Professional Knowledgebase

Running head: PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGEBASE 1

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PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGEBASE 2

Professional Knowledgebase

Before the development of theories and emergence of research work, social workers

relied on advice that was given by colleagues who were considered to be more experienced.

Theories and research play an important role in informing an individual's professional

knowledgebase (Gray & Webb, 2012). Research (through evidence-based practice) and theories

are important in the sense that they are effective in the provision of the most effective available

social care, with the aim of improving the outcome of a social care setting. Individuals within

social setting expect social work setting to get the most effective social services basing on the

best available evidence (Thompson, 2015). Research and theories are, therefore, effective in

promoting an attitude of inquiry in social workers because their role revolves around the

provision of professional services. The reliance on research and theories in the course of a

decision-making process, social workers, must utilize EBP to provide quality services to a given

community.

Social Work Theories

Social work theories are divided three broad categories: macro, mezzo as well as the

micro level of social work theories. The micro-level social work theories are concepts that try to

provide an explanation how large-scale interventions affect the system of care as well as the

entire communities (Coady & Lehmann, 2016). The mezzo social work theories are concepts,

which try to explain how the intermediate scale that is comprised of institutions and

neighborhood are affected by social work. Lastly, the micro-social work theory explains the most

common practices among individual clients of social work (Healy, 2014). It is worth to note

that, at times, the social work theories tend to overlap and influence each other, hence the need to

have a better understanding of the distinctions that exist among the theories.

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Macro Social Work theories

These theories of practice help policymakers understand the most effective ways of

intervening the operations of large networks. Examples of key issues outlined in the macro

theories of social work may include providing a better understand the processes of advocating for

the large-scale change of behavior as well as lobbying of the change of the health care laws

(Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney & Strom-Gottfried, 2016). The key distinction of this theory is that

it helps in explaining how social work issues at the mezzo level can be addressed.

Mezzo Social Work Theory

This concept is effective in providing an extensive explanation of how social work issues

are addressed at local organization levels and neighborhoods. An example of environmental

setting roles that are explained in the theory include the management of social work at

institutional levels as well as explaining the cultural changes among individuals

(Teater, 2014). The relevance of such theories is that the ensure the challenges and the needs of

individual clients are not only understood but also addressed in collaboration with the larger

extended social issues.

Micro Social Work theory

Being considered to be the most common social work theory level, this concept provides

a better understanding of the most common kinds of social work (Walsh, 2014). This theory

provides a better understanding of how social workers can provide better services at the

individual level through engaging individuals and families (Thompson, 2015). Concerning this

view, social work practices such as individual counseling and family therapy fall under the social

work theories at the micro-level.

Application of the Theories to Micro Practice

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The transpersonal theory and the social cognitive theory are two micro-environment theories that

will be discussed.

Social Cognitive Theory

The Social Cognitive Theory is among the theories of social work that informed my first

micro practice. Built upon Skinner’s behavioral concept, this approach places emphasis on the

various effects associated with the environment as well as the reinforcement on an individual's

behavior (Zastrow, 2016). Also, this theory mediates the process, which takes place between

stimulus and response. Concerning this view, this theory is inclined to the notion that an

individual learns a specific behavior through the way of observation. This theory helps me

understand the fact that people tend to model the various behaviors through observation (Gould

& Taylor, 2017). Social workers to discern the most appropriate model to correct destructive

behaviors among individuals can use this learning theory.

Transpersonal Theory

Despite the fact that the transpersonal theory is not fully recognized, it has been widely

used at the micro-level of social work. Introduced by Carl Jung, the theory utilizes the positive

influence as the most effective models when it comes to the understanding of human capital.

Concerning this view, the theory revolves around the study of human development

(Thompson, 2015). Within the microenvironment, the goal of the theory revolves around the

development of stronger ego identities among individuals. The transpersonal theory has been

effective in shaping knowledge on how to understand human capital at an individual level.

Behavioral theory

As a learning concept, the behavioral theory places an emphasis behavior through discounting

the independent activities associated with the mind (Thompson, 2015). The behaviorist theory

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confirms the fact that learning is more of the acquisition of conduct basing on the environmental

conditions. Also, in this theory, human’s behaviors consider conditioning as the universal

process of learning. The theorist confirmed that behavioral conditioning takes place whenever a

response to a given stimulus is reinforced.

