Structured interviews with 19 leaders and potential employers in health- and human-services fields elicited information about the knowledge, skills, and attitudes sought in master's in social work (MSW) graduates. Commonly desired characteristics were knowledge of research processes, writing and communication skills, critical thinking skills, and…

Outlines a transactional model for addressing the underrepresentation of key areas in advanced clinical courses in human behavior in the social environment (HBSE), looking at social work's understanding of the biological and spiritual aspects of human beings. The transactional model is distinguished from other reductionist or interactionist models…

Explores the use of forecasting in social work education to plan for change, and describes two qualitative and two quantitative forecasting models. Recounts the responses of one university task force to using the models for program administration and development, and examines areas of social work education in which the models may be useful.…

A model for assessing the readiness and potential of undergraduate social work students for field education is presented, and issues to consider in implementing such a model are identified, including faculty and university support of and student response to the professional gatekeeping process. One university's experience is discussed. (Author/MSE)

Social work educators are responsible for gatekeeping for the profession, including screening out "unsuitable" program applicants. Educators must exercise caution and beware of legal constraints affecting admissions and retention decisions, as exemplified in court cases and the advice of legal experts. Guidelines can assist social work educators…

The historical development of evaluation in higher education is traced, and current views on assessment options are discussed. A case is made for longitudinal computer-based program monitoring by defining the approach and presenting a case study. Advantages and disadvantages are examined. (Author/MSE)

A survey of Israeli social work faculty (n=62), social workers (n=70), and third-year students (n=90) found an overall positive orientation toward research. Faculty and practitioners feel students are less favorably disposed to research than students do and are unlikely to incorporate it into curricula. (Author/MSE)

A computer-based bibliometric study tracking the growth of dissertation and book production in social work from 1959-88 is reported. Potential applications of online bibliometric analysis are discussed, including its use in evaluation of scholarly productivity, study of social work history, and management of knowledge development processes in…

A study with 97 graduate social work students identified antecedent, structural, and process variables affecting student group learning. Findings indicated that method of group selection, initial preference to be in a group, and level of interpersonal conflict are significantly associated with learning. Implications for faculty and course content…

A national survey of 267 retired social work faculty investigated their general characteristics, preretirement and postretirement experiences, current social and health status, and perspectives on changes in social work education and practice. Health, income, and experiences were generally good. Critical differences were found by gender, terminal…

One section of graduate-level social work practice was taught to use microcomputers whereas another was not; all students reported high levels of computer interest, use, receptivity, and ownership. At posttest and one-semester followup, nonsignificant differences between training and control sections were found on measures of use, interest, and…

A discussion of the role of reflective thinking in the social work professional's training and practice looks at theories on the relationship of reflection and skilled action and at contemporary social work theories. It is suggested that Donald Schon's reflection-in-action model has applications in social work education and practice. (MSE)

A model for including information about persons with mental retardation in the social work curriculum is presented. The model focuses on (1) a micro perspective, concerning the individual, family system, and group membership; and (2) a macro perspective, regarding service planning, administration, evaluation, and community organization. (MSE)

A survey of 194 social work graduate students investigated the effects of part- or full-time enrollment status, employment status, marital status, and other roles on psychological adjustment. Results are discussed in light of scarcity and expansion hypotheses derived from role theory, and practical implications for social work education are…

A survey of 162 students in several sections of a master of social work basic research methodology and statistics course, taught by different teachers, found that student performance did not differ across instructors, undergraduate grade point average was positively correlated with performance, and an undergraduate social service major was…