might be warranted.

 

·      Post and describe one example of where psychopharmacological interventions are warranted in mental health practices.

 

·      Explain the mental health professional’s role in the example that you provided.

 

References (use 2 or more)

 

Preston, J. D., O’Neal, J. H., & Talaga, M. C. (2017). Handbook of clinical psychopharmacology for therapists (8th ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012h). The role of the mental health professional in psychopharmacological intervention [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

Discussion 3: Ethical Dilemas for Mental Health Professionals

Mental health professionals are charged with the task of assisting their clients’ efforts in obtaining the best care available to them. Often, this might mean making recommendations and referrals, teaming with other medical and mental health professionals, and developing and expanding competencies to meet the needs of their clients. Although there are strict limits to some mental health professional roles in reference to medication management, mental health professionals can serve a vital role in the process.

For this Discussion, review the media titled “The Role of the Mental Health Professional in Psychopharmacological Intervention” and the Learning Resources. Explore the limits of practice in psychopharmacological intervention. Search your professional practice code of ethics and consider how ethical dilemmas that arise in the course of treatment might be mitigated.  Check actual final video

 

·      Post an explanation of how mental health professionals might prepare themselves to best work with medical professionals in the example you provided in this week’s Discussion 1 (include the need for using a signed release of information).

 

·      Next, identify a potential ethical dilemma for mental health professionals related to your example and explain why this could be a dilemma.

 

·      Then, provide the most effective strategy mental health professionals can use to mitigate the dilemma and justify your selection.

 

·      Finally, as a future mental health professional, explain some of the concepts in the field of psychopharmacology in which you would like to explore the role further to gain more knowledge.

 

References (use 2 or more)

 

Preston, J. D., O’Neal, J. H., & Talaga, M. C. (2017). Handbook of clinical psychopharmacology for therapists (8th ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012h). The role of the mental health professional in psychopharmacological intervention [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

In Unit 2, you selected one standardized test that has relevancy to your academic and professional goal and focused on the first four elements of the Code for selecting a test. In Unit 5, you focused on the fifth element of the Code, which involved analyzing the evidence for technical quality of your selected test.

 

In Chapters 7 and 8 of your Psychological Testing and Assessment text, you have been learning about test utility, test development, item analysis, and using tests in a variety of settings and with a variety of test takers. In this assignment, you will apply those concepts to your selected test for the Code’s sixth, seventh, and eighth elements. The Code (2004) states that test users, “(6) evaluate representative samples of test questions or practice tests, directions, answer sheets, manuals, and score reports before selecting a test; (7) evaluate procedures and materials used by the test developers, as well as the resulting test, to ensure that potentially offensive content or language is avoided; and (8) select tests with appropriately modified forms or administration procedures for test takes with disabilities who need special accommodations.”

 

For this assignment, locate a minimum of five resources (a minimum three peer-reviewed journal articles) pertaining to your test’s construction, item development, procedures utilized in construction to minimize offensive content, and provisions of modifications and accommodations for test takers. You will not be required or need to have a copy of your test to complete this assignment. You may use many different types of references and sources to obtain this information about your test. These references may include journal articles, literature reviews, Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY) reviews, reviews, and publisher Web sites.

 

Information gathering and evaluation of these elements may require a keyword search within each relevant review and research article. It may be helpful to do keyword searches within those documents with the following words: format, fair, fairness, bias, appropriate, accommodations, modifications, and computer or computer assisted. Subsequently, this particular assignment requires a deeper search and provides a broader range of sources to fulfill the minimum references. In almost all cases, you will be able to locate some level of information on these elements.

 

If you are struggling with locating sufficient information about a particular test in regard to an element in this assignment, then you will need to cite the references or reviews involved in your search and identify this element as problematic for your selected test as it lacks sufficient documentation in the literature for this code or standard.

 

Compose your findings into a paper using the following outline (please use these headings):

 

• • Title Page (required).
  • Abstract (optional).
  • Introduction: Identify the standardized test you selected in Unit 2, and its stated purpose. Test items and format.

 

• Identify type or format of test items.
• Identify formats of the test that are available (including alternate forms, audio, computer, et cetera).
• Identify the types of scores obtained from the test. (Include information about norms.)
• Evaluate and identify or cite positive aspects of test items and formats, directions, answer sheets, and score reports.
• Evaluate and identify or cite negative aspects of test items and formats, directions, answer sheets, and score reports.
• Summarize the quality and appropriateness of the test items and formats, directions, answer sheets, and score reports.

 

 

 

Fair and appropriate materials.

 

 

 

• Identify or cite positive and negative aspects of test materials that minimize potentially offensive content or language. Explain.
• Identify or cite if the test allows appropriate modifications or accommodations. Explain how or why it does not allow such modifications or accommodations.
• Cite at least one AERA standard for Supporting Documentation for Tests (see Chapter 7 of your Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing text) that are implicated in either the positive or negative aspects of your selected test.

 

 

 

 

 

Use of technology.

 

 

 

• Discuss and evaluate how advances in technology have been utilized or incorporated with your selected test to address test items and format.
• Discuss and evaluate how advances in technology have been utilized or incorporate with your selected test to address fair and appropriate materials.

 

 

 

Synthesis of findings.

 

• Identify any major strengths you identified for your test in terms of test items and materials.
• Identify any weaknesses, even if they are relative, regarding your test in terms of test items and materials.

 

 

 

Conclusions and recommendations.

 

 

 

• Evaluate your selected test based on the strengths and weaknesses, and advantages and disadvantages of the test items, materials, and their appropriateness.
• Make at least three recommendations about improvements that could be considered to improve the test, if applicable. Cite standards (AERA) to support each recommendation.

References (required, use current APA format and style).

 

Additional Requirements

 

Your paper should meet the following requirements:

 

• References: A minimum of five references (a minimum of three peer-reviewed journal articles among the five).
• Length of paper: At least six pages (not including title page, abstract, or references).

 

Reference

 

Joint Committee on Testing Practices. (2004). Code of fair testing practices in education. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/science/programs/testing/fair-testing.pdf