Psychodynamic Theory

The psychodynamic theory is comprised of all the psychological theories, which consider

human functioning basing on the various interactions, which exist within an individual, mainly

the unconscious ones. It is worth noting that Freud’s psychoanalysis has been regarded as the

earliest psychodynamic concept. The basic assumption of this theory is that human behaviors as

well as feelings are significantly affected by the unconscious motives, which include the mental

–processes that are always not accessible to the consciousness but has a significant influence on

behaviors, feelings, as well as judgement (Thompson, 2015). In addition, the theory asserts that

childhood event of an individual have a significant effect when it comes to shaping their

personality and attitudes.

Application of the Theories to Micro Practice

Systems Theory

The systems theory significantly informed macro practice at the first agency.

Specifically, the theory confirmed that a broad range of factors, which work together (Teater,

2014), significantly influences an individual’s behavior. As a macro-level theory, the systems

theory also confirm how an environment has a significantly influence the way individual acts and

thinks. Essentially, this theory seeks to assist in correcting parts of the macro-system, which can

positively impact on individual's behavior (Lee & Hudson, 2017). In the systems theory, social

workers are expected to observe as well as conduct an analysis of the various system, which

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individual's welfare and behavior. the theory significantly informed macro-practice at the first

agency because it takes the form of positive role models who help in creating a more supportive

system of an individual.

Evaluation of Approach

Most times, the available evidence is usually not enough to support the practice. This is

usually practiced in the social work sector when it comes to the implementation of social work

initiatives (Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney & Strom-Gottfried, 2016). In such cases, there is little

evidence and very few organizational data that a social worker can draw valid and reliable

conclusion up, a factor that negatively affects the process of decision making and reduce the

chances of outcomes that are favorable.

In EBPs, social workers combine well-researched initiative with social work experiences,

client preferences, ethics, as well as culture in guiding and informing the delivery of effective

social services. Despite the fact that evidence-based practices are part and practice is part of the

social work code of conduct, one of the greatest strengths of utilizing such approaches is that

they significantly discourage the harmful interventions. Such is achieved by the fact that EBP

encourage the professional social worker to carry out their mandate as well as base their

interventions on evidence-supported initiatives.

Another significant limitation as associated with research and theory in social work is

that there are significant management changes that are rapidly taking place in the recent past.

The rapidly changing environment within the social work sector has increasingly continued to

limit the applicability as well as the relevance of experimental and scientific evidence that has

been with a community setting (Thompson, 2015). In such cases, there are no many options that

to available evidence and treat the community as a prototype.

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The increasing need of appraising the available evidence and the development of new

skills is a serious limitation that social workers must take seriously (Thompson, 2015). The

absence of such skills, practitioners within the social service sector will be prone to confirmation

bias. This will be evident since these practitioners may only support evidence that is supported

by personal judgment and experiences (Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney & Strom-Gottfried, 2016).

Also, research and EBD are considered to be tools used by social workers to reduce costs. Since

social practice practitioners believe that the use of such approach will minimize cost, there is no

guarantee that research and EBP approaches will be effective in reducing improving social

practice.

Concerning the various limitations associated with research and EBP, there is the need

for the social work professionals to invest on expert advice before utilizing such approaches in

improving the delivery of social service (Thompson, 2015). Evidently, the use of experts will

equip a social service provider with adequate information of the most effective initiative to take.

In fact, using expert’s advice will be effective in the sense that there will be a significant

reduction in the costs of implementing a social work strategy.

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References

Coady, N., & Lehmann, P. (Eds.). (2016). Theoretical perspectives for direct social work

practice: A generalist-eclectic approach. Springer Publishing Company.

Gould, N., & Taylor, I. (2017). Reflective learning for social work: research, theory, and

practice. Routledge.

Gray, M., & Webb, S. (Eds.). (2012). Social work theories and methods. Sage.

Healy, K. (2014). Social work theories in context: Creating frameworks for practice. Palgrave

Macmillan.

Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Gottfried, K. (2016). Empowerment

Series: Direct social work practice: Theory and skills. Nelson Education.

Lee, J. A., & Hudson, R. E. (2017). Empowerment Approach to Social Work Treatment. Social

work treatment: Interlocking theoretical approaches, 142.

Teater, B. (2014). An introduction to applying social work theories and methods. McGraw-Hill

Education (UK).

Thompson, N. (2015). Understanding social work: Preparing for practice. Palgrave Macmillan.

Walsh, J. (2014). Theories for direct social work practice. Nelson Education.

Zastrow, C. (2016). Empowerment Series: Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare:

Empowering People. Cengage Learning.

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