James A. Forte

Skills for Using Theory in Social Work

32 Lessons for Evidence-Informed Practice

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Using theory, research evidence and experiential knowledge is a critical component of good social work. This unique text is designed to help social work students and practitioners to integrate theorizing into practice, demonstrating how to search for, select and translate academic knowledge for practical use in helping people improve their lives and environments. Presenting 32 core skills, Skills for Using Theory in Social Work provides a conceptual foundation, a vocabulary, and a set of skills to aid competent social work theorizing. Each chapter outlines the knowledge and action components of the skill and its relationship to core practice behaviours, along with learning and reflection activities. The lessons are divided into four parts: Section one discusses foundational material, including self-identification as a theorist-practitioner, the deliberate use of the term theory, and a social work approach to the selection of knowledge. Section two focuses on the adept use of theorizing skills. It covers identifying assumptions, using concepts, formulating propositions, organizing theory elements inductively or deductively, summarizing and displaying the elements of a theory, gathering and organizing assessment information and communicating with clients and colleagues about tentative theories. Section three includes lessons preparing social workers for the construction of useful middle-range theories including causal theories and interpretive theories and for testing and sharing these practical theories. Section four presents skills to develop critical thinking about theoretical knowledge. These include avoiding the misuse of theory, judging a theory using scientific standards, judging a theory by professional standards, critiquing theory in its cultural and historical context and making judgments about the likely long-term impact of a theory. This key text will help readers to demonstrate their expertise in reflective, competent, and theory-informed practice. It is suitable for all social work students and practitioners, particularly those taking practice, theory and human behaviour in the social environment courses.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Routledge
• Seitenzahl: 344
• Erscheinungstermin: 4. Februar 2014
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 234mm x 156mm x 19mm
• Gewicht: 524g
• ISBN-13: 9780415726849
• ISBN-10: 0415726840
• Artikelnr.: 39595667

Autorenporträt

James A. Forte is Professor of Social Work at Salisbury University, Maryland, USA.

Inhaltsangabe

Foreword Introduction Section 1: Theorizing Basics 1. Identify and Act as
Theorist Engaged in Theoretical Thinking 2. Identify and Use Purposefully
Different Styles of Theorizing 3. Identify and Use the Social Work Approach
to Knowledge Selection 4. Identify and Use Knowledge from Varied Sources
5. Identify and Use Theory Differentially by Level of Abstraction 6.
Identify and Use Theory Differentially by System Level Section 2: Applying
Theory (Deconstructive and Reconstructive Theorizing) 7. Identify the
Theoretical Aspects of the Practice Puzzle 8. Identify and Borrow from
Relevant Theoretical Frameworks 9. Identify and Learn From Relevant
Exemplary Theorists 10. Check on and Imagine Puzzle Patterns Using Theory's
Root Metaphors 11. Check on and Specify Theory's Assumptions 12. Identify
and Adapt a Theory's Concepts 13. Identify and Reformulate a Theory's
Propositions 14. Identify and Reorganize a Theory's Deductive Argument 15.
Identify and Reorganize a Theory's Inductive Argument 16. Summarize the
Relationship between a Theory's Elements 17. Display a Theory's Elements
Section 3: Constructing Practical Theories 18. Construct Practical Theories
in the Middle Range 19. Construct a Middle Range Theory about Causes 20.
Construct a Middle Range Theory about Processes or Themes 21. Translate and
Speak Theory with Clients & Colleagues Section 4: Critical Thinking about
Theoretical Knowledge Using Scientific, Practical, and Professional
Standards 22. Think Critically about Theory 23. Critique Theory Using
Scientific and Practical Standards 24. Critique Theory Using Professional
Standard of Ethics and Values 25. Critique Theory Using Professional
Standard of Evidence 26. Critique Theory Using Professional Standard of
Holism 27. Critique Theory Using Professional Standard of Justice 28.
Critique Theory Using Professional Standard of Sensitivity to Diversity
29. Critique Theory Using Professional Standard of Strengths 30. Critique
Theory by Reference to Moral and Technical Uses 31. Critique Theory in
Historical and Cultural Context 32. Critique Theory Considering Long Term
Impact Section 5: Conclusion Coda: Principles for Practical Theorizing